(Bullshit Part 4): Qtipus Fought the Law...

...and Qtipus won.

It's a small victory to say the least.

I received a letter from my favorite collection agency located in Mississippi regarding the outstanding "debt" they're trying to collect for their client, the Pearl River County Justice Court.

Quick refresher in case you forgot:

Bullshit Part 1
Bullshit Part 2
Bullshit Part 3

Q gets speeding ticket in July 2003.
Q pays speeding ticket in August 2003.
Q doesn't hear anything for 7 years on the matter...
Q starts arguing with people about why he didn't hear anything.
Q makes settlement offer, gets hung up on.

That brings us to last night. I had a long day at work and I come home to find said letter. Those letters never make anyone happy though I was somewhat happy to see this...at least until I read the contents.

Same boilerplate collection agency garbage. Not the statement of release I was hoping for. Now I knew I was gonna have to argue with someone today.

So I called 'em up and, instead of telling me that they're trying to collect the debt, the lady there tells me that my account has been cleared by the courthouse.

Ok...

This means one of two things:

1. The court canceled everything.

2. The court is going to come after me themselves.

I had a feeling it was going to be option two. It's kind of like that boss battle where you have to kill all the minions or destroy the armor or something before you can actually do battle with the boss itself.

Seeing as how these people don't seem to be on the up and up regarding their level of organization, I decided I would call the courthouse to make sure things were good. Upon calling them, yes, things were good, but not as good as I was hoping.

Obviously, I was hoping they'd find something that showed I paid the damn thing, but nope..."good" is "we'll accept your deal".

The judge dismissed the contempt of court fee.
The judge dismissed the collection agency fee.
The judge did not dismiss the original amount of the ticket.

"Do you guys take cards over the phone?"
"Yes."
"Done. Let me pay this again and get you guys out of my life for good."
"The feeling's mutual."
"You know I'm recording this right?"
"You're a wonderful man sir, thank you for taking care of this so quickly."

F***ing sleazebags.

So, after hours spent on the phone with people in Mississippi, with my attorney and in conversations about what my next step should be, let it be said...

I pretty much gave everyone who said "I should just pay it all and be done with" the finger and came out better for it. Yes, I lost about $100 that I really shouldn't have lost, but I was dumb and didn't keep good records. To paraphrase Mastercard though...

Speeding Ticket: $100.00
Cost of Time Spent on Phone: $10.00
Cost of Consumed Ibuprofen: $4.00
Turning the Debt Collectors and Court House Employees' lives who fucked up into a living hell: Priceless.