Quote Quoting flyingron
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That's right. SC works for the industry and is biased. You have zero knowledge of the civil side. Just about every REAL ATTORNEY I know says to ignore those letters. On the off-chance that they do go to the effort to actually file a civil suit, you're NOT that much worse off. The issue IS, and it is why I put the word lawyers in quotes, is that these demands don't spend a lot of effort. They write the letters in hopes of inducing a little revenue without any work. Letters are easy.
Not at all true. In fact, I just participated in a corporate conference call on this issue.

As this and other message boards continue to give people advice to evade their commitments and advise them to NOT grow up, admit they made a mistake, and pay the consequences, lawsuits over these will become common place. It is true that some companies have historically not pursued these cases very often, but I can tell you with firsthand knowledge that that tide is changing - rapidly.

Companies, confronted with the wisdom of the internet, and the fact that once you set up an operation of lawyers it's really not that expensive to pursue, are beginning to actually file suits on these demands. Think about credit card defaults: the card companies learned long time ago how to expediently sue and collect from default debts. Retailers are learning right now how that process works and can be applied to the issue of civil demands.

The "REAL ATTORNIES" who give that advice are usually criminal lawyers - and as I said, how many of them follow up with their clients to see whatever became of the civil demand? Probably none. They don't really know what happens - they just talk.

cdwjava's post nails it - the only part I take issue with is the amount. Turn a $300ish amount into $800? Nope - more like turn a $300 ish amount into a $2,000 one that keeps skyrocketing.