Consumer Law, Warranties How do I handle a creditor when the legal contract signed was tampered with

[PeterE]

I have a small contracting business in Maryland, and back in 2008 I was approached by a local "Book" advertiser to be listed in their directory. After meeting with the salesperson I decided to go with just a couple of lines, a small ad, at a cost of $ 20.00 a month for one year on a trial bases. For the past year I've been getting invoices for services I never signed for. After several calls to the company disputing the charges and leaving my name for someone in charge to call me back, I got no response.
As I knew what I had signed up for, I stopped paying the invoices, awaiting for a legal department to contact me. That's what happened ten days ago. I was contacted by a lawyer representing the "Book" on a $ 650.00 dept. I called her right away and tried to explain the situation, and requested a copy of the original contract signed by me. The copy of the contract she sent me today has been altered by someone. I have a copy of the original contract I signed showing $ 20.00 a month. The copy she sent me was altered to $ 65.00 a month. There are other hand written alterations on the contract as well. It's plainly obvious that someone has altered it by hand after the time of my signature.
Today I scanned a copy of my original contract and forwarded it to lawyer in charge of collecting, pointing out the fact that the contract has been altered. This was her response verbatim:
PETER,

WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH COPY OF CONTRACT WITH OUR SIGNATURE FOR PROOF OF THIS DEBT.

THANK YOU,
LISA
This is supposed to be a reputable company. Never expected them to stoop to such tactics.
What's my next step?
Thanks in advance on any advice offered.
Peter

 

[army judge]

I have a small contracting business in Maryland, and back in 2008 I was approached by a local "Book" advertiser to be listed in their directory. After meeting with the salesperson I decided to go with just a couple of lines, a small ad, at a cost of $ 20.00 a month for one year on a trial bases. For the past year I've been getting invoices for services I never signed for. After several calls to the company disputing the charges and leaving my name for someone in charge to call me back, I got no response.
As I knew what I had signed up for, I stopped paying the invoices, awaiting for a legal department to contact me. That's what happened ten days ago. I was contacted by a lawyer representing the "Book" on a $ 650.00 dept. I called her right away and tried to explain the situation, and requested a copy of the original contract signed by me. The copy of the contract she sent me today has been altered by someone. I have a copy of the original contract I signed showing $ 20.00 a month. The copy she sent me was altered to $ 65.00 a month. There are other hand written alterations on the contract as well. It's plainly obvious that someone has altered it by hand after the time of my signature.
Today I scanned a copy of my original contract and forwarded it to lawyer in charge of collecting, pointing out the fact that the contract has been altered. This was her response verbatim:
PETER,

WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH COPY OF CONTRACT WITH OUR SIGNATURE FOR PROOF OF THIS DEBT.

THANK YOU,
LISA
This is supposed to be a reputable company. Never expected them to stoop to such tactics.
What's my next step?
Thanks in advance on any advice offered.
Peter

More than likely the "lawyer" is nothing more than a "poser", "shyster", or "debt collector" (all the same bottom feeding, scavenging creature, by the way)!!!!
A real lawyer couldn't make any money collecting $600 debts.
A real firm couldn't afford to hire a a real lawyer to harass people over $600 debts.
A real lawyer would sue you, not threaten and intimidate you.

Send the "faux law firm" a letter explaining why you are disputing the charges.
If you have an attorney friend, ask him or her to send such a letter for you.
Enclose a copy of the "real contract".
Tell them you won't pay, and inform them, that you anxiously await their lawsuit so you can prove how right you are and how wrong they are!
Tell them to stop harassing you, in the interim.