Being charged for training from a company that terminated me.

Talk to a lawyer

 

Yeap best bet is talk to a lawyer.Kinda sh#$^y what they did but I'm sure the agreement is worded in their favor.

 

What form did the notice you received come in? Letter, email, voicemail, lawsuit, etc. And how much are they wanting?

 

Company paid training is a debt in most cases that is owed if you do not complete a year of employment after training. This is why it is not advisable to get your CDL this way. Talk to an attorney but I am sure the debt will survive to haunt you until paid.

 

Without seeing the contract or the exact wording we're just whistling in the wind.

It may actually be a violation of employment and/or lending law to threaten with collections before a certain period of time. I can't say, I'm nowhere near up-to-speed on that stuff anymore.

 

Ignore it for 7 years, then it's no worry.
Don't let a collection agency harass you into paying them; they purchased the debt from the trucking company at pennies on the dollar. Don't ever give the collection agency even a penny or the 7 years starts over again.
If they call you; hang up, don't talk to them.
Don't sign for any registered or certified mail and don't give anyone else the authority to sign for you.

Are you driving now?

I had a collection agency harass me for almost 25 years over a phone bill I didn't owe; it was someone else, not me. I have no use for collection agencies. They even tried the old scam of "just send $5.00 for now" but I already knew that starts the 7 years over.

 

So if I understand this correctly you obtained your CDL on your own and then hired on with this company. And when you did you signed a contract saying you agree to reimburse the company (with 12 months employment) for additional "training" they were going to provide. Your "training" was you providing what amounts to free labor as you drive team with your "trainer". Who, Im guessing, used you like a second log book for a month. Since the 12 month employment obligation was not met they are now attempting to collect in cash for said "training".

First let me say Im sorry you're in this crappy situation. You're not the first to fall for this trap and most of the mega carriers make a practice out of squeezing new drivers from both ends like this. But hey! On the bright side of things at least you didn't lease a truck from them!!

I'm thinking you have 3 choices here. 1) Pay the bill. 2) Don't pay the bill and deal with collections and hits on your credit report. 3) Counter sue claiming the training outlined in the contract was insufficient or not provided.

If you elect to go with door #3 you will need the services of an attorney. Take your contract and set up a consultation preferably with some one specializing in civil defense. They can tell you if you have a leg to stand on or if you're pretty much hosed. They may even be able draft a response letter to the collection note that will at least buy you some time and could possibly make it go away all together. Unfortunately it won't be cheap. Attorneys never are.

Good luck!