Customer Ends Up In Court Over Girl Scout Cookies

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) – A customer in Fort Collins is blaming a mixup at the bank after a collection agency told him he owed money for Girl Scout cookies.

Tad Osborn said he never thought that $42 worth of Girl Scout cookies would cost him attorney fees and numerous court filings.

"I didn't think they were going to turn into an $800 bill," said Osborn.

Six months after buying the cookies a collection agency told him he owes $82 for the cookies. Osborn said the Girl Scouts' bank thought his account was closed.

He got documentation proving otherwise. But all while the collection process continued.

"What did I do to deserve this? I just wrote the check. I was helping the Girl Scouts and now I'm having to go court over and over again and answering legal questions that I have no business answering," said Osborn.

In a statement the Girl Scouts of Colorado said, "When a check is reported as bad debt by a troop's bank, the troop attempts to contact the customer and the council then attempts to resolve the debt. Like any other business, after multiple attempts to resolve, we use a professional collection agency."

"No Girl Scout ever came to my house. No one ever left a note on my door," said Osborn.

He said he is still trying to fight the collection agency.

"This is predatory. The attorney is looking to collect default payments on anyone that owes money and hopes you're not going to show up for court and fight it," said Osborn. "I'd recommend anyone looking to buy Girl Scout cookies to pay cash."

Osborn has attempted to send another payment to the Girls Scouts but was told once it goes to collections, it's out of their hands. The bill is now $739, plus $100 because of Osborn's filing fees.