Dear Editor:

I wonder how Portnoff would feel if the shoe was on the other foot? My son had a lien placed on his property in Pottstown for a $300 water bill that was outstanding and Portnoff came in and tried to collect almost $6,000 for their "fees" and court costs. What happened was the certified letter was signed by my son's father who bore the same name and it was a period of time when the two did not see eye to eye so my son, who was living out of state, had no knowledge of an outstanding bill let alone a certified letter that gives 30 days. It took over $2,000 of my son's money just to, in essence, buy back the debt from Portnoff and get it out of the courts.It is highway robbery at it's most crooked. When will America wake up to what is happening? Is the enemy within already? There has to be a better way to get these monies collected?Portnoff did not respond until we went through the borough (Water Department) supervisor to recheck her list that was sent to Portnoff. (As the good book says if you have an issue you need to go to that person.) I guess the borough thought that a certified letter with a threat was doing just that?!I imagine this is happening to little old ladies that have outstanding water bills and it is just another way to try to gain something (property) that is not rightfully theirs. Talk about debtors prison, this is guilt before trial. I could go on and on, yet I know that we are to forgive those who transgress against us.I pray Portnoff and the boroughs that use them to collect debt realize that this is total darkness that needs to be brought to light! They are looking at the almighty dollar (60ish percent profit?) and not the person these laws affect.We here in Carbon County already have a 10 percent increase coming to our water bills. I can imagine that for many it is getting more and more difficult to keep the essentials going like water and electric. It can be very daunting to us taxpayers to have Portnoff in the wings with their LEGAL system just waiting for debts to be collected in a harmful way. Brings new meaning to trying to keep a roof over our heads.What is happening to America? In my opinion it is that the letter of the law is trying to kill the spirit, as I have read a good book that says "we shall overcome" and the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit will keep us in perfect peace.Karen FreeseJim Thorpe