They called Friday and knew the amount we owed.

You're the idiot!!! I received a letter from "Recoveries Corp" claiming that they are authorised to act on behalf of the ATO??? so i called the number 13001311296 and a female answered the phone saying that they are a company called Instant Windscreens. I double checked the number and tried back, this time a male answered and said the same thing. I then looked it up on the internet and it turns out the PO Box and contact numbers are different to what they show on their website.
So before running your mouth saying we don't know s***, check your information because you look like an idiot thinking you know it all!!!
"ATO forces the contracting company to purchase a new number that is for ATO debts only" now who the f*** told you that???
ATO is ATO, not some small time business, if you owe them money they'll just deduct it out of your next tax return! simple as that!

One more thing, scammers will use known company names for dumb f**** like you who are gullible enough to go ahead and make the payment without even investigating it first!!!

so come at me BRO

Just out of curiosity, this recoveries company rung me asking for my neighbor. I've passed the message on to him but thought it was strange that both our numbers are listed in the phone book, and neither of us have a debt with the ATO.
After he called the company, he found out that the so called recovery agency could not help him with either the reference number given or the person who rang initially.

You all are f****ng stupid.

You owe money to the ATO. They call up on "Behalf of the ATO" Not from the ATO. The number is always different from the main companies telephone line. ATO forces the contracting company to purchase a new number that is for ATO debts only. So when you call, your not confused with Jim Smith down the road who owes $300 for a outstanding AGL account.

Don't believe me? Check the ATO f****ng website.The reason these companies contact you is because you OWE money to the tax office. Not the other way around. The ATO tries to contact you with a letter, if you don't respond within 14 days they forward you to the agency.

3rd question down the list.
Which external collection agencies collect debts on the ATO's behalf?

We have procured the services of four external collection agencies to collect debts on our behalf. These are:

   Baycorp Collection Services Pty Ltd
   Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd
   Probe Group Pty Ltd
   Recoveries Corporation.

I work at one of the 4 listed. Come at me bro.

I received an official looking letter in the mail from "recoveriescorp" with the 1300 131 296 phone number in the contact details and a debt recovery request for nearly $2000 with EFT code the same as my ABN except for the final 4 digits. I contacted my accountant who said confirmed I had no outstanding debt with the ATO and advised me not to pay the amount as it was a hoax.

I just got this call from the supposed "Recoveries Corporation". They gave me this phone number and a reference number (2211419). Thing is, when you look up the REAL recoveries corporation at http://www.recoveriescorp.com.au , they list their contact number as 1 300 663 060. I had the same call a couple of months ago. I called the ATO to see if they really were behind this call, and they told me there was no notes on my file saying that someone was to contact me. SCAM.

To all those people who say that if debts were paid we wouldnt have this problem, maybe you should get your heads out of your a**** and understand that mistakes are made every day by the ATO, records get mixed up and scammers are always trying to gather dates of birth etc for id fraud. Its mostly dumb aggressive types who work for debt collections from experience and they dont care if theyve got the wrong data in front of them theyrre just doing probly the only job they can do.

I just got a similar call from a company called 'probe' who look legit and with a legit number but when i called staright back a message said it was outside their business hours. Why do these ppl have piss poor english also? My Hindi is better than their english and thats not saying much...

i think your just upset that you have to pay your debts,
instead of trying to find ways how to get him in s*** for doing his job, and cliaming money thats owed to the gov,

maybe find wasy to pay your debts...

the ATO contract sevral agenceys to collect the massave amounts of debt in australia. the ato simply do not have the time to collect the debt of australians seen as there is  so much, hence why the hire professionals to do the job,

yes they notify you prior to sending it to an debt recovery agent
yes the agency is fully certified and cleard of any security
yes all documents is as private as it would be with ato

enjoy.

working in the position you workin i would think you were educated enough to undertsand the accc guidlines, its called the privacy act.

well done by you asuming its a scam, one of your clinets has unpiad debts and unaware because you think it was a scam,

Hi All,
I read all the post since 2009 and wonder why no one has reported yet, you all talk about reporting and being a scam but no action or nothing in news.

guys, this is a genuine company based in melbourne and a registered australian business.

if you pay your taxes you would not have any problems.

active listening is a key to life,,,,,,,
the agencey clearly states acting on behalf of the ATO, as they are contracted from the ATO it is by contract to state that....
as recoveries act on behalf of the ATO anything said on the call is authorised by ATO...

so maybe pay your debts and the issue will no arise,

ex debt collector

received a call from this number, "Amy" said she was from the Debt Recovery Area from the ATO and wanted my tax agent number.  Asked her if she worked for the ATO and she said no "just on behalf of the ATO".  Told her I'd call back, she gave me a reference number and the phone number.  Rang the ATO who said that they DO NOT recognise the number and that it was probably a scam of some sort, (oh, and not return the call.

Just got a phone call from a young woman named Emma Rigoni who said she was calling on behalf of the ATO. Asked me my date of birth to "confirm our details". When I refused, she asked me who my tax agent was. I again refused and took her name and phone number (1300131296) and said I would get my tax agent to ring her if he thought it was legitimate. She gave me a reference number.
I smelled a scam.

I wonder why the ATO use these people, they should send a letter to people, since they have all the contact adress.  We do not sure who are they, we have reported to the police and they told us that it is  properly a con man try to get money from people

We had the same experience! we will report them shortly!

They are a debt collection agency who ring 'on behalf of' ATO. THeres a few debt collection agencies who do this. These calls are to collect debts you owe to ATO. They will always say 'on behalf of', however because they speak so fast and strained english at times, its hard to hear that bit! I work in an accounting firm, i get these types of calls all the time.

Hi everyone,i have received a call from this number and the guy said he is from ATO .I have to take legal action against them.please report them they try to be smart and cunning!

I just got a call from the no. A bloke called 'anthony'
claimed he was 'from' the ATO I rang back and asked who the were, ..... A recovery agency!
Complete scam. Report them

1300131296 is a compzny called 'Recoveries Corp' in Melbourne. they are debt collection agency that appears to do government & insurance collections.  they should not say they are fm the ato & need to be reported to the ato & federal police asap.

Have received several calls from this number after hours on saturdays and late in the night. Does anyone know who they are?? They claim they are the ATO or debt recovery collectors.......

they are contracted by the ato which can be confirmed on the ATO website and by calling the ATO. And with the hours of calling. They are permitted to call between the hours of 8:30am and 9:00pm monday to friday and on saturdays from 9AM until 2pm

quoted they were from australian tax department, i didnt pass phone on and sadi theyd call back, i wanted to check number first. when we called back they said they were recovery, a debt collection company.

How can i get the guy who said he was from the ATD in the pooh for making a false claim?
I will post his name to shame him when i get it, Nick ob????