Same as above...no answer after we called them back.

These people call and act like they know me all chatty." Hey #### give me call back." First you don't tell me who you are, I am not calling. You don't tell me what company you work for, I am not calling. You call back the nymber and it rings and rings. Caller ID says Operations Division and # 405-728-0601. The person wants you to call them back @ 800-617-5899 ext. 59. Two numbers associated with the same caller, I am DEFINITELY not calling back!

I called the number back and it just kept ringing never got through to anyone

Received several calls, no messages

calls and wont leave a message  even calls my cell phone  from the same number  i dont know who it is so i wont answer, they have no phone  edicate

Received 4-5 calls from this number.When I answer the phone they hang up. They don't leave message when I am not at home. A total nuisance.

In most cases the ONLY reason they debt collectors win is by default judgement - because most people do not appear in court and dispute the FALSE information provided to file the lawsuit.  
Debt collection companies (JUNK DEBT BUYERS) manufacture most of these affidavits in house- not documents from the original creditor.

In some cases the people being SUED are never aware of it, because they were never properly served. Either because the debt collector deliberately provided incorrect address information - or they used a process server that guaranteed NO-SHows and never served the summons at all.

NEVER ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE OVER THE PHONE - they will "FORGET" all verbal agreements as soon as you hang up the phone,  

ALWAYS IN WRITING - make them VALIDATE the debt before agreeing to anything - 9 times out of 10 they cannot provide any legal validation that you owe them anything at all.

Make sure you have the PAYMENT AGREEMENT IN WRITING before sending them money and NEVER GIVE THEM BANK ACCOUNT OR CREDIT CARD INFO - they will take far more than agreed upon.  They cannot refuse money orders (never send personal checks).
The agents will try and tell you they cannot accept money orders - because it IMPACTS THEIR COMMISSION!  that is the only reason they want you account information is to increase THEIR COMMISSION CHECK!  

1) Never assume they have a VALID DEBT OR LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT
 
2) Debt collectors MUST FOLLOW your STATE laws regarding licensing.  Check your Secretary of State for licensing requirements for ANY collection agency that contacts you

Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    
The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE

You can also post your questions here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum/   NEW URL!    

These links are to attorneys for those being scammed www.naca.net or http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/searchattorneys.aspx


Dealing with Debt Collectors
Http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm    
    
Statute of Limitations by State ? always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website ? FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you?re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor?s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation?s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn?t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they?re told (orally or in writing) that you?re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter ? even if you don?t think you owe the debt, can?t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don?t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector ? in writing ? to stop contacting you. Here?s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a ?return receipt? so you?ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don?t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people ? but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written ?validation notice? telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don?t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don?t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don?t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren?t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren?t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don?t pay your debt;
    they?ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don?t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn?t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt ? or your state law ? allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don?t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don?t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don?t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans? Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members? Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors? Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen?s and Harbor Workers? Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can?t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney?s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector?s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General?s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General?s office can help you determine your rights under your state?s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government?s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009

File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY ? use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE?S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
    
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies ? report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0

These idots called asking for the husband of my ex-wife. We've been divorced for better than 20 years. They also have tried to contact this person through my mother and asked about my children. My mother volunteered no information. The ex's husband had a history of bad debt over thirty years ago. I am also at the point of turning this over to the local law enforcement as it has scared my mother and they are attempting to involve my adult children. When my mother asked what the call was about she was told it was a Federal matter and she could not be given any further information. Best advice I can give is just hang up.

They called from 405.728.0601 and left a message stating they had an important business matter to discuss and to call them back at 800.691.3306

These obnoxious people obviously have nothing better to do than harass people. What a SAD and Pathetic job to have.
 They called my Cell phone 3 times in a row looking for someone I don't know. And continue to call. When I say to them " I don't know who you're talking about" and "this is NOT their phone number", I got a response "we'll keep calling back until it is their number"... What a bunch of pathetic morons. Seriously Bottom of the barrel people doing a bottom of the barrel job.

Just received a call about 10 minutes ago (1730 hrs 30AUG10).  My wife answered the phone and I can make out her reply, "He's here", with a puzzled look on her face.  I get up to answer the phone and she tells me it's someone named Claudia.  Claudia tells me my name has been given as a reference on an application from someone named Thomas Webster.  I quickly go through my mental rolodex and tell her I don't know anyone by that name.  I confirm her name is Claudia and ask her what the application is for, but she can't give me anymore information than that.  She then tries to get me to confirm my name by asking me if "name" is my middle name.  I then repeat that I don't know a Thomas Webster and end the conversation.  I'm seeing reports of harassment, collections, and phishing-related activity.  Listen folks... I don't care if you owe a debt or not, don't give these people the time of day.  If needed, turn your ringer off (at home) and check your messages.  Then simply delete those that turn out to be from this "company".  If they're on the up-and-up, they can go about their collection activities through legal channels.  If they call your job site, simply report them to your employer and they may be able to bring their own legal action against this "company" for harrassment or some other infraction.  Depending on your employer, they may welcome the opportunity to make some money due to their employees' work productivity dropping.  I have the U.S. Government available to stop harassing phone calls.

And, here is the story as to why this is being allowed to happen:

"'The Debt Machine' tells the stories of consumers who have been dragged into a morass of annoying phone calls, false claims and harassment. It also identifies the financial links between debt companies and some of the nation's leading banks, documents the buying and selling of billions of dollars of debts and describes the critical role of hundreds of specialized law firms".

http://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/pr-reports/pr-debt-machine.pdf

http://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/pr-reports/debt-machine.pdf

I understand that you have a responsiblity to pay back anything you barrow however Lawyers and judges and now the private debit collectors are useing the system to lie cheat and abuse your right to privacy. I had a bedit from 2007 and a lawyer bout my debit even though it was chared off and took me to court and won. The world just got a lot wource. Judges can now suew you for old debit, Lawyers themselves not representing anyone but them selves can now suew you. They get there judgments and guess what they never go away so at one point or another they will have there money...bottom line is they are bottom feeders making a long term investment so there fat a**'s can get fatter on the backs of people who get hit so hard they have no way of defending themselves. I have no issue with people trying to make money easy but when it gets like this and people are basicaly eating each other it just sickens me...so if your a judge, lawyer, or a private collector...go home and look at yourself in the merror and see if you see a person or a deamon waiting for his or hers next victum to fall....

I do not think these companies are allowed to call and threaten people if they are trying to collect a debt thats fine if they call and discuss the matter in a friendly matter they might get further with people. But with so many people not being able to pay their debt I think you should do a debt settlement and let your lawyers handle this. Most people are trying very hard they just cant pay it all and the truth is they probably already paid for the purchase 3 time over, Its not the publics fault these credit companies slammed the good people with triple interest rates and triple monthly payments and made it impossible to pay back all that interest so GC Services needs to lighten up on people and find a better way to collect their debt, or people need to settle their debt with an attorney this way they can have peace of mind and get there credit report back in good standing in less than 5 years instead of 26 years.

I received a call and they asked for my wife I told them she was not here and they asked that I give her a message. I said yes got the number and hung up, two minutes later I received another call except instead of the number 405-728-0601. they called from 000-000-0000 and asked for my wife again i told them once again she was not here the lady from GC Services was very rude and started threating me that if I didnt get her on the phone she was going to keep harassing my family members this is unacceptable and against the law these practices need to be stopped the government needs to take action on these collection agencies. I told her my wife has a lawyer handling her accounts and she wanted my lawyers number I do not give this out they will call GC Services so she hung up on me after threating me

Just got a call from this number  and left a message.

Renee Johnson wanted me to call her back about an important business matter but left no information or what it was about.  

She told me to call back on a different phone number 1-800-691-3306 with an extension

Caleed for my mom. Were very rude. She is getting older and started feeling bad ON HER BIRTHDAY! after speaking to this person.

They've called our business, inquiring if we are XYZ company.  THAT company used to have our phone number, and was in the same town.  This morning, the lady asked, "Is this XYZ company?" even after I answered the phone, ABC Company.  I will say she was cordial though.

Just got a call on my cell phone from these people asking for someone named Bertha???? Have no idea who it is. Is this some kind of scam call or something?

Left no message.  They are calling a business number.  If it is so important why cant they leave a message.  Also I DO NOT TAKE MESSAGES FOR MY TENANTS!  I DO NOT VIOLATE THE PRIVACY OF TENANTS BY ACKNOWLEDGING/DENYING IF I KNOW A SUCH PERSON. SO DO NOT CALL US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You cannot discuss anything with these people!!  I arranged a pymt amount, which in turn I tried to decrease b/c I know that I could not afford that extra payment every month.  When calling and trying to talk to my so- called account rep, he told me that it was unacceptable and a joke and told me he would cancel it... cancel what?? Then he hung up on me!!!  I called back immedatetly trying to get a supervisor on the phone, b/c I have never been placed in collection before.  I PAY MY BILLS.  I got the jack%^&%&^%&  back on the phone.  I told him I did not want to speak with him that I wanted to speak with his supervisor,,, well, I am your acct rep.  He told me it was a joke what I was trying to arrange.   Anyone's hard earned money is not a joke, especially when you are actually trying to make payments!!!   Seems like these people need to take customer service training and realize kindness gets you a long way in life.

I did forget that the phone read "Operations Division."  He asked for Monique.

Person (male) called and asked for Monique.  Told him he had wrong number and he asked me if this was _________(my name). I said yes and that I never heard of this person.  End of conversation.

Just received a phone call at work from this number, didn't answer.  The caller id showed Operations Division.  I did a phone number look up and it came up Deborah Younglas a 54 year old woman.  No message left.

Yeah i just got a call from them about 5 minutes ago ... googled it after recieving an odd voice mail which left me no information as to why they were calling just a phone and extension.  i have one bill that i can think of that has not been paid from a gas company before i moved but I made a large payment on it about 2 months ago.  They probably just want the rest of it, but i have several credit cards all of which I make my monthly payments on time with.  I just simply WONT answer any calls from this number.

First time they called on 08-28-09 approx.10:25AM.
Caller ID read Operations Div. Phone # 405-728-0601.
Ask about my son-in law. Said they had very important business matter to discuss with him. They would not identify the company or nature of the call other than to say they needed to talk to him. I told them I hadn't spoken with him in long time and had noway of contacting him.

Second call was 09-11-09 approx. 10:00AM.
Caller ID read unavailable, no phone number.
Caller identified herself as Mrs. Brokenbough.
This conversation was pretty much identical to the previous call.
They were polite but evasive each time about who they were and the nature of the call except that it concerned an important business matter and needed to get in touch with him. Do I know how to get hold of him.
Answer No.

Called my home number, left no message.

They call twice in the morning around 8:30 am then twice at night around 7-8, and never leave a message.  They want money that I've already paid on.  They're idiots and don't communicate well with the origianting vendor.  I understand they're "just doing their job" but they are truly a**h*les.  I think I'm going to report them because I've already stated in writing they are not allowed to contact me by phone any longer.

I agree.  These people are scumbags.  They started calling me at work.  I told the person I was speaking to that I could not take these type of calls at work and to call me back on my home number (which was on file). After he called me again (immediately) at work, I told him if he harassed me anymore at work, I would turn him over to the Attorney General.  Then he got ugly and stated if I could afford an attorney, then I should pay my bill.  I only owed them 50 and had just forgotten to make the payment.  I informed him it doesn't cost me a dime to turn him and his company over to the AG and they could bar them from practicing in this state. He proceeded to call me back twice more times in a row.  I gave the number to my husband who called and spoke to the man and his supervisor.  He hasn't called my work since.