I received a call this morning at home from this number asking for my mother by her name.  My mother has never been at this number.  I called the number back and got someone named Shari.  When I questioned her about the call, she asked if I could get a number to my mother.  She gave me the number 866-583-0814, which according to some other posts, is the same number.  She said it was regarding a pending file and she gave me a number.  She then told me that she could not give me any more info as she was bound by federal law.  My thought was, if that is the case, then you would know that my mother has not lived with me in almost twenty years.  I then had to ask what company this was as it was never given to me.  She told me CRA.  I asked her what CRA was, and she told me "a legal processing office" and then she hung up.  Sounds to me a little weird if she hung up immediately.  Be careful.

See 866-583-0814

I received these calls on my cell phone.  The caller identified themselves as working for CRA.  This “company” uses many tactics.  Basically, they are trying to collect old debts they don’t own.  The easiest way to get rid of them is to either tell them to send you proof of the original debt (which is required by law) or to tell them to send you the agreed upon payment in writing PRIOR to you releasing your account information (which is your right).  Either way, they will make some sort of threat and terminate the call.  Other numbers associated with the company are 3478306176 and 8432780375.

I received three very abusive calls from this company claiming to be process servers fro the IRS. I knew it was a scam. After having them  Verbally abuse me thant got me fired up to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission form 1088..hope it helps..I am also contacting the IRS to let them know they are being used a a tool for these scam artists.. I hope they rot in jail!!!!!t

Yes CRA has sent me letters and called many times, I don't answer long distance numbers on my Phone.. I had a Collection closed and written off .. This CRA purchased the account for Pennies on the Dollar.. They will never get a Dime If I pay it will be to the origanal Debt.. wait they stated in my CR that it was written off that means.. Nothing is Owed. Correct?  The ph# is from Ohio.. the old account they are trying to collect is from California...

The called and left a message asking for a relative who has never lived with me (and to my knowledge never even visited the state).  I called 415 513 5915.  Asked what CRA was.  He said it was the name of his company and kept asking if I got a call this morning.  I wouldn't tell him. I asked what CRA stood for and he told me don't call back.

I love irratating telemarketers/bill collectors.

these people are CRA some kind of collection agency which always use a different number to try to get you to answer the phone. very rude and want to get all your info before they tell you anything. So watch out and don't give em your info and if you do call them DO NOT CALL FROM YOUR HOME, WORK OR CELL PHONE. so they dont keep on bugging you all night. thanks

Stop calling

dear reader! anybody know how to stop this phone number call us everyday?please let`s me know I`ll stop it.it`s make me so borring to get voice mail.

I got a voice mail from this number 415-513-5915, a lady named ELIZIBETH left a message saying she is from CRA, to call her back on my own cell number.
starting to get scary.

THESE PEOPLE CALLED ME ALSO.. DONT KNOW HOW THEY GOT MY NUMBER. A RECORDER ASK ME TO HOLD THEN A LADY CAME ON THE LINE AND ASK FOR MY NAME. THEN ASK IF  S.S.# END WITH MY LAST FOUR I SAID YES THEN SHE TOLD ME TO HOLD FOR A LEGAL REP. THIS PERSON TOLD ME SHE WAS CALLING TO COLLECT A DEBT FROM 1998. FROM A OLD CREDIT CARD DEBT THAT WAS 12 YRS OLD. I ASK HER WHO SHE WAS AND WHO SHE REPRESENTED TWICE UNTILL I THINK SHE SAID CRS.  I ASK HER FOR HER NAME SHE IGNORED ME AND SAID SHE WOULD FILE  A1099 C ON ME. I TOLD HER I DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THIS COLLECTION. SHE ASK ME FOR MY BANK INFO. I ASK HER FOR HER NAME AND WHO SHE REPRESENTED AGAIN THEM SHE JUST HUNG UP ON ME.

Got a call on my cell phone for my husband, with whom I am currently seperated and goign through divorce, AND who has NEVER been associated in anyway to my cell number...he has always had his own numbers.
The caller was female, and even though my voicemail clearly indicates that it is a phone connected with myself and my son...I do not mention my soon to be ex-husband's name on my voicemail message. She said her name quite fast (sounds like Liz Chevian???)so it was hard to understand, she said the message was for my husband but only mentioned him by first name (odd). The message said that he has a very serious situation here in her office and she needs to either go over it with him or whoever is currently representing him and that he needs to contact her immeduately at 866-584-0926.
Very odd - she doesnt list the company she is from OR my husbands last name!

I got a call from this number on my cell but didn't answer and the message was hold music and then a guy asking for "John".  I have no idea who "John" is or who is at the incoming number.

Have recieved a call each day also for about a week or two. I do not answer calls that do not identify caller. I do not owe any body either, only local utilities.

I too have received a call from 415-513-5915. They have been calling every day for the past week. I don't answer my cell phone when I don't recognize the number and figure if it was important they would leave a message. Glad I checked this number out.

I just received a call from this number. I did not answer because I did not know the number.. FUNNY THING I just got his phone yesterday and nobody knows my number yet.

Received a call from 1 415-513-5915 on my cell phone. I did not answer because I did not recognize the number. The calling party left no message. Glad I came here to check it out. I don't owe anyone any money so there would be no reason for a debt collector to call me.

Got a message today from this number.  Tricky woman said her name was Bonnie and that she really needed me to call her as soon as I got the message because there was something going on and she wasn't sure I was aware of it.  She actually sounded pretty concerned for my well-being.  But...  I'm glad I checked here, considering I have been ignoring calls from CRA for about 2 years now since I cancelled my T-Mobile account due to a contract issue.  About a month ago a guy called me from an 800 Service number and on a whim, I answered it.  The guy wanted to discuss "my account" with me but refused to give me any details about the account.  He kept asking for my SSN, which I told him, that I don't share that information with people whom I don't know.  He asked if it ended in XXXX, which happened to be correct, but again, I am not about to confirm anything about my SSN with an unknown entity.  I explained to him that I was being cautious, and asked him to share some details about the account and who he worked for, to which he refused and said he couldn't share any information without confirming my identity and the ONLY way to confirm it was to obtain my SSN.  I told him he wasn't going to get that from me and I asked him if there was another way, to which he replied "no."  I asked if they had mailed anything to my home address, but yet again, he refused to discuss the account with me since I would not confirm my identity.  I told him, well I guess we have nothing to talk about then, asked him to stop calling my house every hour and to mail something to the address they had on file and hung up.  Afterwards, I redialed the number and guess who????  CRA....  Funny thing is, I received (2) letters from CRA in as many years.  Both were received in the same month, about 3 months after I cancelled my account with T-Mobile.

I received these calls on my cell phone.  The caller identified themselves as working for CRA.  This ?company? uses many tactics.  Basically, they are trying to collect old debts they don?t own.  The easiest way to get rid of them is to either tell them to send you proof of the original debt (which is required by law) or to tell them to send you the agreed upon payment in writing PRIOR to you releasing your account information (which is your right).  Either way, they will make some sort of threat and terminate the call.  Other numbers associated with the company are 3478306176 and 8432780375.

I returned a call from Patricia at office of the CRA.  I called back to phone #866 596 9135 as requested and reached a Mr. Adair. He said I had a tax bill due next month, and wanted to verify my social security #.  I told him I didn't give that out.  Then, he told me the name of my mortgage company to show he was legitimate. He refused to tell me what he was calling about, only he was from the office of the CRA.  When I kept asking, he said I was shifty, and he would just turn me over to the government.
I called 415 513 5915, reached a Mr. Gow, who refused to give me any info, just insulted me.
They are calling from an unlisted landline in San Francisco.  Intellius says it can give me info for $4.99.

They call our home looking for my brother-in-law.  My husband has told them not to call anymore but they insist until Keny calls them, they won't stop calling us.  We recognize the number and let the kids play jokes on them when they answer (ie - Buddy the Elf...What's your favorite color? or Rock 102.3 - sorry!  You're the 9th caller!).  Immature I know - but funny nonetheless...

Its a company called CRA. They had my social and said he got a file on his desk, made it sound very important like it was about to be filed as a lawsuit. It was for a cc that was over 7 years old and I told him it was past the statute of limitations. he then said he was about to file a 1099C which is a cancellation of debt and I could deal with him or the IRS. I told him the IRS was more fun. He hung up. I guess this co buys old, old debts and tries to intimidate people into paying what they don't have to pay

My husband received a call today, two minutes apart from the exact same number as everyone else has posted.  Mrs. Evanport left a message stating that they had some important papers my husband needed to sign and he was involved in something that he was unaware about.  What the hell does that mean???  I called them and they said they could not speak to me unless they had my husabands permission... I guess they will never hear from us again, I'm not going to call them back.

Ya that Kitchen guy called me too but they keep on calling for my husband, saying that they have my phone number as his contact info. First time i asked them the same thing about what all that was  about and they said they could not release info to anyone but him but when my husband tried to call them from his phone number ( which they obviously didn't have and there for they ignored) they never answered it. I'm sure if he called from my phone they would have picked it up right away. I'm glad he never got ahold of them ... So now if they call again i would tell them i would report them if they call one more time....
glad i have looked up this phone online

I get a call at least two times a day from these PEOPLE!They make it sound as if you have some kind of a serious issue so you will call them back ,but now that i know who they really are i will not waste my time on them!I agree that this is scarey to think these people are trying to steel other peoples socials and that something needs to be done about it!He called my phone this morning and i told him that i knew who he was and that i was going to turn them in to the feds!The guy that i spoke with said his name was Mr.Ward from the CRA!He hung up on me!Dont let these people get away with this scam!

they call my phone at least two times a day saying that i need to call them right away. That i have a serious issue i need to take care of!They have my old last name that they are using!

Missed a call from a guy at this number early yesterday morning. Thought at first when I listened to his message that a friend or family member was in an emergency situation. The caller was using a speaker phone and I heard him say in the background "Okay it's up as loud as it will go". Then he yelled a message to me, addressing me by name: "Pick up! Call me, it's urgent!" The message was a bit broken up, he left no name, and I didn't recognize the number. After frantically assuring that all friends and family were safe and sound, I searched the number and found this thread.  What a bunch of slimeballs and scumbags!

I've saved the voicemail and will most certainly be following up with a report with the Attorney General's office and FTC. Thank you lamet for the detailed info - it's very helpful!

I was just called by a Mrs.Berman. She left a message saying that I'm a party to something I know nothing about and it is important I call her back. Considering what I have just read I will not be calling them back.

Called ask for me by name, said it was really important needed to speak with me today. Said her name was Amanda-CRA. gave some type of 6 digit acct. # or file #. Said to call back at 866-584-0926. I traced the call to the San Francisco area near the bay where Alcatraz is located-give or take a few miles acording to the pinpoint wide zoom map that popped up.

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/consumer_recovery.htm
Consumer Recovery Associates
aka Consumer Credit Association
aka CR & Associates
and the world's most grating phone numbers:

866-857-3916
866-499-6608
888-253-9713
866-563-9556
888-413-8823
877-360-1616   800-913-4915
757-368-3622
757-368-8004
757-368-8331
757-271-8788
866-418-3360


2697 International Parkway # 4   Suite 270
Virginia Beach, Virginia  23452
PO BOX 2916, VB, VA 23450

Head Debt Collectors:
Christine Spruill       Mr. Parker          Mr. K C Scott

Peter Brunson           Conrad Grey       Jane



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bud Says                         Consumer Comments Below

1-866-857-3916 is one of those irritating numbers that show up on your caller ID that can never seem to be identified.   When you return the call, you get the ominous "Can I help you?" or "Case number please."  They refuse to identify who they are when questioned, will not state they are debt collectors, and by tone imply you have committed some illegal act and are in great trouble or they would not have called you.  It is a violation of FDCPA.  It took quite a bit of research and cunning to discover whom the voices were behind the lawbreaking 866 number were...but it's coming together now and they are without excuse.

Give us your stories on CRA and let's put together some useful information to bring these folks down.  Record their calls where legal and save the tapes for future use.  We'll post 'em here if you have something of interest.

In the meantime, hold them to the law; make them put everything in writing, validate the debt.  Use the cease-communication letter.  Violations of the law should be pointed out to the Virginia Attorney General.

CAUTION: I recommend you NEVER disclose your bank account or credit card information to a debt collector, as you risk them emptying your account, or maxing out your credit card. If you feel they are reporting on your credit bureau files in error or need assistance in dealing with them, email  the details w/your location.  Assistance and referral to a consumer legal specialist may be available.



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

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

Dealing with Debt Collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html


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