I have been contacted over the years by both Natale Law Offices and just recently Sheikh Law Firm.
I have done my best to educate myself on my rights in regards to this type of thing.
What I have discovered, and I think I'm correct, is that the 'so called' lawyers are paid by the collection agencies to use their name in order to scare people into thinking that legal action is being taken.
The number of debtors that are actually taken to court are 1 in 10,000. I got this number from a CBC show http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/debtcollectordread/   Please check this link out yourself. The video is worth watching.
The best thing to do I've learned is to just ignore, ignore, ignore. If you reply to them, they are like sharks in the water smelling your blood. Don't return their mail, but most importantly, don't call them back. Once they hear from you, they will not stop.
Remember that the person on the other end of the line is usually a young person with little or no education. That's why they have the lousy job they have, harassing people for commission. They take advantage of the elderly, the weak minded, and the easily intimidated. Don't fall into this category.
I hope this information helps someone. It was years ago that I got a call from one of these collection agencies and the information I found on the internet was what saved me from the aggravation and fear that these agencies specialize in.
Good luck and don't let yourself be bullied.  :)

I totally agree. We get all kind of letter from collection agencies and now a new "lawyer" this, Salma Sheikh person... I just throw them away....  I NEVER pick up the phone, NEVER engage into any type of communication with this people. The original creditor has my account listed as written off... so I have no longer anything to do with it:) how simple!!

I received in the mail a letter from SALMA SHEIKH Barrister and Solicitor 989 Derry Road East, Suite 301 Mississauga, Ontario L5T 2J8 tel. 416-645-7112 stating they are a solicitor for Collectcorp whom I am apparently indebted to AKTIV KAPITAL ACQUISITION $4,000. ++ DOLLARS. If I wish to discuss the matter further, to contact MR. O'BRIEN OF COLLECTCORP @ 1-866-541-7284. Then it is signed by a Salma Sheikh, LLB
This kind of crap really irriates me because it is an invasion of privacy that these quacks have my address, AND FROM WHERE DID THEY GET IT.  I HAVEN'T HAD IT VERY LONG.  
My main concern here would be that if this letter was sent to an elderly person it would scare the hell out of them. In some cases they might turn around and pay the money requested. I never put my real home address into the internet.

Dear Friend,

I am Alhaji CH Almasser a banker in Islamic development bank I contacted you now on a business deal of US$10,500.000, to transfer to your account the depositor of the said fund died with his entire family during the Iraq war in 2004. unfortunately leaving nobody for the claim. if we make this claim, we will share it 50%/50%. If you are interested reply I will give you the full details.
please get back to ME IN THIS EMAIL:ch.alamasser22@yahoo.com
Waiting for reply

Best regard,
Alhaji C.H Almasser

collection agencies "buy" the unpaid debts from banks.  so if the bank couldn't collect on the  $10,000 (unsecured loan)  you owed them, they write off the money (don't worry, they have insurance, have monetized your signature, fractional banking, etc, so they haven't lost a dime). What happens to us for defaulting on an unsecured loan? look it up...see if you can find a specific penalty -other than a damaged credit rating.  

The collection agency that has a contract with the bank to buy their write-offs,(these contracts are bid on by collection companies - yes this is big business, right up there with re-selling mortgages)  pays the bank ? 0.10 to .20 cents on the dollar.  (I don't know what the going rate is anymore)  so if the rate is .20 cents, the collection agency bought the $10,000.00 written off debt for $2000.  whatever they make over and above that is their profit.  
that is how they can offer you a reduced settlement amount.  They DO NOT have a contract with you.    most of them have "without prejudice" somewhere on their written correspondence.  That is so that paper cannot be used in court...as they are operating illegally as a third party interloper without a contract directly with you.  Are they nasty - you bet.  Do not talk to them.  they are masters at verbal trickery and mental abuse. You can feel the negativity come at you thru the phone. if the bank statement says 0 balance that's what it is.  suggest you educate yourself re: this matter and do not take my word for it.

its a scam so be very careful! you most likely dont owe anything to anyone,but they have tried to scam so many of us. tell them where to go and tell them you are reporting them to the authorities

I received a letter with the same phone number 416-645-7112. They told me i had to pay 536.70. I don't owe any money to anyone, not that i am aware of anyway.  Where are they getting all of this informatin on people?  My husband and I were so upset thinking we owed thses people until i came across this sight. Thankyou so much for helping us.

http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=5246
Collectcorp  
455 North 3rd St, #260
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004

www.irmc.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  800-243-7167 - 877-719-7015 602-443-2920 877-897-7011 602-424-6538  
Fax 602-443-2928 - 602-443-2929  

  Gregory Harmer, Gen Counsel. Park Ave, NYC 646-274-3017
Notes
Junk debt collectors out of CANADA. A subsidiary of an US firm : website www.irmc.com  
Aliases Other Locations  


300 International Dr #100 Williamsville, NY 14221  

 
THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND THEY WILL END UP PAYING YOU

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

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/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

do not give in to scare tactics these scammers play thats what they want to do so you will pay its just a game they play if they call you you on the phone all you do is tell them you will take the info and refer it to your lawyer it takes to play there game if it continues call consumers affairs and give them there name and the call will stop

this guy is a scam and no one pay this guy

do not pay the letter it is a scam and means nothing if you do, it is not legally binsing and just a scare tactic to get funds from you.

Contact you provincial consumer protection and file a complaint it is illegal to misrepresent as a lawyer.

I got a similar call and letter from Collectcorp but the name that the Visa payment would be to was to someone named Salma Sheikh in trust. Well trust I don't! I keep getting collection agency letters and calls for a car loan that was paid off years ago. I paid one collection agency $750 to pay in full only to suddenly be harrassed by another company and now this Collectcorp. Thanks for the above info. I see that I am not alone. I don't owe Scotia Bank a penny! and have been fighting this for years. The bank says they have no record of anything being owed but if it went to collections, it must be legit. But how can it be? I don't owe the $238 they say I still owe.

I deal with various businesses who sometimes have amounts go in to collection.  They received one such notice from Salma Shaikh, Barristers & Solicitor.  The first giveaway is there was no phone number to call, only a fax number with which to provide your Visa number.  Second giveaway was that the fax cover was straight out of Microsoft Word - I really don't think a big, legitimate collection company uses Word to prepare their faxes - they would have proper letterhead type faxes.

I never make any payment to the Collection company.  You always should have had a bill at some point from the actual vendor/credit card company, etc. saying that you have an amount owing.  I always send my payment directly to the company that the money is owed to.  They can then sort it out with the Collection company how much they owe for the service - but you have paid the bill and have proof of payment on account.

If you are still getting hassled I would suggest that first you ignore the collection company.  Contact the actual company that you are told has put the account in to collections.  Tell them that you will only deal with them, and not a collection company based on too many scams out there.  If you actually owe money then you should be able to work out a payment plan.  If you don't owe money then you can ignore the notice.  If you keep getting harrassed send a fax to the 'collection agent' requesting that they cease and desist or you will contact your lawyer or ombudsman.  Inform them that if in fact you do owe money you will only deal with the original company in this matter.  If you keep getting bugged call your ombudsman, Member of Parliament, Better Business Bureau or local police detachment's fraud unit.

We received a letter from them in June and they offered to settle the amount that was owed for less than what was actually owed. We didn't feel comfortable paying a collection agency but Scotia bank would not take a payment from us, they said that they account was no longer with them. We called 1-800-872-9641 several time trying to reach Kristin Bailey (as stated in the letter) and we were told that the number was no longer in service. A few weeks later is suddenly worked. We reached an agreement on an amount to pay and got their bank account number at CIBC. We got a money order from our bank and went to CIBC to pay it. We got confirmation from CIBC that the bank account was for CollectCorp.

3 weeks ago the calls started again. Even coming from the same number I listed above. Today we received a letter from Natale Law Offices saying we still owe the money (more now).

We have no idea what to do now. We have proof that we paid from CIBC but Krisin Bailey (on behalf of Salma Sheikh) never sent us a letter saying our account was closed.

If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. They continue to call several times a day.

I just got a letter from this "lawyer" the other day and it says the amount that I owe to a mastercard.  I tried calling the guy that it tells me to call in the letter with no luck.  I was going to send them money this Thursday when I get paid but after reading these posts I don't feel comfortable sending them anything. :S

I too get the letter just with a different addresses (one of them was B.O.Box 4000) the other: 2985 Drew Road, Suite 221, L4T 0A4. Thanks to this comments I am more stable now. Yes, they have a access to your information ... I just wonder from who ????

This is scary!  We too got a letter from these people with that phone number, but we thought it could have been legit, because they seemed to know the exact amount of money that we owed a Visa card.  They too said that we had to send the full amount to their address (not to the Visa address)within 10 days or they threatened legal action.  Thankfully, we read this page online before we sent them any money. However, we sent a letter to them asking for more time, but the letter was returned unopened by the post office, saying that the P.O.Box had been closed.  What legitimate law firm uses a P.O. Box #, and if they changed their address, why not have the Post Office forward their mail to their new address??  The whole thing smells fishy, but the scary thing is that they seem to have some sort of access to people's private credit information! Another weird thing is that the address on the top of the letter didn't match the address on the bottom of letter (both of Mississauga, Ontario.  The top address was: 2985 Drew Road, Suite 221, L4T 0A4
The address at the bottom of letter was: 1105 Crestlawn Drive, Unit D1, P.O. Box 1067, Stn. B, L4Y 3W4

got a letter to pay $5,000 from these idiots and I know it is a scam  b/c i dont owe anything to anybody. lol

'Mr/Ms unknown'
if you have not already 'taken action' (done as 'standard format letter' outlines...and by the way, jist of your letter and phone conversation sounds intimdating and rude to me too if what you allege is true), then visit your TD branch and try and work out your situation with them.

It's worth a try....bank reps are generally decent human beings, usually willing to help 'their customer' resolve banking situations that come about at times not due to fault of their own. The same cannot be said for 'others', in my opinion, who are biased (toward  their client, usually BIG business), and will used all means legal and questionable?? to harass & intimidate the common man.

If there is one thing to be said about this economic meltdown (our severe depression) and that is, it's 'leveling the busines playing field' by doing away with businesses that 'prey upon' the most vulnerable in our society. And it's happening at an alarming rate...take a clue from radio & TV! I wouldn't be surprised that this one would go away too!

i got letter from this ppl, it says SALMA SHAIKH barrister and solicitor and the letter said i have to pay about 630 dollar to TD Bank, which is overdraft, and i didnt take the money, and they said if u dont pay in 10 dayz we will take a legal action against me, and they will take me to court... i need a help regardin this matter, i dono wat to do... i keep telling them that i didnt take the money but they were talkin to me very rudelly... wth so help any one and they told me i have to contact Mr. R Walker..... help help help