Just got a call from304-252-6575/  Caller ID Vecellio and Grog.  This is their phone # but did not call.  The person on the phone said he was Matthew Russell and to call me back at 716-335-9323.  This is some kind of collection agency.  Blocking that call.

Aaron Siegel & Franklin Credit Solutions has been SUED in a Dallas County Civil Court.  You can go look that up on Dallas County Civil Court 116 website.  Case number DC13-01578.  Siegel is the defendant in a class action suit.

Aaron has called me, as did some Joyce lady.  Aaron even called me from his cell phone.

I made a youtube video on him, watch please.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfPC-AYO768

Called me, my parents made threatening and disturbing phone messages.

Got a call from these thugs yesterday. First guy told me I had a felony warrant out. I was then transferred to a "compliance officer" who told me I had defrauded a bank by not paying a debt. I happened to be discharged from chapter 7 bk so there is nothing they can due to pursue me even legally. These tactics are obviously illegal. I wont get into the legal options I intend on pursuing :)

I get calls from this number, 2 and three times suring the day and all day at my work number, who is the heck are these people...messages left are rude and threatening me...I better call before 7:00 pm..

Just received the same message from Investigator Brooks.  We do not owe any debts, so am wondering why the call.  We will ignore it.

Thursday, April  14, 2011 received call/voice mail message on cell from "Illiana" (foreign accent) with the (unintelligible) bureau  investigation division stating that I was a "person of interest" in a case involving Dylan Thompson (I don't know a Dylan Thompson) and to call back during "business hours" 8am-5pm M-F (call came in after 6pm). Gave me case number to refer to so she could look it up in her database. Pretty sure it is a scam...waiting for her to call back.

Glad to hear this is all it is.......harrassment! I got this identical sounding call 2 days ago. I have already blocked that number:)

Saw light on answering machine, so I listened to the message. As someone above said it sounded very threatening and gave me  this # to call: 877-852-4425 ext- 331. He said he was investigator Brooks and the case # was 95046. Fortunately, due to significant health issues over the past 18 months I'm going through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and am represented by an attorney. I called them (my  attorney) after I googled the # and found this site. The paralegal called them and said they told her they didn't have my name in their records and they believe they hadn't called me. It quite obviously is some kind of a scam-don't even call them would be my advice.

Received a call from this # but when I picked it up, there was dead silence. I said Hello, Hello, and Third try Hello. Hung up.

it purports to be a collection agency and leaves very aggressive, rude messages threatening all kinds of dire consequences...to be ignored

Got same message from Invest. Brooks. Will not reply.Got same typwe of message month ago,they were looking for someone I didn't even know but use my nane as ref.

got csll  from this number asking for me...  told me it was about a social security claim.  I said I that person is not at this address.  He asked if I knew her and could give her a message about her social security.  I said yes...  He asked what my relationship was with this person.  I said I am related...  He asked "How"?  I said "M Y O B"  He said, "OK. Are you able to give him this message".  I said "Sure."  He gave me this number:  877 852-4425   Ext. 331....  Claims number 161969

I do not give info out to unknowns...  This was scary...

RECIVED TWO CALLS FROM 877-852-4425. tHESE PEOPLE TRIED TO SCAM ME OUT OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED $....SCARE TACTICS, SS SCAM....DON'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING....LIARS

A call came in claiming to be investigator Brooks,and stated (my husband) was a person of interest in an investigation! Gave a different phone number to call 877-852-4425 ext 331 case #169990 I am not even going to call. SCAM SCAM!!!!

I got a call from BRYAN 716-335-9323 insisting I knew the person of inquiry.  I had not seen them for a couple years and didn't know their phone number.  They said his SS# was tied to an investigation and he needed to speak to them. . .  EITHER COLLECTION OR SCAM!

Calls from Blackmon Lafayette & Associates. Called family claiming to look for another family member. Talked to Thomas Payne who says he's director of operations with no one above him. He was scrambling trying to make it seem legitimate and making things up as he went along. There is no debt owed by any family member. Unfortunately for Payne, he was actually talking to a real paralegal who got him so upset he threatened me with harassment and hung up when asked for his address and the attorney he worked for. Please be very careful about this scam and do not EVER give information over the phone unless absolutely sure it's legitimate! Other phone numbers associated are 716-418-8349 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              716-418-8349      end_of_the_skype_highlighting; 716-335-9943; 877-852-4425; 716-844-6903.

Just got a call from 1-877-852-4425  ext 314 case #171300 Blackmon & Lafayette left message on our home phone that my husband was part of an investgation.--Scam!!  Do not respond.  Thanks also to all those who are taking the time to report this via internet.  Today is New Year's Eve 2010.

They also use this number: 716-844-6899

They leave a threatening message on my answering machine for my husband.  They also called two uncles of his and threatened them and said he was at the center of a "fraud investigation" which is ABSOLUTELY NOT true.  They told his uncles that their "brother" was being investigated so although they have a large amount of information it's not always accurate, they are probably getting it from Spokeo.com or one of those sites.  Both uncles refused them any information and called me right away.  My husband does not owe any money to these people whoever they are and it is definitely a not on the up and up.

I am posting here today because even though I realize it's a scam and have dealt with it in my husband's case, I work professionally in finance and wanted to give some information out with regards to the "Fair Credit Reporting Act".

Under the "Fair Credit Reporting Act" these collectors if that's what they are, are operating highly illegally.

1. They can NOT threaten to jail you.  There is no such thing as debtor's prison anymore.  If you owe  on a bad check the company you wrote the check to can take you to small claims court and seek a judgement but you receive a notice from the court prior to that.  If it's enough to be a felony in your state you would hear from local law enforcement when they showed up at your door to actually arrest you and NOT some heavily accented unknown person.

2. They are required by law to divulge in ANY communication that they are "attempting to collect a debt and any information gained will be used for that purpose".  If they don't they can be sued.  That includes the threatening messages left on your answering machine.

3. They can not release any information regarding your debt or you to ANYONE other than yourself without written authorization from YOU, that includes family members.

4. You have the right to request a copy of ANY debt you owe in writing and they are required to provide it within 30 days.  If they refuse to do so they are again in violation of the law and can be sued.

5. If you actually owe a debt to a company the collection agency is required by law to send you notice via USPS telling you what you owe, what charges are being added and why, e.g. collection costs, and give you 30 days to dispute the validity of the debt.

If these people call you, write down everything they say word for word, call whoever you might owe money to and read the conversation back verbatim and then turn it over to your local law enforcement.  The way this company or companies as the case may be are working is illegal in several different ways and could actually invalidate any actual debt owed by you.  If you owe money, pay it to whoever you owe it to and be done with it, but do make sure they understand what the collection agency they hired is doing because I guarantee you if they get enough complaints they will realize they are at risk of their debt being invalidated and of a potential lawsuit and they'll stop using them.

I just got a phone call from the same guy. He called my cellphone twice and the second time he left a message. He also called my mothers house looking for me and I haven't lived there for over 17 years. He wanted to verify my SS#. My mom wouldn't give it to him.  He said Investigator Brookes on my VM too. He sounded like he was a police officer or something trying to scare me into calling him back but I'm not going to . I don't owe anything and I'm not in trouble so I'm not going to worry about him but I am going to report the number and have it blocked.

I got the same call today from a guy who said my name and it was concerning an ongoing investigation. I didn't bother to call him back either. Unless I get subpoenaed I am not biting.

The person called and said that he was Investigator Brooks and it would be in my best interest to call him back.  He said tha matter concerned a case that involved my social security number.  CHECK THIS OUT before you call!  Scare tactic to make you call back.  I think it is a debt collector from NY (???).

Just got a message from "Investigator Brooks" saying that there was a case involving my social security number, and to call back immediately.  After searching the number on Google I found that this is a BOGUS debt collection company called Bryant Lafayette & Associates out of Buffalo, NY.  I'm going to ignore it.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-716-335-9323

ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTOR - REPORT THEM TO NY ATTORNEY GENERAL ASAP

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!

http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=7192
Bryant, Lafayette & Associates, LLC  
210 John Glenn Drive, #14
Amherst, New York, 14226
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  866-359-0770 716-844-6899 716-362-0279 716-882-5934 716-882-0212 716-335-9940 716-335-9943  
Fax 716-564-3087  

  Aaron B. Siegel, Owner Andrea L. Siegel, co-owner  
 
NOT a law firm, NOT a pre litigation firm, however a LOT of Senior investigators working there.

Typical 'Buffalo Style' debt collectors, lies, harassment, junk debts, no documents to back them up.

Representing themselves as lawyers (Aaron Siegel), threats of judgments and court dates, all of which are bogus.

Lies, threats & extortion, typical debt collection slime. T

hese are parasites, they need to be avoided.  
Aliases Other Locations  

Security Credit Systems Siegel Credit Systems Siegel Credit Solutions
448 Franklin Street Buffalo, NY 14203  



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

I just got the same call. I did not bother to call him back.

Recieved a call from this number.  Very serious guy asked for me then he said he needed to verify my social. He wanted to give me my last 4 numbers.  I asked who he was and what agency.  He acted bothered that I was questioning him.  He rambled quickly an agency then said he had a legal file regarding me that needed to be opened.  He said he was from New York but the legal matter was from Lafette.  When I asked him from my address he obviously made up one, it was like  123 Main Street.   He didn't even know what state he was calling. I laughed at him and told him this was a scam. What I am wondering though, is what kind of scam they are operating.