it was this 716 # but they left a message to call this 1 800 #

Yep he was fired, and has resurfaced and continues with his shady unprofessional practices at Pinnacle Asset Group LLC.

BS!

I call BS.

Frank Taimani operates under Pinnacle Asset Group LLC now.
He is still a fraud.

That is funny Tony..... 1000 huh... wow goes up all the time...... Check cahing companies looking all over for you like LOLO....bouncing checks to your employees... cant pay the rent so you get sued because your stupid..... Takes out taxes from employees and does not submit them... collectors trying to file U/E claims on him and guess what the IRS has no record of the company.....has a gambling problem... look him up at Buffalo Niagra Casino....Him and his soon to be ex wife heather are there every weekend......keep it coming BREZ.... i got plenty of more.... How dare you state things to her daughter who is sticking up for her mother.....oh and how are those steriods working for ya???? Not so good since your wife left hmmm??

so how does your mom feel about justin who she works under him at thomas bella and associates...boy that abortion money you got there helped out when tony gave it to you and you too stephanie when he gave you $1000 and still have not paid it back...you need work on those nasty teeth steph maybe even pop a tic tac wouldn't even help....good luck with the other drug users there and hey if you need an abortion i am sure tony is there to help you out too and even pay rent for you people.

Sammie dont worry, people will write whatever they want.... None of this is true honey.

this is very untrue.....my mom (stephanie) is very incocent it this.....all of this " rudeness and crudness" was done by robert bridges.....who is now in jail.....please dont put my moms name bad in the industry

thanks

Have an interesting story to report regarding this company and the several other names it goes by. Will post very useful information soon.
Cant right now..dying to post however!

got tangeled up with aurora gold last spring...was not my debt, but there was no convincing the man who called from this office. had to file a police report because of the harassment. experian mixed up someone else's bad debt on my report, which i was able to correct, but not without alot of hassle from this company, even when i told them it was because of the credit report error. was threatened with court, told that i knew this was my debt, so to 'pony up' and pay it or my credit would be ruined, and they would win a court case against me. fortunately, i spoke with the clerk in the court house they were going to sue me at (which is 3 hours away from my home) and she knew the woman whose information was mixed into mine, and said to tell them to call her, that she would set it straight. I don't know if they ever did call her, but they were warned that a police report was file and to cease harassing me.

Contact a lawyer, they will not follow through but will continue to harass.

how do you get these people off your back my case is kind of the same in the fact that it goes back to 2003 that is when it was payed off and now they say i had an outstanding bal. BS IS WHAT I SAID.

Glad I did learn how to cut and paste, for it has become a helpful tool in exposing these scamsters for what they are:

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO HALTS DECEPTIVE AND ABUSIVE PRACTICES BY WESTERN NEW YORK DEBT COLLECTOR

Company to reform business practices and pay $35,000 in penalties and costs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (April 30, 2008) ? Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that a Western New York debt collection company that engaged in deceptive and abusive practices will reform their business and pay $35,000 in penalties and costs under a settlement agreement with his office.

Aurora, Gold & Associates, LLC of Williamsville began operations in April 2007 and engaged in illegal practices including collectors pretending to be attorneys, threatening consumers with fictitious lawsuits and discussing confidential debtor information with unrelated parties.  

?It is not acceptable for debt collection companies to harass consumers to the point where they overstep legal boundaries,? said Attorney General Cuomo.  ?Collecting money from debtors is one thing, but by using dishonest and illegal tactics, this company misled consumers and violated the law.  This agreement requires that it reform its business practices to be in line with New York state and Federal laws.?
                                                                                                     
Tactics used by Aurora Gold included repeatedly calling debtors? family and friends in attempts to find addresses and other information, despite requests to stop calling.  The Attorney General also found that Aurora Gold?s Web site contained statements that created the false impression that it was a law firm and could sue debtors.  

In one instance, a collector ? pretending to be an attorney ? left a message on a consumer?s answering machine in which he told the consumer that there was a ?pending civil suit? against her.  Aurora Gold was forced to fire this employee after the incident was brought to the company's attention by the Attorney General.

In addition to paying $35,000 in penalties and costs, the agreement requires Aurora Gold to immediately institute a number of reforms to correct its current practices and to ensure that it will deal with debtors and third parties fairly and according to the law.

Aurora Gold must also file a report with the Attorney General by July 30 proving that it is operating in full compliance with the Attorney General?s agreement.

Under federal law, debt collection agencies are allowed to contact individuals by various means, but they are restricted from contacting debtors at inconvenient times or places (e.g. before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.). The Federal Fair Debt Collection Law prohibits agencies from contacting individuals at their place of employment if the agency knows that the debtor?s employer disapproves. Debt collection agencies are barred from engaging in abusive and unfair tactics and misleading representations, including:

Repeatedly or continuously calling with the intent to annoy or harass
Placing telephone calls without meaningful disclosures of their identity
Falsely implying that collectors are attorneys or that there is the involvement of an attorney in collecting a debt
Falsely claiming that they are government representatives
Falsely claiming that an individual has committed a crime or threaten arrest or imprisonment
Falsely implying that the debt collector is employed by a credit bureau
Collecting an amount greater than what is owed

New York State?s Debt Collection Procedures Law offers additional protections such as prohibiting:

Communicating the nature of a debt with an individual?s employer prior to obtaining a judgment against the debtor
Threatening to collect a fee over and above the owed debt
Contacting an individual or family member with such frequency or at such unusual hours as can be reasonably considered abuse or harassment.

BTW, this isn't from Bud Hibbs' website, either:

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2008/apr/apr30b_08.html

Case closed.

Good thing you learned to cut and paste. Don't beleive everything you read on the old Bud Hibbs sight. He has many skeletons in his closet. Lets start with his name for instance (It is an Alias)He teaches people to NOT pay their bills,. Now dont get me wrong, no one should be threatened or harrassed, AGA is not a consumer scam they are a collection agency, they are attempting to weed out the bad seeds as you call it. Just set up a payment plan and move along!!!

Aurora, Gold & Assoc. LLC does not sue. So who ever is writing that they have been served is lying!!!! Frank Taimaini was fired for many violations. Just an FYI for all of you. They buy 7 year to 10 year old debt and pretend they are attorneys. I used to work for the Hamburg office and they do not sue!!!!

Aurora Gold..........sounds like a stripper's name! LOLOL

Good advice! THANKS!

You need to contact your State's AG office, the FTC and Budd Hibbs. THIS IS A CRIMINAL OPERATION!

CONSUMER SCAM

Aurora Gold is an ILLEGAL & CRIMINAL Consumer Scam operating as a Debt
Collection Agency in New York and Florida

AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC
aka Newburyport Capital, LLC
(Junk Debt Buyers,  Illegal Debt Collectors)

634 Main Street, #200        
East Aurora, NY 14052
716-652-2890      
888-295-5795      
716-652-2890
Fax: 716-652-8916

Does Stephanie Iannuzzi have permission of in house attorney  Mark Steven Aquino to break Federal Law or is she doing it without his knowledge?

Visit www.auroragoldexposed.com

William T. Crawford President
(Convicted Felon?)
4 Ocean Avenue        
Larchmont, NY 10538
Phone: (914) 834-0158

Robert E. Bridges
(Arrested by FBI at JFK Airport, attempting to flee?)
7B River Road        
Cos Cob, CT 06807

Attorney Mark Steven Aquino
32 Central Avenue      
Lancaster, NY 14086
Phone: 716-681-1450

All details published at:
www.auroragoldexposed.com

AURORA GOLD IS A CONSUMER SCAM

DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY OR BECOME

A VICTIM OF THEIR LIES AND EXTORTION!


CONSUMER ALERT:    

The complaints are coming in faster than a Buffalo Blizzard on this group. Apparently they seem to think that extortion is legal in their attempts to collect on debts that they have NO documents to validate. Attorney Mark S. Aquino has proven in letters we saw that he has NO clue about debt collection law, so we expect the lawlessness to continue. We are not aware of a drug problem at Aurora Gold yet, however the tenacity of the calls, the level of threats and stupidity of this organization definitely points in that direction. These are dumber than dumb collectors; Attorney Aquino can?t even compose a legal debt collection letter and owner William T. (Bill) Crawford is pulling all the strings. Time to turn up the heat, STOP sending them any money, they are LIARS, CON MEN AND FOOLS! This is NOT a legitimate collection organization, it is a group of idiots trying to steal your money.

Bud Hibbs says:

SURPRISE! Another bottom feeder surfaces from in and around Buffalo, NY, the DEBT COLLECTION CAPITAL of the WORLD!  More problems from trashy debt collectors who think there is money in purchasing old, mostly worthless debts, then inflating them with the idea of making a quick buck at the expense of unsuspecting consumers. They collect using threats they are usually ill-prepared to carry out.

This one would not even have made our radar except for the volume of complaints we are receiving from visitors to our website. Here is one letter from a woman that caught my attention and perhaps their operation:

?I have never been treated with such contempt in my entire life.  I was accused of fraud and of being on drugs.  They threatened to call my neighbors and my relatives.  They told me the police would be paying me a visit.  What they didn't understand is that I'm not an idiot, and I'm not easily scared by people who can't go out and get a real job.  I am an educated woman, and I caught on to their game faster than they caught on to the fact that they couldn't fool me.  I faxed them the information they requested, along with a letter requesting they validate the debt they are claiming I owe.  The letter also informed them to cease and desist all telephone correspondence with me.  Of course, they still called. I am sickened by what these people called and did to not only me, but they also talked to my mother.  Additionally, in the past couple of days I have found more people who have been harassed by Aurora, Gold, & Associates.  I'm as mad for them as I am for myself.  Even if this was a legitimate debt, no one deserves to be treated so badly.?

What this letter proves to me and should serve as a warning to others is that AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC (besides having one of the dumbest names I have ever read) apparently is operating another typical ?Buffalo Style? debt collection operation where lies, threats and extortion appear to be the norm. This does not happen or go on within the organization without the knowledge and complicity of senior management and perhaps their attorney.

They do have an attorney on staff.  44 year old Mark Steven Aquino of Lancaster, NY, a 1992 graduate from the University of Buffalo Law School. Unfortunately I could not find a single item on Attorney Aquino that links him to any experience in debt collection or debt collection law. There is information to suggest he was good at handling traffic violations, but nothing anywhere on debt collections. I am not saying he is another ?rent-a-lawyer? however it seems to be common for WNY area attorneys to move into the debt collection industry, to go after the quick bucks it promises even if they have no experience in the laws regarding debt collection, especially if your chosen field is not making any money.

Based on complaints we?ve received, they are off to a terrible start and will likely find themselves in our cross hairs as things progress. We get a lot of current and former employees from WNY telling us how drug use is rampant in the collection industry, especially in places like Aurora Gold where there is a lot of pressure to produce. To make matters even worse the news for this latest junk debt collector gets really bad. A check of several websites indicates AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC is operating illegally! We could not find one state where they have the requisite license and/or bond as required by law. Does Lancaster, NY Attorney and House Lawyer Mark Steven Aquino know that he could be putting his law license in possible jeopardy?  Is he prepared for the consequences of being associated with a junk debt buyer that may not be able to produce legal documents that validate debts they are attempting to collect? Is he aware of the potential for lawsuits from consumer attorneys who learn his client is not licensed or bonded? Does Lawyer Mark have the ability to defend those claims and still be able to review every account sent out for litigation? Their website  http://www.auroragoldassociates.com/ states the following:

?Aurora, Gold and Assoc. LLC has an Attorney on-site that does review every account prior to instituting legal action. There are attorneys on retainer in each state to pursue accounts to the fullest extent of the law in compliance with all state and federal guidelines.?

So does that means Attorney Aquino is familiar with the accounts, if they are still in statutes and has the legal documents necessary to file in various court jurisdictions? I can only assume that he is familiar with law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and is aware that a hearsay affidavit is not admissible in many jurisdictions. (A hearsay affidavit is when an employee of a junk debt buyer reads information off a computer screen and swears to it under penalty of perjury, a felony, to the truthfulness of the statements). Buffalo, NY has many current and former employees working at organizations like AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC who have lied on these affidavits and could face the wrath of the legal system for their lies. These bogus affidavits are then notarized by another employee before being sent out to a debt collection attorney network who are paid a commission on what they collect.

The problem with junk debt buyers like AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC is they pay pennies on the dollar for these old, mostly worthless accounts, then attempt to collect at highly inflated figures to make a profit. They place them on credit reports under the guise of being ?accurate? under federal law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) when in reality; the junk debt buyers can?t prove anything. THEY ARE LIARS! Consumers will soon learn how to go after the owners of organizations like AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC with lawsuits so they can take revenge on those who lie and use the credit reporting system as a tool of extortion for bogus debts.

Let us hear from you; call or write us about your dealings with AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC, so that others can grade them by their actions. In the meantime, I am warning all consumers that based on their present mode of business and apparent abuse of consumers to stay far away from this organization of bullies and liars. If you work at AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC and want to correct any inaccuracies written here, I invite your comments.

If it is deemed that AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC continues to operate illegally and violates the rights of consumers, or if you receive any paperwork from them that purports to validate debts they are collecting, we want to know about it. If Attorney Mark Steven Aquino is involved in any type of debt collection/validation that gives the appearance of being improper, we will assist you in getting that information into the hands of the authorities in New York State and the New York State Bar. Attorney Aquino can be held responsible for his actions if they are deemed to be illegal or unethical. If AURORA, GOLD & ASSOCIATES, LLC proves by their actions they are operating legally and professionally this page will be removed and/or updated. If they continue on at their current pace and we receive credible information they are involved in a typical junk debt buyer scam, we will report it.We look forward to hearing from both sides on this issue.  -Bud Hibbs

http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/aurora_gold.htm

I had the experience with talkin to a Ricky Howard in reference to account
that they stated that my parents had a credit card with Citibank, and that
I was the one that open the card up under false pret.  He was very rude with
me when I asked if they had any information on this debt being that they
stated that card was open in 1979, I was only in the 8th grade.  These so-
called debt collectors made their contact first with sending a letter to
my parents and then it was forward to my brother who has power of attorney
he verfied my address with them because the stated that my parents lived in
columbus, they have never lived in columbus, what address they had i don't
know then he goes on to say that he had my mom's ss#. Please let it be known
the debt they claim was due to citibank in the amt. of $6012.45, and that
they would settle for interest of $3348.  I asked when was the last time the
bill was paid he stated 6/04, who in the hell will wait to collect on a credit card four yrs. later. I made several calls back to them and they kept hunging up on me, I enjoyed that because I knew they were getting made.
Littel do they know I work for Citi.

Yes Mr. Taimani contacted me as well... He was very nice and professional.. He sd i could only SIF because they dont accept paymnts ... I had followd-up with online info like this and refusd and hu on himn .. he cld bck pleaded his case and i hu again ... I was then served by a process server within 20 days and now i realize that i should have listend to him but now i regret to say that you are all nuts to not pay them ... he was curteous and his oofer was very reasponable considerung wht i will have to pay now.. I cant even settle anymore because the judgmnt will be enforced in 15 days if i dnt pay the order .. so instead of paying the 2200 he askd now i have to pay 4850 with costs and attrny fees just to stop the garnishment they served for me at wrk ....

call was legit

Wow Lily... I had the misfortune to deal with Mr. Taimani as well and i hate to shock you but he did litigate against me and as of yesterday i was served with a summons and complaint by what i guess is a process server. I hate to inform you but they do litigate and it sounds like you were rude like i was to him.... Expect to be served just like i was ... If i could go back in time i would have just settled the debt like he offered ... He was actually very very profossional...

I received a call from them yesterday (after they had called my mother, who, thank goodness, didn't give them my current number - she was so panicked), and spoke with a "Danielle Clark", who told me I had an outstanding balance of $2,700 with Citibank. I've never had a Citibank Credit Card. She also told me that if I don't get the payment to them within the next day, they were going to take me to court.

I informed her of this, and she said they had merged with someone who must have been the original creditor. When I asked who that was, she put me on hold for five minutes, came back, and told me her computer couldn't pull that information up.
I then told her that I would like to see proof of this debt, and proof of their validity, and gave her my e-mail address. She was very courteous, but I was, of course, suspicious.
This morning I find an e-mail in my box from a "Frank Taimani" with a word document attached addressed to me at an address I haven't lived at in five years, with the salutation "Dear Maria" (which is NOT my name).
I told him the same thing I told "Danielle Clark", and asked him to provide me with proof. He kept on insisting that they were a law firm, not a collection agency (when it says in their address description 'Collection Agency').
I ran three of my credit reports, and NONE of them have any such debt on them. Needless to say, I will not be communicating with any of them again.

they are using another number 877-849-1001. thank goodness for answering machines!

7166522891 aurora gold debt collectors
www.auroragoldexposed.com

WOW!! i am going through the same thing with a girl named gena golla?? and a guy named matt stone stating that i owe $6000 to Bank of America and they need my checking acct # or i need to get a loan to pay them!! how stupid do they think i am. they even called my neighbors and my father's cell phone!!!! this people are very bored, so sad...

A lady called and claimed that I had an outstanding credit card balance of 7000.00 with Bank of America. I have never even had a credit card with Bank of America.She threatened that I was pending court and garnishment. I told her good luck and I would see her in court. I am an identity theft victim with all my police reports and documentation.

A gentleman called pretending to be a lawyer, saying that they were going to file a case against me.  He said he'd sent numerous letters to my previous address -- I picked up my mail.  He'd lied, there were no letters.  He refused to send me anything in writing.  He threatened to file suit against me, and when I said that I would file bankruptcy, he hung up on me.

Aurora Gold & Associates
A collection agency with extremely rude and provocative staff
http://www.auroragoldassociates.com/

Aurora Gold & Assciates are a collection agency who pose like lawyers and claim they have a case pending against your or someone you know.  They are rude are crude.