Called my ex in-laws stating I was being served court papers.  Funny thing is that I do not even have my ex in-laws phone numbers.  When I returned there call I was informed it was an attempt to collect a debt from an account in 2002 that was closed.  Sounds like a scam.  Where can you go to report them?

said her name was miss williams. said co. was called accelerated solutions. said she had my name from someone else with a different last name. i called the number back and they answered legal dept. said it was probably a wrong number.

i'm suspicious.

This person that calls almost daily states they are from the County of Sacramento and have important court documents that need to be processed and need our immediate attention.  I'm almost positive it's against the law to impersonate a County official.

I just received a phone call from this same number.  Funny enough they called my in-laws also which I find odd because no company I've gone through has ever been given that number as I only recently put it in my phone.  Seems very suspicious.

Ashley Mayor was the caller. She was looking for my brother in law, about a court case. Sounds suspicious. Its scary she has our number. We don't have the same last name.

I received a similar call. Actually, my ex husband received a message at his parents house looking for MY father. They stated they were from Colorado County, and needed his statement for important legal proceedings, etc.

I wonder if theres a way for find out what's legit and whats not about this company...I got a similar call as well for my husband on a credit card debt way back when he was in college...that thing isn't even on our credit report anymore!! I'm a little confused...

just got a call from this number asking for my wife. She is not listed anywhere as having this our number.

"Britney" called my Mother and me today looking for my husband for an "urgent prcoessing matter" after reading all this, we will not call back.  Frauds.

the calls are from Accelerated Financial (one of their names, at least).  they have multiple numbers, and appear on this site numerous times.  their standard procedure is to use public records to fish for the numbers of anyone that may either BE the debtor, or KNOW the debtor.  in many cases mentioned on this site, the debts they attempt to collect were well outside the statute of limitations.

i've been getting calls from several of their numbers, looking for my wife (under her maiden name).  we've been married 8 years.  any debt under her maiden name is almost certainly outside statute, so we've been letting them chat with the voicemail.  they claim they need a statement from her before they file some vague threat of legal action in our county (which, i think is illegal under the fair credit reporting and protection acts).  

i'll most likely answer the next time they call, and tell them if it's a legitimate debt, they can send her a notice through the US mail.

when you call them back, they answer 'legal dept'.  they NEVER identify their company in the calls they make or the messages they leave.  again, i believe that may be a violation.  i realize they aren't supposed to reveal debtor info to a 3rd party, but the content of the messages they've been leaving on my cell have left little doubt what they're looking for her for.  the thinly veiled threat of legal action is the giveaway.

if you talk to them, DO NOT agree to any payment plan over the phone.  i paid a debt to a creditor once over the phone, and years later, someone else picked it up and tried to collect again.  get everything in writing, via US mail.  if they don't want to do that, then they're not legitimate, as far as i'm concerned.  i told my wife don't agree the debt is valid, don't agree to anything, if you talk to them just tell them to send you the information via mail.

they won't tell me who they are, and when pressed they hang up on me.  Refused to send ANY verification of debt, and nothing is showing on credit report.  Filed a complaint with the FTC.

Left a long urgent message to return the call

As per my earlier post (I thought I was replying to the most recent post when I wrote it), picking up the phone and telling them they have a wrong number might simply get them off your back. Hopefully they will just sigh as they "loose a turn" on The Wheel.

Also. Anyone else in here who was asked about a name that was VERY close to your real name? If so, was your phone book listing simply a first initial and last name? I'm figuring that's how they found me.

About a month ago, I got two phone messages, each five days apart, wanting me to call this number.

"Nichole" named someone to call her to give a statement concerning a "pending matter about to process in Lane County". The name she dropped was VERY close to mine (in fact, that is what puzzled me the most); as if she was trying to solve the puzzle on Wheel Of Fortune after buying a vowel. She left this phone number, her extention and a file number to referance. She sounded frustrated (nice touch).

Third time she called I picked up the phone and told her she had a wrong number,hoping to get her off my back. She sighed, thanked me and hung up. Haven't heard from her since.

I still have the message on my machine. Today I started Googling Lane County, file numbers, names etc. thinking I would come up with some sort of county record. I was curious as to what the poor person may have gotten into down in Lane County. I came up with nothing. Then I punched in "Nichole"'s phone number and landed here.

Puzzle solved. But what if "Nichole" had gotten my name right? Hmmmm...  I wouldn't have called her back. The USPS knows where I live. Send or serve me a letter.

A person by the name of jessica left a message on my cell phone, my boyfriends cell phone, and get this, my ex-husbands cell phone-we've been divorced for 26 years and haven't spoken in at least 10 years!! The message said something about a suit being filed with the county i live in.  I have heard about this company before-nothing good of course.  I plan to report them.

My fiance's mother received a call from Samantha,so did my son in law and so did his mother. My fiance also received a call from her.Samantha stated that she needed to get in touch with me for an urgent matter on a filing that was to be filed in my county I reside in.  After googling the phone number I told them all to ignore and if they speak to her tell her she has the wrong number. I think this is a collection agency(legit or not) that's  buying old debts trying to collect on them.  If this is an old one of mine believe me its over the statue of limitations by 10 years.

I keep getting the same calls. They are looking for my husband's father (who he has never even met). It seems rather odd to me.

Laurel-it seems odd that they knew his age and kept prying for answers, it may be an identity scam!

A call came in on my anwsering machine stating she was Amber Hagan looking for (my deceased brother) about a pending matter scheduling to process.  When I picked up and asked why she was looking for my deceased brother, she apologized and said she did not know he was deceased.  When I tried to ask about the pending matter, she couldn't tell me what it was about, but did say she would check with her supervisor.  When she returned to the call, she said she couldn't tell me anything more and asked when he passed.  I told her he was murdered a number of years ago, shot twice in the chest, once in the back, coming into his home, and he was 30 when he passed.  She seemed to know what his current age would have been and determined he passed about 7 years ago.  It seemed we were disconnected, and when I tried to call the number back, they referred to themselves as some type of legal service.  I did not talk to Amber again, and they have not contacted me since.

People from 757-484-1187 have been calling my and my husband's family.  They state they need to contact my husband due to a document they will be filing in our county court.  They are collection agency.  I called to see what they wanted, and they stated my husband has an old credit card account from 2004 they are collecting on.  When I asked for documentation to be sent the woman replied, "we are not a billing company," then threatened to send my husband's account to their "attorney."  I notified my district attorney, and she advised me to send a letter disputing the debt.  The collection agency will have 30 days to send verification of the debt. Sent the dispute/do not call letter by certified mail today.  The address is Accelerated Financial Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 5128
Portsmouth, Va. 23703.

Someone has been leaving messages on my parent's cell phone for person we don't know or ever heard of. I have attempted to call them but no response. I left a voice mail but I doubt it will make a difference.  Any ideas on how to make the calls stop?  My parent's are in their late 70's.

Today I received a phone call looking for my nieces husband and the lady said that is was pertaining to a important business matter and that she must talk to him. She never stated where she was from and what it was regarding. I'm assuming it is fraud because our last names are nowhere near the same and not sure how they are getting his name from mine.

Today I received a phone call from 757-484-1187 they were looking for my nephew. They told me they were needing to speak to him regarding a business concern on their desk. It is very important the lady never gave her name or where she was calling from she just said it was urgent. I told her I did not know where he was and have not seen him. Why are they calling me and what can I do about it?

Recieve a call on a dialy basis, sometimes up to three times.  The caller id. and call back number is 757-484-1187.  First they left no messages. Then "Peggy", then "Beverly" left messages stating I was not aware of a situation going on in Clark County (I don't know where clark county is, or ever lived in a clark county) and needed a statement and I needed to contact them soon about the matter. No company name. No reference to what the matter is, nothing.  They aren't even using my proper name. They are using a name I had seven years ago.(previous marriage)  Now they are leaving messages for my husband, his name and asking for my old name.  Calls started three months ago. They call after nine and sometimes even as early as seven am. I'm really sick of this! I keep ignoring their calls and letting it go to the message box. I am not calling them back, I thought about it, but after I read all this above, I won't be...

Got a call from an "Ashley" from this number about a file number. She called an old roommate of mine, 9 years ago, on a number I've never been listed under. Number to call back was 757-484-1187 with an ext. 335.

They certainly do have access to allot of information.

Called a number I've never had, a friend, my parents, and now i'm just waiting for a cell phone call.

DEALING WITH ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTIONS

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

Have recieved two v-mails on landline silimar to above from "Wendy", asking for a name I've never heard before.  I assumed the person they're looking for gave bogus info.  I recently was informed by Chase Bank that some of my financial information was improperly made available and accessed.  They suggested I initiate a fraud alert.  Now I'm wondering aif there's a connection.  Nice.

This number called my mom's cell a couple of times but it actually sounds more like a fax number. She has good credit and has no reason for a collector to call. This has to be some scam.

I received two calls from the same number 757-484-1187 claiming that I had an urgent matter pending. She demanded that I return her call before pursuing the matter and to take a statement from me before the final process. She identified herself as Karen. She left the number and a account number for reference. I am not returning the call as it sounds fraudulent and obviously against the FTC law and Privacy Act.

Received a call from them at a different number, but same company name.  The number I was told to call back was 757-484-1187.  Very urgent matter, etc.  I had to google the number to find out who they were and what they were about.  Apparently a scavenger collection agency using unlawful tactics to get you to send them a payment.  DO NOT give them any information.  I found their physical address by running my credit report and finding out that they recently inquired as to my credit.   How they obtained my information to run my credit is unknown at this time, but their physical address is:  4016 Raintree Rd., Suite 140, Chesapeake, VA  23321.

Should I place a fraud alert on my credit report, or report them to the Federal Trade Commission?   I am unsure what to do at this point?  Any help would be appreciated.

Received a call from Amanda today.  Stating an urgent matter.  Would not give company name.  Gave this number as the call back number with a case file.  She also called my sister's cell phone looking for me.   Is this a scam to try and get you to give out your social security number and other vital information.  I am not calling it back from the comments left above.  It sounds like a big scam to gain access to your identity.  This could be an identity theft scam.