800-390-7617
 | WestCoast 2011-10-25 20:34:25 Debt Collector |
Got a call from Enhanced Recovery Services. Wanted to get me to pay for an AT&T bill from 6 years ago from an address I moved away from 12 years ago. Do you get it? I was not even there, in fact, PacBell owned the telephone service at that time and AT&T did not own that company until 2006. My PacBell account was paid in full because where I moved I kept the same number and had to transfer it out, but BEFORE I could, of course, I had to pay off the final bill and then turn it over to Verizon. They even charged me a going away fee and Verizon charged me a transfer welcome to our company fee. Fricken-A!
So, I advised them to stop calling me and they said they would, but we'll see. I have hired attorney's to combat these debt collectors, Lemberg & Associates. Look them up.
So, I advised them to stop calling me and they said they would, but we'll see. I have hired attorney's to combat these debt collectors, Lemberg & Associates. Look them up.
| Jack 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
They called my phone at 7:38am. Sounds like an automatic dialer. Wants me to call back and give then a reference number that they left in the message. They claim they're a collections agency. With all the scams going on these days, I never answer a number or return a message of someone I don't know.
| terry 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
repeated calls six days a week, sometimes two or three times a day.
| Bill 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
These people have been repeatedly calling my cell attempting to collect an $800 Wal Mart debt from someone I do not know. I have told them I am not their party. I have called them and used their automated routine to have my number removed. Still they call so as far as I am concerned they are fair game.
Today I led the agent on and on telling him I couldn't send payment this month because I had to make my payment on my Porsche. I then told him next month was out because I would be in Acapulco. He seemed upset and told me he could not afford a Porsche or Acapulco... Poor boy! Told him he needs a career change.
then I called back and asked for a supervisor as finally I managed to get a case number. I told the supervisor, Christopher Johns, that his number was wrong. He assured me it will be removed.
So if these clowns are harassing you, call 1 800 390 7617 and ask for Christopher Johns. While I doubt he will stop the harassing calls, at least you will have the satisfaction of returning the harassment. Oh and ask him to give agent WO89 a raise, the poor boy really needs a Porsche.
Today I led the agent on and on telling him I couldn't send payment this month because I had to make my payment on my Porsche. I then told him next month was out because I would be in Acapulco. He seemed upset and told me he could not afford a Porsche or Acapulco... Poor boy! Told him he needs a career change.
then I called back and asked for a supervisor as finally I managed to get a case number. I told the supervisor, Christopher Johns, that his number was wrong. He assured me it will be removed.
So if these clowns are harassing you, call 1 800 390 7617 and ask for Christopher Johns. While I doubt he will stop the harassing calls, at least you will have the satisfaction of returning the harassment. Oh and ask him to give agent WO89 a raise, the poor boy really needs a Porsche.
| solange 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
between july 7 and today, july 30, this number has called me 24 times. once, three times a day.
| TW 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
constantly getting calls on the cell every 15 minutes...now they are calling at work....most times not leaving a message
| hivelozity 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
collection agency...sure! oh ya...i'll answer! idiotz...
| Kelli 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
called on january 14, 2009. Left a message for me to call back with a reference number.
| Joe 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
They called me everyday for a week @ random times. They didnt tell me what they do when i called and asked them. They asked for my number and said they were looking for a terry. I asked to f*ckin remove me form there list. I heard other people in the background so they may be telemarketers.
| FireHeart 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
got a call 1/18-10, caller ID says "Unavailable" and they did not leave a message
| lulu 2011-06-06 20:57:42 Unknown |
Just received an auto dial recording at my place of employment. My co-worker answered the phone and listened to the message!! I have received no mailing from this company and don't appreciate first contact trying to be done at my job!! Pulled up website and used their contact us email...told them not to call me at work EVER and to cease and desist period...once I get a hard copy letter I will mail the letter via certified/return receipt mail...
| Jen 2011-04-27 22:50:03 Debt Collector |
This company is "fishing", a fraudulent activity. They call numbers from multiple sources, typically numbers once associated with a bad debt. They pretend they are collecting the debt and want a credit card payment by phone. Unfortunately they haven't necessarily been authoritized to collect such debt. In some cases they are trying to collect documented disputed debts or debts legally written off years ago. Disputed debts are not collectible until the dispute is resolved between the business and the debtor. Written off debts are not collectable at all. Report these calls to the FCC as cell phone and telephone violations. The FCC has a simple online form and has a lot of clout in these matters..
| whyyy 2011-03-24 20:05:12 Debt Collector |
called tryin to collect on a att phone that was not even mine omg
| Tired 2011-03-23 19:53:37 Telemarketer |
E.R.C
| Daniel Williams 2011-03-04 17:04:53 Unknown |
Why r these people calling me? No one can give me an answer.
| Wayne 2011-02-18 21:45:16 Debt Collector |
The company that called is Enhanced Recovery Company (ERC).
They called my pay-per-use cell phone and left a voicemail message. I only use that phone for emergencies and have not given out the number to anyone. Just to check the message cost me money. The only number I've called with that phone was my home, so I don't know how they got that number.
The message left was automated but had the beginning cut off... the message was something like: "cannot be used for that purpose. Please visit payerc.com or call 1-800.... Please use the reference number ....".
After looking up the phone number and website, I called them. The woman I spoke with said they were trying to contact Rxx Rxxxxx... that wasn't me... my first name isn't Rxx, I don't have the last name Rxxxxx, and I don't know anyone by that name. She said she would take my number off of their list.
You probably will have to call them back just to tell them to stop calling. They need to do better research on who they're trying to contact instead of wasting other people's time and money.
They called my pay-per-use cell phone and left a voicemail message. I only use that phone for emergencies and have not given out the number to anyone. Just to check the message cost me money. The only number I've called with that phone was my home, so I don't know how they got that number.
The message left was automated but had the beginning cut off... the message was something like: "cannot be used for that purpose. Please visit payerc.com or call 1-800.... Please use the reference number ....".
After looking up the phone number and website, I called them. The woman I spoke with said they were trying to contact Rxx Rxxxxx... that wasn't me... my first name isn't Rxx, I don't have the last name Rxxxxx, and I don't know anyone by that name. She said she would take my number off of their list.
You probably will have to call them back just to tell them to stop calling. They need to do better research on who they're trying to contact instead of wasting other people's time and money.
| Will Fedup 2010-10-30 13:15:53 Debt Collector |
I receive 6 to 8 phone calls a day from this and other collection agencies. They ask for my daughter. My daughter is 38 years old and hasn't lived here for many years. I tell the callers this and they ask for my daughter's number. I gave them my daughters number but they continue to call us numerous times a day, mostly with recorded messages. (We no longer answer the phone but we still get recorded messages on the answering machine.) My daughter says all of her debts were absolved in a bankruptcy proceeding but they still call her too. This has been going on for years. I have excellent credit. I have always paid creditors on time and never defaulted. I read the comments on these message boards and wonder why all of these people are't flooding complaints to their congressman and senators. The current safeguards are woefully inadequate. Another example of how our representatives sell out to the highest dollar. Ethics and integrity are just words to lawyers and politicians. We should vote them all out of office
| Lisa Marie 2010-09-21 18:52:31 Unknown |
They are a collection agency called ERC. They represent Dillard's department store. We owe money for it but we have other more important things to take care of now like saving our home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| JC 2010-08-10 13:21:55 Debt Collector |
I get this call almost everyday and they ask me to call them back.
| Bill 2010-08-05 12:34:43 Debt Collector |
These people have been repeatedly calling my cell attempting to collect an $800 Wal Mart debt from someone I do not know. I have told them I am not their party. I have called them and used their automated routine to have my number removed. Still they call so as far as I am concerned they are fair game.
Today I led the agent on and on telling him I couldn't send payment this month because I had to make my payment on my Porsche. I then told him next month was out because I would be in Acapulco. He seemed upset and told me he could not afford a Porsche or Acapulco... Poor boy! Told him he needs a career change.
then I called back and asked for a supervisor as finally I managed to get a case number. I told the supervisor, Christopher Johns, that his number was wrong. He assured me it will be removed.
So if these clowns are harassing you, call 1 800 390 7617 and ask for Christopher Johns. While I doubt he will stop the harassing calls, at least you will have the satisfaction of returning the harassment. Oh and ask him to give agent WO89 a raise, the poor boy really needs a Porsche.
Today I led the agent on and on telling him I couldn't send payment this month because I had to make my payment on my Porsche. I then told him next month was out because I would be in Acapulco. He seemed upset and told me he could not afford a Porsche or Acapulco... Poor boy! Told him he needs a career change.
then I called back and asked for a supervisor as finally I managed to get a case number. I told the supervisor, Christopher Johns, that his number was wrong. He assured me it will be removed.
So if these clowns are harassing you, call 1 800 390 7617 and ask for Christopher Johns. While I doubt he will stop the harassing calls, at least you will have the satisfaction of returning the harassment. Oh and ask him to give agent WO89 a raise, the poor boy really needs a Porsche.
| Marion 2010-03-20 18:18:18 Unknown |
I have been getting calls from this number (800-390-7617) every day since I got my new cell phone. So after checking this website, I called the number. All you have to do is follow the instructions and they will remove your number from their list. Apparently they have gotten a lot of complaints, because they ask you right away to press 1 if you are calling to remove a number. The company is E.R.C. Just call and cancel your telephone number, it is so easy to do.
| FRANK MEDRANO 2010-03-04 14:32:13 Unknown |
I RECEIVED A CALL FROM E.R.C, FROM A MAN THAT SAID HIS NAME WAS FRANCISCO MERCADO, HE INSISTED TO TALK TO MY HUSBAND, I ASKED HIM WHAT THIS WAS CONCERNING BUT HE WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE REASON. SINCE, I HAVE BEEN GETTING DAILY PHONE CALL FROM THIS NUMBER (1-800-390-7617) I TOLD HIM IF THIS PHONE CALLS DO NOT STOP I WILL REPORT HIM TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, THIS PERSON SHOULD GET HIS INFORMATION STRAIGHT BEFORE CALLING AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND DISTURING SENIOR CITIZENS.
| carol 2010-01-09 16:20:22 Unknown |
I get calls from this number. They do not say who they are when they leave a message. the calls come to my cell phone number (which I do not give out except to people I already know, never on forms or to companies). they never say who they are calling for. They give another number to call back 800-586-0013 and a reference # to give when I call back. I did not call back because I think it is some type of scam. A legitimate company would have my address and write to me.
| Anne 2009-11-05 13:32:28 Unknown |
keep getting calls from this number.. when you answer no one is there.. this is getting very annoying.
| lamet 2009-10-02 13:55:03 Unknown |
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
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
| Linda 2009-10-02 13:45:54 Unknown |
says unavailable on caller ID. did leave a message saying it is a collection agency and I should call them back regarding non payment of some bill - do not state what company has filed this complaint.
want me to call them; however, I am not aware of any overdue payments.
want me to call them; however, I am not aware of any overdue payments.
| JoAnn 2009-06-23 19:11:13 Unknown |
They are a collection agency. I gave them my number and I did not have anything with them. They called by mistake, so they took my number off. They were very nice about it.
| kstonema 2009-05-18 11:41:37 Debt Collector |
I get these calls multiple times a day. Does anyone know who these people are and what they want? I will not answer or call back anyone who I do not know.
| Charlene 2009-05-06 17:42:09 Unknown |
Keep getting calls from this number for a "Carmen Rivera". I never answer and the automatic message comes up on my voicemail. I know no one by that name.
| diogenes 2009-04-08 01:23:10 Debt Collector |
rec3ived multiple calls from this number during period from end of March to beginning of April . They were trying to reach some &*$^*@* deadbeat $@*(& who apparently is giving my phone number to scam credit cards. As I write this I am still on hold with the call back number.
© WHOSCALL.IN 2011-2024 - Privacy