For the individual or individuals who rant and rave about how individuals should pay their bills, blah, blah, blah; look up the Fair Debt Collection Act and actually read it then you might have an understanding of what it actually says.  I was a debt collector working for the government, by the way doesn't have to follow it, but we choose to for the sake of our debtors.  The way companies like these handle the debts is wrong.  The debt whether valid or not is sold and sold again over and over again.  Companies like these or others leave messages or skip trace for those that may know you (If your Facebook is open to public they will find you!) and they will call and harass them as well.  They will call and say they are taking you to jail (they can't).....and believe it or not it could be for a debt that's paid, OMG that can't be.  I know all of this because I have an attorney who I worked with on a payday loan that I paid three years ago and yes I have proof but they don't care by the time I get it together to send it to them they've sold the loan again.  The company sold the debt anyway and I've had people I haven't heard to in years call me to warn me I'm going to jail.  As soon as you say the word attorney they never call you again.  As a piece of advice, if the debt is paid don't acknowledge it.  They only have a certain amount of time to try and collect on it before they have to stop.  I think I'm on about my sixth company this $400 debt has been sold to.  Since it's sold for pennies on the dollar I imagine it's worth about $10 by now.  If I had not paid this debt I would, I pay my debts now that I can or until my disability prevents me to.  Until then I pay extra to try and get out of debt before my LTD is gone.  I won't repay one I've already paid.  

If you get a call and don't know the number don't answer it.  If they threaten you ignore them.  If you owe the money and can pay try to pay the original company not the idiots who don't follow the act, they are acting illegal and you can call your attorney general on them.  Always research the info before you do anything and never worry if they threaten to put you in jail it's an empty threat to scare you and if you call them they will scream/yell/demean you and if you speak like and educated person they will hang up on you.

They call 4 or 5 times a week, leave no message,  when I called back told them put it in writing, they refused to tell me the creditor, the dates of service only demanded payment.  Turns out they are trying to collect the amount that my health insurance said was not due and the creditor accepted payment in full at that time, it is over 2 years old, reporting to BC/BS and Medicare Collection Attemp is Insurance Fraud.

These debts are sold from the original company that had the debt in the first place.  So the collection agency that is calling is not the original debt collector there are an entity that bought it from the original debt collector and these are the ones that harass.  Personally I have had this happen to me and I paid the debt through the collection agency and still 3 years later it is still on my credit report and I cannot get it off.  I had to go to an attorney with all the proof to get it erased off my debt.  These collection agencies tell you you have a warrant for your arrest...they will be coming to your work or docking your pay...They DO NOT have the right to do any of that.  They just want money for the fraction that they paid to take the debt off the original lenders hands.  IF you look on your credit report this account will have be "charged off".

I received a call from this number this morning and the girl was very rude. She wanted me to verify who I was and where I lived before she would give me any information at all. I told her that if she wanted any information from me that she would need to tell me who she was and where she was calling from. She stated her name and where she was calling from. I asked her to tell me more about her company and she stated that in order for her to move forward she would have to have me verify my address and social security number. I argued with her that I was not giving out personal information without knowing more about the company. She said that they were a "private business firm." She refused to give me any further information without my social security number. I hung up the phone and blocked the number

These guys will call and call until their ears turn blue. I answered once and asked for verification of the alleged "debt" to be sent to my new address. They sent some form that anyone could print out and submit as "verification". I'm thinking of duplicating the form and sending them a "debt" that they owe to me in the amount of $50 per stupid phne call that they make to my cell phone. Now thy send a letter once a week, and I get free fire kindleing while supporting the Post Office!

I got a call today from L.J. Ross. They have relocated to Jackson, MI. It was for my backed-up electric bill from the house I just lost to the mortgage company (I'm living in a motel right now). I DO plan to pay the bill as I can't get the power on in any place I try to move into. They wanted me to agree to a monthly payment and when I tried to tell them that my current income doesn't allow me to make any promises at this time (I'm a temp), he wouldn't listen and insisted on an amount. THAT tells me that they have no interest in working with me (just like my mortgage company). I've dealt with other companies that were nicer about it. I know that they have their job to do nut they have to realize that many of us don't have the steady income necessary to make any agreements.

any collection agent I worked with has always fought with me about how much I can pay a month.  They never care about anything other than their commissions for getting it paid as fast as possible.  I have been told that they can't accept my small payments because it would take too long to pay off.   I have multiple hospital bill for 3 surgeries in one year...who do you think I'll be paying first...not them.

There are bunch of scams these days popping up due to bad times. They need to be defeated in legal system and put in prison for long time.

you must be on the "good" side of the spectrum

I've worked with debt collectors that were courteous and considerate and very happily got those resolved quickly.

I've also battled with inconsiderate, rude, condescending collectors who harassed me well beyond any reasonable level over a debt that was not mine in the first place. Since I  don't have the finances to sue for harassment et al, i finally resorted to simply blocking every phone number this type of collector called from.

This very inconsiderate type of collector is the type people here are complaining about.

and what do you do when the debt either isn't yours or isn't valid and they refuse to stop no matter how you try to clear it up?

It does not have to be a long-standing debt.  I had a call from them before I had the bill from the hosp.  It was a time when my BC was temp. cancelled and Medicare paid their part.  I left the hosp. on the Oct. 13.  I had a letter dated Oct. 26 from them, rec'd on Oct. 30.  My bill from the hosp. was dated Oct. 27.  Figure that one out.  I've been paying on it but they still keep on calling.  I have had so many Toll Free Calls over the past few years (not debt related) that I just don't answer any of them.  Recently learned at even Wal-mart uses one to let you know your prescription is ready.  Medco uses one too but at least these two leave a message.

I can't stand getting calls from this number! Next time they call me I will inform them that everybody already know this is a scam, and tell them to find a real job!

Thank you so much for this information, I think I will send SEVERAL emails a day asking them to email me or call me to discuss a "personal matter" then never respond! They keep calling me to get information about the person who had my phone number before me. They refuse to believe I am not the person they are after and don't believe I don't know the person. They leave SEVERAL messages a day and are REALLY rude when I tell them they have the wrong person.

So what can we do about the harassment from these collectors?  Is there a way to stop them?

Got a call at 8 AM for the last three days. No one answers. When I returned the call they were vague about who they are calling and why. I work nights! They are A**HOLES!!!

this is against the law this is in violation  of the collection act ask any attorney  this is harrassament and they can be sued  I know  I sued for this very same thing and won.

I honestly dont think it really matters if you have outstanding debts, I dont, and everytime I answer the phone, they hang up immediately. When I try to call back, it says that the number is no longer in service. I think that whoever "Ross Assoc." is, they are fake.

I got a letter and I turn 18 the day before my payments due. Idk what its for? Andddd I cant get a hold of the people cuz its the weekend. also the number you have up is the website's number

I got a call from this number, telling me to call it back and ask for Chet. When I called back, they wanted my SSN, but I have no idea what this could be about, as I have no outstanding debt, and would not give it because it must be a scam.

Called and asked for me to call "Chet", very important.  No details about call.

Got a call from this number 8:01am on a Saturday morning.  Obviously, didn't answer it and have no idea who it's for.  They didn't leave a message.

I received a letter from (i thought) consumers energy because it came in a consumers envelope. There was a  800 number. I called and the woman (Sherry) I talked to was very rude. She said I was going to be charged for my boyfriends electric bill which was $2,997.46. I didn't live with him when he aquired this bill. When I moved in I had the electric put in my name because his ex-wife ran up a $2200. electric bill at her house in his name which the bills were going to her house. (unbeknownst to him) Consumers charged him for his electric bill at his house, and her electric bill at her house, and now they are charging me because we live together and I had to put the electric in my name until he can figure out how to sue her for HER electric bill. I called and tried to get all the paperwork they asked of me, and they said they didn't receive my fax although I have confirmation. This whole time I thought I was dealing with consumers energy and it was LJ Ross collection agency all along. They never identified themselves as such. They have transfered the balance to my account, and I am anticipating my $500 electric added to $2997.46. How can they legaly do this?

We have been getting calls from this number for a few weeks now. Have not answered any of them. They have never left a message either. We do not have outstanding bills. They are getting annoying as they have started calling in the morning early. NEVER EVER give ANY personal info to this type of call.

This is a debt collection agency that handles mostly "unpaid medical bills".  I ask them to send me a copy of said Medical Bill and they did.  Bill was paid, not a scam.  Ross and Associates also shows up on your Credit Report as a Debt Collector.  They try to collect on the debt until they pass it on to Eagle Recovery services.  Check your Credit Reports regularly.  You probably have them on it.

IT IS NOT A SCAM

the 8004725118 is sure spam

I Believe this is an idenity theft opperation- as I have not owed Consumers Energy any money for 15 years... Be careful- do not give out any information to this company. They claim they are out of Ann Arbor, MICHIGAN (I checked and NONE exist).

CONFIRMED L.J. Ross and A**.  They are scum..

I think it is a debt collector.

RJ Ross, confirmed when asked "RJ Ross".  They were trying to sell drugs (not illegal ones).

These morons call random people asking for a name on a master list hoping your on it. They call never leave messages and when you try to call their phony number it does not ring. I found out they "ghost debt" and try to collect on debts being paid by customers to other debt collection agencies. They are a scam and pbish for anyone they can be to say "I owe a debt." Then you ask..." are you calling about (insert any debt here) and they say yes. In other words...they have no authority to represent anyone they just hope to catch anyone with a pulse who owes a debt of any kind so you send them money. Do not talk to these scuzbags. Call an attorney to report them for.violating fair debt collection practices and laws.