I just got a call from Dora from this company looking for my neighbor. Apparently the got my number by using the same software that the Police Depts do  (Accurent) is what she said. They disclosed 3rd party info, they said they were a legal dept (asked them if they were a paralegal or lawyer) she said no. They work in 50 states getting papers drawn up etc. I said, ok, well, you are a collection agency and you are attempting to collect a debt on someone other than myself and they do NOT live here. I think it is SO incredibly wrong that they are calling neighbors and can somehow use the same software as the PD dept???? This seems to be a violation of MY rights to keep my number private to rogue debt collectors.

Said they were an "Asset Management Co". (BS0
Said wrong name of neighbor
Told me to give her the message they are looking for her. Call 888-687-8930 for a personal business matter. Hello! Code for debt collection. Duh.

Yes, she is busy girl. She has got her talons into me now.

I just got a phone call from this company as well. Routhmeier Sterling. Came up unknown name and unknown number on my phone. Voicemail was from Pam at 800-687-8930 ext. 202 trying to get a hold of someone she thinks is related to me. Did not say what the matter was in regards to, but can assume debt collection.

Routhmeir  Sterling  Inc.
162 Collins Rd NE   #227
Cedar Rapids, IA  52402
Voice: 800-687-8930

Routhmeir Sterling, Inc., and their employees who represent themselves as Becky Cooper and Julie Dietrich are violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by contacting multiple out of state relatives and elderly neighbors in  an attempt to collect the debt, and they are making false and threatening statements in an attempt to collect the debt.  They have left numerous messages stating there is a deadline to respond or they will take action, but after each deadline has passed, they repeat the calling pattern again.  All of these people are on the Do Not Call List and none of them have business with Routhmeir Sterling Inc.  These practices are disturbing and I plan to report them to every agency possible.  I have a short list of reporting agencies, but I would like to see these people stopped for good.  If anyone has suggestions about how to move forward, please advise.

Same person contacted our home number. After over 2 months of calling DAILY, she finally left a message and said that she needed an immediate response today, concerning ...a...  "legal matter in ______ County"  Our caller ID reads only "UNKNOWN NAME" "UNKNOWN NUMBER"

YOU ARE A JACK***...NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT. THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BOTHER ANYONES FAMILY. THAT CONSTITUTES HARRASSMENT!!!

Called looking for Steve Wilper, told them I didn't know for sure where he was, he hasn't been around Garnett for almost three years and they said they had a current Garnett address, can't have .......called my place of work!

This number has contacted everyone but me, they contacted people that are not related to me. When I went to call them back they would not give me there address and got very mad that I was asking this. The person that contacted everyone but me there user collector  name was Heather Nielson at ext 202.

I think the message here is that when you know that a debt collector is trying to reach you
and you get a message from a someone, that the debt collector does not have your number, but
probably will.  It is their job to find you when ignore them.  They can call third parties in an attempt
to locate you, if they do not have a number to reach you.  This is no violation of FDCPA.
Once they have your number, they are not allowed to continue to call third parties, so the answer is
call them back.

Either you have the money to pay or you dont.  Simple.  If you have access to cash to settle or need
a payment plan, set it up and don't ignore the problem
If you cant pay then tell them that and request no further contact.  Be aware though, at that point, they
have the option to persue legal action to recover the money.  Depending on the state, they can garnish
payroll, lein real estate, and garnish bank accounts until the debt is satisfied once judgment is in place.

The best news you can get is that your debt has been purchased by a debt purchaser.  They have the
ability to settle these debts at far below the principal balance, and most are willing to put you on a payment plan.  Way better then the original creditor, who usually want the account caught up.

The bottom line is.  Call the debt collector back right away.  Either way, they have to stop calling at
that point.

i recieved a calls from judy detriech and becky cooper, they both left voice mails threatening me with garnishment and all kinds of stuff and they called my parents harrassing them, they can't do that!!!! ive never recieved any thing in writing from them, i researched my rights and they way crossed the line!!!! they led me to believe they were a law firm and a judgement had already been made against me!!! they hung up on me when i told them a few ftc laws!!!

Don't give any one any money!! they have to notify you in writing what the debt is, when it was opened and who the original creditor is, when you recieve a letter, respond with your own letter that you're disputing this, you have thirty days to respond, what ever you do, don't give them yoiur bank account numbers or do an electronic withdrawel, if they tell yoiu they can't take a pre payed visa or money order they are lying!!!  b safe!!!

omg! i got ther same calls from judy dietrich and a becky cooper telling me i owed money on a credit card that i had never heard of! they called my parents and made them think it was a matter of life and death that they get in touch with me, theyb went to far when they did that! becky wanted me to give her my checking account number and make a payment right then, i told her she was crazy and she could be anybody off the street, hasn't she heard of identy theft!!? when i researched a few things and founf out what they could and couldnt do and proceeded to tell them a few laws according to the ftc rules and regulations they hung up on me. do not give any one your bank account number or authorize electronic withdrawels, you can pay with a pre paid visa or money order. don't let them bully you, we do have rights!!!!! so glad i found this web site, thanks a bunch for all the post!!!!

THESE PEOPLE NEVER CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY,THEY WERE CALLING EVERYBODY BUT ME,THEN SOMEHOW THEY OBTAINED MY WORK NUMBER AND WERE CALLING ASKING A RECEPTIONIST FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND EVEN GIVING HER NUMBERS.THEN THEY PRECEDED TO CALL MY BOSS AND MAKE THERE THREATS TO HER. THEY HAVE NO REGARDS TO THE FAIR DEBT ACT AND I GUESS THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM IT.

Had vm on my phone inquiring about me using my maiden name & my brother. Called back & talked with someone named Heather. This place is trying to contact my brother. Just told Heather I would give him the message when I see him.

No message was left.

My daughter have been receiving calls in reference to me about a debt that was supposedly owed on a creditor in 1993.  First of all, she claimed to be with the Fulton County office in Atlanta, Ga., then the information she had was incorrect; In 1993 I was in good standing with the consumer she claimed I owed.  Secondly, she poses this astronomical amount and to add insult to injury I was threaten to be served with papers from the sheriff's office. I thought harassment is a crime?

I had more fun with these Bimbos, told them I would pay if they all had sex with me, that made them shut up. Just push back tell them to F--K OFF,  they are bottom feeders, just don't give in.

Admitedly I have had some challenges with my financial obligations.  I have been working with a credit counseling copmpany for over two years and making great headway.  Yesterday I received a call from "Mrs. Cooper" with Routhmeir Sterling regarding one of the accounts I have left.  She said I had to make a payment right away or she had authority to have the _______ County Sheriff's department serve me with a summons for a lien on my property.  I tried hard to come up with the figure they wanted but could not. I made an offer, but "Mrs. Cooper" said she couldn't get it approved by the attorney. The next day before I called "Mrs. Cooper" back, I got a call on my cell phone from "Judy Dietrich" saying the other phone lines were down and I would be working with her.  I made a verbal "deal" with "Judy" which required me to contact my credit counselors and have them send the balance in my account to Routhmeier Sterling.  When I contacted my credit counselors, they immediately sensed a red flag and did some checking.  They told me that Routhmeir Sterling does not have the right to make the threats they did and they do not have any attorneys in their office. It appears they are acting unlawfully, I will probably file a complaint.  Yes, I know I owe a debt ~ but that does not give someone the right to  harass me with illegal threats.  They frightened me to a point where I can barely function at work for fear they will contact my employer.

Recieved a call at work from Kim Erdenberger, staing that she had been trying to reach me for a week concerning a debt matter. I knew this only because she called my mother, my brother, my son, my nieghbor, and finally my employer. She stated that I had until a certain date to send her either a settlement check or a paertial settlement and monthly payments. If not I would be sued and my wages would be garnished. She was very rude and condisending with me.  

A few days later, my employer recieved a call from a Todd Cory, from Routhmeir Sterling, identifying himself as an attorney that needed to speak to me ASAP concerning a very serious debt that I owed, and if I did not respond, would be sued.

I have since filed a complaint with the FTD, the BBB, and my atorney generals office. I am considering a legal remedy, if this herrassment continues.

Collectors only get away with these violations of the FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT, because no one usually fights them on it.

Maybe if people did, less of this herrassment would take place.

you can bite me , a***ipe . you must be part of this harassment

YES IT IS  - they are required by law to send you the info in writing within 5 days of their first contact.  THEY CANNOT CHARGE YOU FOR IT.

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

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

I wish the moderator would keep these scamming debt collectors off this board.  

The reason there are complaints is because there is NO DEBT to collect.  JUST CROOKS UNDER THE GUISE OF A COLLECTION AGECNY trying to steal money from you - ITS CALLED EXTORTION

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

Becky refused to send validation of the debt unless I paid a $25 fee.  This is against teh Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Yea I got a call from Kim and she said she would garnish my wages and put a lien on my home.  Because of a debt that happened before marriage.  Then she said my house was in my maiden name, which it isn't and then she told me that I chose to not work and I still had to pay my bills, she was really rude and upset me a lot.  What can be don???

Yes I have the same problem with these people calling my boss and my neighbors, family members  telling them all about my account and what i owe, telling them that they need to talk me into paying them. Well they filed a suit against me and i decided to pay today since court is in 3 days and i dont want a judgement on my credit. I payed it and with in 3 hours it was reported on my credit as a collection debt , they put it on my credit after they said they would not. it was not on my credit report yesterday and when i got home and checked my report it was there!  they are a bunch of crooks! my suggestion is go to court DO NOT SETTLE it will go on your credit for the next seven years anyway. and if you DO NOT make a payment in that seven years the statute of limitations will run out. DO NOT MAKE A PAYMENT NO MATTER WHAT if you make 1 PAYMENT you are agreeing to pay the debt . good luck dont get screwed like me

Do you seriously think that this only happens to people who don't pay their bills?

I recvd a call from kim last week, saying that it was an important matter and I must contact her back that day, because she had jurisdiction to garnish my check, and bank account for everything. I asked what kind of company is this and she said she did not have to tell me, but I needed to get 100 from each family member i knew and pay her immediately in 10 days or they would garnish what i have. She was very rude. Anyone else had a similar call to this.

I received a very strange voicemail from a Kim at Routhmeir Sterling, about a girl that I was friends with in highschool.  She said that she needed to get a VERY IMPORTANT message to this person right away, and that she understood that her and I were friends.  She then asked me to give her a call back, or to forward this message to the person that she was trying to contact.    

The strange thing about this call was that I?m not related to this girl at all, and we are really not that close.  I have seen her less than three times in the past five years...  not to say she isn?t a great person.

Looking into this matter a bit further, I feel this is a completely unfair debt collection practice.  How did she connect the two of us, and how did she get my phone number?  I have perfect credit, and have never been called by any credit agency.  

I?m not a lawyer, but the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act addresses issues similar to this, and I feel that Kim (probably an alias) violated sections 805-b and 807.  

805-b
    (b) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES. Except as provided in section 804, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than a consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.

She did not state that she was confirming or correcting location information.  Therefore she is not protected by section 804.

807
A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.

The manner in which she presented herself was very misleading.  The tone of her voice, and the urgency of this ?very important message? that she needed to get to this person, led me to believe that there had been an accident or family emergency.  

This type of harassing behavior cannot be permitted.  I hope that this firm is reprimanded for their unfair and unprofessional collection practices.

They don't call my house but call my mother's house trying to get a hold of me.  I feel like they are harrassing me thru her by getting her upset.  When I did speak with Kim I asked that they not call my mother as she is terminally ill and if they want to talk to me then to call my home.  They were going to send me paper work regarding the money they say they are attempting to collect but have not seen anything as of yet.
I'm with all the other people....is it legal for them to call other family members that are not connected to someone elses debt?  I feel they are a very bogus company and would like to know how to get them to stop calling!  They stated in one message that they were with Polk County and then in another that they were an attorney's office.