I recieved a call from Genesee Valley today, PHONE NUMBER 1-585-278-1691. They was try to get in touch with my daughter about a pending legal matter. They even went as far to call my son and daughter-in-laws home and left a message to call a Robert Richards at this number. 1-800-921-0001

There is Statute of Limitations on debt - this is based on STATE law - not what some Debt collector flunky on the boards may try to convince you otherwise. Once a debt passed SOL for your STATE - you cannot be sued by a collection agency - but it does not stop them from trying.  

The Statute of Limitations is not the same as the 7 year reporting period that applies to defaults on your credit report.

NEVER PAY A COLLECTION AGENCY VIA A PHONE CALL. NEVER LET THEM INTIMIDATE YOU!

do it right - record calls where you can, demand debt validation in writing.  


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

they call me about three times a week. never give any information. are rude and nasty. I have no debts with these people. or any debts they could possibly be collecting.

when you call back their 800 number, it is disconnected and cannot be completed as dialed.

I have been getting calls from GVA saying I co signed a loan and owe money. How do I know its a scam? I never co-signed sh*t! So if you think everyone that gets called by these people actually owe money then you really are f*cking stupid! These people are rude and have no concern for children in the house. They are con artists and I wish I lived closer to the posted address. I would love to meet these losers calling me. The guy calling me goes by Joe Stein.

GVA CALLED ME ASKIN FOR MY BROTHER AND ACTED AS IF HE WORKED FOR AN ATTORNY HE SAID HIS NAME WAS KEVIN JOHNSON AND GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER TOO. WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT IT WAS REGUARDING, HE REPLIED BY TELLING ME IT WAS A CASE INVOLVING MY BROTHER AND A THIRD PARTY. SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!!!!!

I WORK FOR GVA THEY ARE A SCAM THEY BUY BAD OUT OF STAT DEBT AND TRY TO COLLECT ON IT!!!! IF YOU PAY THEM YOU ARE AS DUMB AS THEM!!!

GVA IS A SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT EVER PAY THESE PEOPLE, ALL OF THEIR ACCOUNTS ARE MADE UP, DUPLICATE ACCOUNTS, OR THEY JUST PULL YOUR CREDIT REPORT AND SEE WHATS BAD AND CREATE FALSE ACCOUNTS, AND CLAIM TO SUE, BUT THEY HAVE NO POSSIBLE WAY OF DOING THAT, THEY ARE NOT AN ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND HAVE NO WAY OF SUING ANYONE. NOW WATCH OUT FOR THESE DEBT COLLECTORS
MATT OPDYKE AKA MATT PARKER
MARK SIMON AKA MATT DABELLA
DANA WAGGONER AKA MARIA JACOBS OR MARIE JACOBS----JOSH DABELLA FIANCE/F**K BUDDY
JOSH DABELLA AKA BRIAN BAKER-----OWNER
NICK DABELLA AKA NATHAN DRAKE-----OWNER

NO, GVA IS A SCAM AND ALL THERE ACCOUNTS ARE BAD ACCOUNTS, EITHER MADE UP, OR DUPLICATES, OR THEY PULL CREDIT REPORTS SEE WHATS BAD ON THERE OLD OR NOT AND MAKE UP AN ACT ON THAT, DO NOT PAY THESE PEOPLE, THEY ARE SCAMMERS AND VERY ILLEGAL AND THEY WILL NEVER REPORT THE DEBT AS PAID,

"Were not criminals"????   Apparently not educated either.  Learn how to spell (the damn computer has spell-check Skippy), then you can lecture me on anything you want.    'Huh' makes Dane Cook look like Einstien.

were not criminals,,were just better than you because you cant get off your a** and pay your bills,,no wonder why you people will never get no where in life,, i pay my bills and im on top of the world,,its people like you that keep me in business and have no morals. go ahead let your kids follow in your footsteps so we can SUE them too. no sweat off my back, and you teach these immigrants to come here and do the same thing,,you should be ashamed of yourself,,what kind of an example are you showing your country.. they should go back to medevil times and take you to jail or either cut off fingers,,thanks america

i guess thats why these are for deadbeats,,like ruining their credit,,they should bring some laws back from medieval times when you dont pay your bills or the taxes they cut your fingers off or something,,its gonna catch up to them later,, i leardned the hard way,, screw them,,pay your bills people   if you want to survive,,nothing is better than good credit,, i enjoy life better than bill collectors and people who dont pay their bills...thats why im on top of the world and you're not

I dont think its a scam becuase the people they call really owe money. the only scammers are the ones who dont pay back the money they owe. like many of you on this thread trying to skate out of paying

b/c you owe money

I had a phone message asking for my son, who does not reside in my household, from a Maria Jacobs. She left the 1-800-921-0001 number and said to reference number 5577xxx. I called the 800 number the following day to see what company this was. The number belongs to Genesee Value. I apologized for the call and hung up. I then googled Genesee Value and am glad I did as it appears to be a scam as indicated by other bloggers. I knew my son had no outstanding debts and was current on all his accounts.

I have been getting these calls about twice a day on my answering machine.  The caller who is always a woman say that I need to call back today reguarding a reference number XXXXXXX and I have not called back.  However, the return calling number is 1-800-921-0001.  I have been in one scam already with a similar situation so I don't plan to call in, I plan to report this scam to the authorities though.

WARNING! READ THIS BLOG FROM: http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/collection-agencies/about22600.html

Credit bureau information is now being used for a fake debt collection scam. If you receive a call for an alleged debt that they claim is nearly 7 years old or more for a loan of many thousands of dollars possibly from a Utah credit union. Warning, this is a scam. If the caller is calling from GENESEE Valley with a phone number of 585-278-1691 and the caller uses the name Mike Rush and leaves a call back number of *1-800-921-0001*, be aware. He will tell you that you owe $10k or $15k and he is willing to except $8k or $4k to settle the debt, hang up and call the federal trade commission or use this link, FTC.gov and file a consumer complaint. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you are entitled to verification of the debt. A phone call is not verification! Also if the debt is over 6 years & 9 months old they can not collect it, even if its valid, except in rare circumstances and then only as directed by your attorney. In other words this type of scam is the last desperate act of a collection agency that is powerless to get some free money or a scam by someone that has your personal info.

Thanks for the address! I will be writing them a cease and desist letter today.  They called again this morning.  I missed the call as I was asleep.  My husband showed a call on his cell phone just one minute after the call on mine. I returned the call, and asked for an address.  Sure enough, I got a run around!  First they said the represented the original creditor, then they said they owed the debt.  She said many times that she would not have any problem giving be the address, but then would immediately redirect back to arguing their claim against me, instead of providing me with the address.  I would love to see their response, as she already slipped up on the phone and claimed the debt was for the purchase of something other than what the original debt was for....meaning there is no way they will be able to provide me with all of the information required to validate the debt!

Here is the address for Genesee Valley Associates 333 Metro Park Suite F203 Rochester, NY. 14623.  My son has recieved 2 letters from them and we know the are scams. We sent them back un-open.

I wouldn't be so quick to say that Elliot is wrong! I've recently started getting calls from this Genesee about a debt that should soon fall off of my credit report. I am a little concerned, as I am finding no information on these folks other than these forums. My husband heard of a scam where these "companies" are pulling credit reports and such, and looking for debts that the original creditors either forgot about or decided not to pursue.  These "companies" then represent themselves as the current owner of the debt, saying it was sold to them, when they don't "own" the debt at all!! They pressure you into paying a "settlement" amount, but this is NEVER reflected on your credit report (and all settled debts should show on your credit report as "Settlement Accepted").  You may later get another call from someone else trying to collect on the same debt, and you wonder what is going on, because you thought you settled it!!

I firmly believe that Genesee is one of these companies!!  I have not received anything in writing from them...I cannot find an address for them to send a letter to ask for validation of the debt...I checked my credit report, and do not see them listed...and all I find on them is all of this negative stuff!!  The next time they call (which I expect will be in the next couple of days), I will be asking for validation of the debt they claim to "own"...and demand an address so that I can send such request in writing.  From what I've seen in these forums on these folks, this should put them on the defensive, and they will refuse to give me the information I request.  When they ask why, I will simply tell them, "For my own protection, I do not speak to anyone over the phone regarding financial matters until I can validate their claim!"  I will assert that this is my right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  If they provide the information willingly, and can validate that they do own the debt, that is one thing...but I seriously doubt that will be the case.  I am pretty certain Genesee is a scammer!

elliot is so wrong

They called and left a message trying to get in contact with my sister-in-law.  They had a account number which was 5573219.  They said there were something associates.  Made them sound like lawyers.

Repeated calls to my sister-in-law (how they got her name or phone number I have no idea). When she called them they told her they were looking for someone by my name, in my state that she was related to. That I was involved in a lawsuit. They have not contacted me.

Credit bureau information is now being used for a fake debt collection scam. If you receive a call for an alleged debt that they claim is nearly 7 years old or more for a loan of many thousands of dollars possibly from a Utah credit union. Warning, this is a scam.

If the caller is calling from Genesee Valley with a phone number of 585-278-1691 and the caller uses the name Mike Rush and leaves a call back number of 1-800-921-0001, be aware. He will tell you that you owe $10k or $15k and he is willing to except $8k or $4k to settle the debt, hang up and call the federal trade commission or use this link, FTC.gov and file a consumer complaint.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you are entitled to verification of the debt. A phone call is not verification! Also if the debt is over 6 years & 9 months old they can not collect it, even if its valid, except in rare circumstances and then only as directed by your attorney. In other words this type of scam is the last desperate act of a collection agency that is powerless to get some free money or a scam by someone that has your personal info.