Did you just actually admit to owing the debt and refusing to pay it. Isn't that is what is call a "theft" or a "SCAM" Great standup guy you are. You claim something is a scam but you are the person that actually scammed the institution that gave you the line of credit or goods and refused to pay for it. Ladies and Gentlemen, that is a SCAM. I am sure it sounds all too familiar to you guys.

I was notified by my work today that I needed to call...855-401-4566 Ext. 505..a Shawn McCarthy..when I googled the area code it's all over the place t hat it goes to south africa? right.. I am in california.. I believe it is someone threatening me over an old pay day loan..but can be very threatening. Someone was calling me a few months ago with a case number again as this guy did.

Baretta Financial is a scam!!!

My wife received a phone message which sounded like a scam giving her 24 hours to call back and issued threats of putting a lean on our home, but gave no debt info.  I latter found a letter from Tony Baretta "LEGAL ADMINISTRATOR".  Said she owed $17,368.17, but didn't say from whom this debt came from.  Went on to say that they could - GARNISH wages of her AND Spouse -  Levy Bank accounts, Safe deposit boxes - Place leans on real or personal property - MY FAVORITE - suspend REAL ESTATE, CONTRACTOR OR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THIS IS A SCAM PEOPLE!  

My wife and I met with a bankruptcy lawyer when things were tough and although we avoided bankruptcy we learned some really good information.   1st thing is if your in TEXAS you are protected from all those things Mr. Tony Baretta threatened.  Only your mortgage company can place a lien on your property or failure to pay taxes.  Only a secure loan is collectable such as a car loan or boat loan.  Credit cards and personal loans are NOT COLLECTABLE.  A judgement against you for an unsecured loan such as a credit card consist of the judge patting you on the back and saying you owe them X amount okay and no enforcement to pay!  I had a call from a guy on a 10+ year debt and I told him I know you can't put it on my credit report, you can't do anything to collect this debt so I am not going to pay you.  A debt is a debt and you always owe it, was his answer. We never spoke again.

This man needs to be arrested for theft.

tony baretta is a total scam.  Do not pay any attention to his ridiculous threats.  Do not let his side show upset you.  Show me the paperwork you a***ole.  He's making s*** up and he is a crusty slime-- digging for poor, scared people.  What a shame.  Wonder how he can even sleep at night.  He's a friggin loser dog piece of s***.  I have no outstanding debt.  

These guys are junk debt collectors. Maybe its your old debt, maybe its not. The guy I dealt with was a real piece of work yelling and trying to insult me, then I started doing it back to him. I was taking care of this for a friend and even if the debt was real, its over 5 years old. I cursed back at him while reminding him that the debt was past the SOL (statute of limitations to legally enforce collections). He hung up on me, I called back, we cursed each other some more, he hung up again, and again. Its nice knowing I had the upper hand in this scenario instead of his smartbutt remarks thinking he could gain the upper hand and talk me out of money!

Bottom line, dont pay!! They must prove its your debt, prove they have the legal right to collect it (smother them in "discovery" if they do file a lawsuit) and if its past your state's SOL to collect on, let them file, then you get it dismissed and they get fined for violating the FDCPA. He's already violated it by saying your drivers liscense can be suspended and that he can do a wage garnishment against your spouse! Im handing this stupid letter over to a consumer attorney so he can sue them for FDCPA violations.... plus attach his "Lawyer Fees" to it. I love it when JDB's (junk debt buyers) mess with the wrong ones ;)  

Mary is a shill for the scam.. thats why there is a big busted stamp on its post..

Mary were u able to verify they are a legitimate company?

Thank you for the info, I did just that today. Ltr sent certified mail.

Tony Baretta?  Does he have a pet cockatoo?

My ltr shows:  LITIGATION NOTICE     Case#KL0000045346
Shows I have an amount owed of $8,342.75
You are hereby notified that a recommendation to file a lawsuit to collect this debt may be the next step resulting in a judgement entered against you. tells me they can garnish my wages,levy my bank acct or safr deposit box,placement of lien on real property or personal property, suspension of real estate,contractor, or driver's license under certain circumstances. And that judgement is valid and enforceable for 10 yrs and can be renewed for an addt'l 10 yrs.  
If I want to avoid any further legal action, I need to contact their office within 10 days of this notice, otherwise, they will assume I do not intend to pay this debt and litigation will be commenced immediately.
I have no idea what this could be for. I do not owe any $8342.75.....

This is a scam!  I have perfect credit and won't even pay attention to this b***s***.

Debt collectors don't get to set the terms for collection on a debt - once you received that letter, you have 30 days to dispute the debt via mail (certified mail/signature/return receipt so they can't say they didn't receive it).  

Do you actually OWE this debt?  The burden of proof is on the caller to PROVE that you actually do owe this debt and that they have the legal right to collect said debt.  Failure to MAIL this proof means that you owe them nothing, per the FDCPA.  A letter doesn't prove anything - did he mail you a copy of your signed contract or other documents showing it's your debt?  The fact that it is not on your credit report also throws up red flags - you don't want to pay for a debt you don't even owe, just because someone is being abusive to you.  You may end up paying a scammer.

If you think this is your debt and you remember the original creditor, please call them to see if your account was marked paid and closed, and if not, ask them who they sold the account to.  Again, the burden of proof is on the caller/letter writer to prove you do owe the debt and they can collect this.  Please do report the caller to the FTC, Dept of Justice and your state's Attorney General.  Debt collectors who are abusive and threatening are in violation of the FDCPA.

Then you won't mind "verifying" who the actual caller is, physical and mailing address, will you?

I was able to verify debt, got this payed before i had to go to court. lots of intrest i payed but didnt want this to drag on. The original bank ( bank of america ) told me they took trade line off because they sold account, the people that bought the account would be reporting next, not good idea to just suppose and have bad credit so i payed it off.

I got a letter from them claiming I owed more than $2000 on old debt.  The person I spoke with was overbearing, abusive and threatening.  He demanded that I make a settlement today.  In checking on my credit reports, the item he says I owe does not show up on any of the 3 credit reporting companies.  he says he'll file with the courts, send a sheriff to serve me.  I offered $500 as a payoff and he said he would send me a letter saying it was paid when he gets that, but again, it's not in my credit history so i don't think I should send him a penny.  Since i called him, he now has my phone info.  What do I do?

Did the paper say to whom the debt was owed (the original creditor)?  Check your credit reports and see if anything matches. Smells like a scammer to me, as well.

What, exactly, did they give as terms? Pay xxx amount by xxxx day or they "sue?"

A debt collection agency doesn't get to say how long you have to respond to their letter - 10 days is illegal, since the FDCPA states that you have 30 days to respond to a written letter.  Send them a letter, certified mail/signature/return receipt demanding that they MAIL a debt validation letter showing original creditor, amount owed, date of loan, date of last payment and showing if they have the legal right to collect said debt.  You want to send the letter certified mail with return receipt to show that you did, indeed, mail the demand letter.  

If they refuse to MAIL documentation proving that the debt is yours and that they have the legal right to collect said debt, they are in violation of the FDCPA, and you owe them NOTHING.  They are already in violation of the FDCPA for threatening to sue and stating you only have 10 days to respond.

Report them to the FTC, FBI, Dept of Justice and your state's Attorney General.

I just got a letter from Baretta Financial out of Irvine, CA with this phone number too saying I owed a debt and threatening to sue.  Can't find anything on this company when I googled them.  Not sure if I should respond to the letter or not; they've given 10 days to contact them.

I just got a letter from Tony Baretta at Baretta Financial.  This is the # on the letterhead.  It smells like a scam and from what I've been reading it is.  I've been through this before - with another entity - and waited it out.  The whole thing is disgusting.

Received a voice mail threatening legal action unless I responded in 24 hours.
Called the number and it ran to a random number voicemail.

Got call from local number threatening legal action, message said to call this number.  Sounds like a scam.  Usually the lawyers tell you they are a lawyer and also give number to the law office.