I got a call from this numher about an outstanding debt. When I tried to call back the message said this number was not set up to receive calls.

Yes, it may be true that the IRS wants to collect taxes on the difference between what you owed and what you settled for, but you should NEVER accept forms (or advice) from a source you don't know anything about.

The web site http://www.irs.gov is still up.  Although there is no longer anyone there to personally help you, you can still download forms you may need there, rather than the (very likely) altered forms that you received via email from the source at issue here.  Those form may address your infomation to the wrong place for the purposes of stealing your identity and/or gaining electronic access to your returns and refunds.

I can't help you with your taxes or your returns, but you *might* have to file an amended return for the year of the write-off and pay the taxes, interest, and penalties on the amended return.  If you need time to pay it off, you can try dealing with the IRS accountant or, if you can find a good one, have your own accountant or lawyer deal with him, instead.

Filing an amended return sounds like a big deal, but it doesn't have to be in *every* case, and I think that if you filed a simple return originally, it may not be that hard to file an amended return by yourself.

I once overlooked an interest or dividend payment to me in my original filing.  It didn't cost me very much at the time to file an amended return almost immediately after the original.  I haven't noticed any ill effects on my credit rating and nobody has ever tried to threaten criminal charges "against my SSN" over this.  

Your results may vary.  Unfortunately, you will have to get your own advice as to what to do, and the IRS help line is not manned during the shutdown.

I had a call yesterday from a Arbitration Services LLC they are trying to say that a credit card I paid off 3 years ago at a lower amount that The IRS wants intrest on the the amount that was written off. I called the number back and Yes I spoke to a person and She said oh yes this is true and even sent me a form through my email. Well I did my research and tried to look up the number that they had on the form and there is no information but when I looked up the the 800 number that everyone hear has been talking about I found all yall's comments. I will be calling the Anterney Gernerals office in my state and report this mess to them. check it out the number on the form is 716-404-4682

I too have had the same problem with that PMI, its all fraud and you best call your bank because they will continue to take money from your bank account.  I did file a complaint with BBB, they told me to file the complaint with the State Attorney General's office.  This company they claim to be is non existent, I too believe it is IPM they keep changing it, but it still comes out with Portfolio in some form.  Mine was Independent Portfolio Management.  If you ever reach them, please reply since my Banks Fraud Department would love to get a hold of them too.

This is a scam.  Department of Arbitration for CSR doesn't even exist!  Do not give these people any money and don't even bother returning phone calls or giving the time of day.  They are a joke.

Whoa..

did they send you any verified information on this by us mail? If they didn't.. they are in violations of the FDCPA laws..

There are many extortion scams going on right now. You need to be checking on the real bill from the real bill issuer, not someone who calls on the phone!  Email, phone or fax is *not* legal proof of anything.. And real legal servers do not call you in advance, nor does a phone call serve as being served.

Section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf requires 3rd-party debt collectors to give debtors written notice of debt (the key word is *shall*) :
"§ 809. Validation of debts
(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing?
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer?s written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor."
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A Collection Agent May Not?

Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

Misrepresent Him or Herself

  A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.

Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass

  A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.

Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit

  A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.

Use Abusive or Threatening Language

  A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.

Publish a Bad Debt List

  Publishing the consumer?s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.

Contact By Embarrassing Media

  A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector?s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.

Contact a Consumer at Work

  A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.

Seek Unjustifiable Amounts

  A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.

Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney

  A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.

Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request

  If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.

Communicate With Third Parties

  A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer?s debts with third parties other than the consumer?s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.

Bills.com FDCPA FAQ

Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:

Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?

  Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.

I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?

  No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.

A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay

  This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.
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Please do file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action

Also read up on the laws and your rights:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf

And see:

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm

I received a call from this number on Sept 19, 2013 and a woman stated she was calling me about a civil case I had at my local courthouse.  I kept asking what case, I never filed charges against anyone.  I asked what this is in reference to and she stated she could transfer me to an attorney because she couldn't discuss the case with me that I would have to have my attorney call them.  I informed her again I had no case filed or no attorney and was dealing with a death in my family.  She said I will give you the file number, which she did.  I told her again  I don't understand and she said she would transfer me to an attorney when we were done. I explained to her again I was on the other line dealing with a death in my family.  She preceded to tell me very rudely that she was calling so we could work this out before going to court.  I mention to her again I had no idea what this was in relation to, and made mention if this was a case already to be heard in court then it should have a docket number not a file number and she hung up.

Roughly an hour later I get a call from a representative who tells me I have been served and have a case pending in court, but she calling to resolve it before it gets to court.  I explained the previous call and she says do you want me didn't you get served, and I stated I had been home all day and no one served me nothing.  She then says no not today, Monday.  I explained I was hope all day Monday and no one served me.  She then asked do you want me to re-dispatch the process server. I explain I rather resolve this and find out who this is and what it is in reference to.  She then informed me it was about an account with a credit card company who I had filed a dispute with them.  I explained to her the situation and stated this account was charged-off 4 years ago.  

She then said do you want to pay it and I said I believe I have.  Someone had called my niece's house back in July in reference to this and I explained to them the same dispute.  But then I called the company back and made a settlement arrangement, which was processed by my bank.  This representatives said either we work this out or the case would go forward.  After explaining to her I was on Social Security Disability, we came up with a payment arrangement, which she told me she would have to transfer me to another department.  I explained to her again I had paid this and had proof from my bank.  She gave me a fax and e-mail address to send it to, but said I still needed to make these arrangement and transferred me to someone and we made the arrangement.  This was done on September 19 around 3:30pm.  Around 4:30pm I receive an email with the payment arrangement.

That evening I did my research and found a number for the company I had already paid.  I called the company--Barrett & Associates the next morning  (Sept 20, 2013) around 9:40am.  The company I paid verified it was the same account and they would email me a paid letter by the end of business on September 20, 2013.  I called Portfolio Consulting Group back around 10:20am and spoke to Ms. Jones, the rep I had told on Sept 19, that I had paid this bill and she asked did I have the paid letter.  I explain  Barrett & Associates would be sending it to me by the end of business and therefore, I did not want to pay it again.  She said when you get fax it to this number and they will research it.  

She didn't understand or want to understand I was cancelling the agreement I had made less then 24 hours.  Therefore, I sent an e-mail to the e-mail address she gave me and the same e-mail address I had receive the payment arrangement and stated to cancel my payment arrangement and the details of the paid bill with Barrett & Associates for the same account.  I notified them in writing less than 24 hours latter.  Plus the first payment was not to be processed until September 25.

On September 23, I get a called again from the 855 number and told about the case in court.  I explained to her the previous call from Portfolio Consulting Group whose payment processing is through Profile Management (PMI Inc.).  She says she just a process server and can't tell me what this is in reference to.  I said she said with a case in court, then is it with and she states she has a sealed envelope and can't open it, but she can transfer me to an attorney, which she did.  I find out it is for the same account and explain everything that has transpired to him.  He was rude and said unless I have a paid letter and he can verify it is the same account--which he had told me the name of the company and it was for the same company--but he said he has to verify the account number.

I then call Barrett and Associates for the paid letter.  I explain everything to them and they inform me about the fraud with these accounts from this credit card company.  When I receive the paid letter I fax it to this so called attorney and he says okay keep the letter for your records.

I feel all of these people work for PMI and Portfolio Consulting Group.  But now I see even though I sent them notice in writing and called them and faxed them the paid letter, they still withdrew $155.95 from my bank account.  This is nothing but FRAUD!!!!

I am filing a complaint with the BBB and with my bank.