My Dad was contacted by Daniel Benson of Bicoastal trying to say my deceased sister owed them money and that he was a co-signer.  My Dad has not nor would have a credit card.  Harassed him, his neighbor, and my other sister stating must make immediate payment or they would show up at his door.  Same stuff as others.  I contacted the BBB and they walked me thru everything to deal with these people.  Filed complaint with BBB in New York, with Federal Trade Commission.  Sent them a letter stating cease and desist or would file a Harassment complaint with police department.  Documented all phone calls and kept nasty voice message.  This is obviously a scam.

I got the same call and they got mad when I asked for something in writing. But then got a letter in mail.  Only gheir number was 877-448-5584 and the letter said call 858-654-0071, and fax is 858-286-3933
PO box 320

Letter said to sign to authorize payment but I did not give them payment or credit card info so by signing how would they collect????

I got a call from a 585-645-0070 number with a threatening you are being served in 24-48 hours message saying I will be served at home or work and when at work my work security or manager will have to sign off on it (which I am pretty sure not legal) oh and I better be sure I have 2 forms of id on me, which that just doesn't make any sense at all, plus obviously I must be dumb and not know this isn't how it's done, which I kept and will transfer to a file on my computer, they gave one company name on message, another on phone,and another was found by the 585 number, then REFUSED to give me an address because I wouldn't verify my last four of my social security number, which they don't need, he kept telling me so he can verify who I am despite he won't verify who he is or the company, oh and when I informed him that when I looked up the number I got a different name, he was like did you look it up right. I told him I know how to research, and I informed him the message is illegal, he was like how, I told him it's against the law to threaten, he of course hung up on me, I called back and wow went straight to voice, so had a friend called asking what company is this, he was like what can I help you with, friend said I need your company name and number (wanting a main number) he hung up on him too, and when tried to call back again straight to voice. the bicoastal solutions is the name he gave me on the phone, but look up the number it says j.t. keller and associates, this is total scam, if it was legit he would of had no problem giving me an address. I will be filing with bbb and ftc and contact state attorney of here and new York...oh and when I asked where he was located he only would say all over the country...What a joke, and also he never said what the call was about, which is against the law and can be fined for..Don't talk or submit to these scam artist,

Received similar message, however phone number provided was 877-418-8784 and name used was  Charles Clay!!!  Believe it is the same scam!!!   As previously stated...you would not receive prior notice regarding a summons.  Not calling back.  From the words of Judge Judy, "RIDICULOUS"!!!

Alfalfa, please come join us http://800auxiliary.betaboard.net/ Once you login your account will need to be approved

The same guy left me 2 voicemails, but said his name was different each time. He also called my ex-boyfriend's parents whom I've had no contact with in nearly 6 years. *I* don't even know their number. Something about a summons and he'll be coming out to my house or work within 48 hours to give it to me, but no one showed, of course. Then the second call said something about this is their second attempt to contact me regarding my social security number and papers would be forwarded to my local law enforcement if I didn't call back. I blocked the first number (18774485584) because I Googled it and saw a lot of people got the same messages and it turned out to be a scam. They got a new number to call me with (18552193331) so I called it back to see what they would say. They seemed to have all of my information, right down to my social security number, married and maiden name, and date of birth, but I told them it was wrong and wouldn't confirm anything else. He refused to tell me his company name, as I expected since other people reported the same thing, and when I asked him why he thought it was so weird that I'd be asking the company name of an unknown number calling me, he said "I don't know if you're planning to do something to the company." For asking it's name?! Paranoid much? He then said "Do you want to talk to our attorney?" and I told him I would love to, but he hung up on me. Clearly this is a scam, do NOT confirm any information, and lead them astray if they have any of yours already...or don't call them back. It's pointless. Hopefully they don't use my information! My email also had a hack attempt about a month ago from a NY area, but Google blocked them, so I assume it's the same party.

http://bicoastalsolutionsincorporated.com/contact.html
Address: P.O. Box 320 Lockport, NY 14095
PHONE: 877-448-5584
Email: info@bicoastalsolutionsincorporated.com

I received a call saying name was charles Clayton. Will serve a summons too my work place and need a supervisor too sign off as a witness dont like that. Someone would call and leave a message like that

Yes, you were scammed.  You can't get your money back but you can protect yourself.   Never give anyone any money on the basis of phone calls, no matter how threatening.  And you should report this to police and your state agency that regulates debt collectors.

This is a scam.  Ignore 'em.  A legitimate debt collector will send you information about your debt.  These people rely on threats.

Total scam.  Ignore 'em.

I think that Heston McClain has been connected with other shady debt collection companies.  It's time for the NY authorities to prosecute McClain criminally.

I got this call today--very intimidating.  I don't have time for this crap so I am going to contact the link from Alfalfa above (thanks).  My caller id said 877 448 5584 but they told me to call 877 448 5588--both say Canadian Post.  

Hi I am just curious , anybdy cme to ue house ans serve the summon  ? I dnt owe ntng as I hve checked my  credit history, thank u guys

This people calling me that they r going to serve summons! I dont knw bout ds crap, they r giving me too mch stress

I also received a message from this number last night.  The caller identified himself as Charles Clay.  Same summons deal as described by others.  I called the number back and got a recording and I did not leave my name just asked them to call me back and explain what it was about.

interestingly if you check out BBB and search all collection agencies for Lockport it's stunning how many "Collection Agencies" or more accurately Junk Debt Extortion Shops are listed w BBB complaints in such a small town and environs.  It seems to be a cottage industry.

there are some interesting comments by user "Buffalo Bill Collector " about another Lockport debt shop Robert James from 2010....
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-716-242-7588

they used to use a phony law firm sounding name. McArthur, Allen and Associates (now "closed") you should read the complaints...
http://www.bbb.org/upstate-new-york/business- ... t-ny-235967777/

made similar calls ~ "legal caring services" "summons" "ss fraud" etc.. from 877-861-3758 855-211-1524

This information is current as of Jul 22, 2013.There are 3 companies that have an address matching Heston F Mc Clain 210 Walnut St 2nd Floor Box 18 Lockport, NY 14094.Company Name:Merchant Recovery Solutions IncStatus:ActiveFiling Date:11/26/2012Entity Type:Domestic Business CorporationFile Number:4323866Filing State:New York (NY)Registered Agent: Heston F Mc ClainPrincipal Address:Heston F Mc Clain210 Walnut St 2nd Floor Box 18Lockport, NY 14094Company Name:Bi Coastal Solutions IncStatus:ActiveFiling Date:01/08/2014Entity Type:Domestic Business CorporationFile Number:4510078Filing State:New York (NY)Registered Agent: Heston F Mc ClainPrincipal Address:Heston F Mc ClainPo Box 545Lockport, NY 14094Company Name:Western Acquisition Group IncStatus:ActiveFiling Date:01/08/2014Entity Type:Domestic Business CorporationFile Number:4510281Filing State:New York (NY)Registered Agent: Heston F Mc ClainPrincipal Address:Heston F Mc ClainPo Box 545Lockport, NY 14094

I am gonna cancel my card and get a new one I called them demanding they give the money back daniel benson got a atitude and was not proffesional and then said if I refuse to pay I will get a summons wendsday I guess I be waiting for that summons cause I am not paying another dime I akso recorded the call as well.

Hope you did it by money order or now they have your banking info too... Keep an eye on your accounts. I feel for you. Totally sucks!

Got a call at 10:06 this morning. Same song and dance as the rest of you. I called and reported it to the FTC. I gave them all the info and they suggested NOT calling these guys back as now they have confirmation of a phone number and possibly a name for those who got a call actually directed to you.  FTC gave me this online address for further information about what to beware of and what to do or not:

Consumer.ftc.gov

Everyone report to FTC in addition to all others you feel can help.  For all we know these guys could be raising money for terrorists.  Be safe and don't give out any information over the phone if an unknown calls you.  No guarantees they are real or scammers.  

I'm just wondering if I can counter sue them for the heart attack they gave me with their threatening call...

Just got the same call this morning! Robo call with threatening a summons. I just called the FTC and filed a complaint. Suggest you do same. If enough complaints happen, maybe they can go after them.  I called back the threatening number and they asked the number that got called, then asked me if I was some other person.  They promised to remove my number.  But this is about the tenth call from these jokers. I finally got grumpy, called back and chewed them out.  Now there is an official complaint filed with the FTC! Illegal collections practices can get them fined.  Money talks. Maybe they will quit!

I received a recorded call from these POS people, exactly like the call "BS in NJ" got above, and they're calling for someone I have never heard of before. I called these morons back, and the guy answers "KKK headquarters" !

i think the physical address for these multiple front companies may be

210 WALNUT ST 2ND FLOOR
BOX 18
LOCKPORT, NEW YORK, 14094

or you look for Heston McClain in Lockport NY via whitepages search ~ little white house with crumbling brick steps...

or call the Brad Angelo Lanes in Lockport and ask if he's bowling that night..

i sent these guys a 100 bucks because i didnt want to go to court are you telling me it was all a scam man i got played.........

Now that I'm thinking about it, I should maybe also mention that my personal info was compromised in that Target security breach.  My bank was really quick to cancel my debit card and issue me a new one, and there hasn't been any fraudulent activity on my account itself...but could this be related?

I just received a message from "Charles Clay w/ Legal Outsourcing", all the same lines as above.  I called back, concerned as I live in a very nice neighborhood, have a really good job and don't want someone coming to serve me at either place.  The guy who answered was able to pull my name using my phone number but then put me on hold to "go pull the file from the attorney" and never came back to the phone.  

I've been in default collections for about 15 years.  I kind of home they call back ;)  It's been a slow morning - I could use a little excitement!

Amazing information.  Thank you for tracking that down!  I'll be sure to keep this on hand should they call again.  I appreciate it.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

?is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
?refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
?asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
?exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

?Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.?Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
?Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft ? charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
?Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate ? but you think the collector may not be ? contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
?Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

I got a call from this number today, same message as the rest of you received about a summons coming my way and to please call this number with questions.  For reasons I won't get into, I had cause to believe this might be legitimately related to another matter entirely so I called back to get more information.  Long story short, the person on the phone said the call was in regards to a very old "debt" I thought had been disputed and resolved years ago.  He told me that I was being SUED, but that he could offer me a settlement to make it all go away today.  And as another poster mentioned, he never stated the name of the company until I asked, never said it was an attempt to collect a debt, or that the call was being recorded.  We are a military family and move around a lot, but this same old bogus debt seems to pop up every few years or so; it's been more than 3 years since the last time I heard anything about it and initiated the process of disputing it through the credit agencies.  I have received NOTHING in the mail regarding this matter, EVER.  Thankfully, I found this forum and others like it while I was on hold and immediately hung up before giving out any of my information.  Then I checked all three of my credit reports.  This supposed debt or the charge-off does not appear on any of them, and there are no public records on file against me (i.e. pending court cases or lawsuits).  While it was my name and information they had (unlike some of you who have gotten calls for people you don't know) and I did recognize the account he said he was calling about, there's no way this is for real, right?  Was I right to hang up and ignore these calls going forward (as is my intention)?