You were absolutely right not to pay.  Legitimate debt collectors (and law offices working as or on behalf of a collections agency) have no problem MAILING you the mandatory debt validation letter as required by federal law (the FDCPA).  Refusal to MAIL this documentation is a violation of the law.  BTW, a bill or invoice is NOT proof you owe money either.

This is an old post, but I'll respond so others can understand that debt is civil, not criminal - so NO arrests - NO jail time!  This is a scam op which scares people into paying bogus or already paid off debt.

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
************
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
************
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
******************
Also read up on the laws and your rights:

Harassing calls from a debt collector? Here is what you need to know
http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm

CFPB Q&A on debt collection practices
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection
************
Follow the steps in what you need to know. A legitimate debt collector agency should not have a problem with giving you a real business name and address you can google and verify via google street view, BBB etc.
For extortion Scam Operations, file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.nw3c.org/
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

And folks should consider looking at maybe getting call blocking device or phone..
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=se ... s=call+blockers

No, the caller is a scammer.

These guys called my dad's cellphone today saying there was a complaint against me which worried my mother as she thought it had something to do with my state license for my job. I called up and spoke with a Justin Morris. He said it had to do with a CC that was opened in 2008, a Total Visa card to be exact, and that it was paid for a year and then stopped.

I said I had no recollection of this and he said that was unlikely. He faxed me over some sheet stating the amount that was due and an area to write my bank account info.

Well I hopped online and checked all three of my credit reports and none of them had this card on it.

So I called back and said it wasn't on there and he said what they do is have it removed from my report until a judgment is made. I told him that makes no sense at all and that I have archived my credit reports for the last two years and it has never been on there.

At this point he got very defensive and started talking about how I was going to be served. And I said go for it I'm not hard to find in fact my home is a block and a half away from the police department. He stuttered a lot after that. And I ended the call after that.

And today I've been bored overall so I called him back every 30 minutes to let him know I was still waiting to be served. And I did that for about 5 hours. (Yes I know I have no life)

Did you get served?

I received a voice mail from a mane who id himself as Robert White, stated a complaint has been filed against me and I have 24 hrs to contact the firm handling the case or they will proceed with out my concent. I called the number gave the case file and was connected to a Justin Morris case manager. I was informed that I had a bank over draft fee from 2006  on an old business account that was closed when I sold my business. I told him the account was closed, how Cld there be a over draft fee? He basically called me a liar about the closed account. He said the sheriff was at my house waiting to serve me with as I am be indited on fraudulent check charges and looking at a 25,000.00 fine and 2 yrsin prison. I was told if I paid him 600 he would make it all go away. Mr. morris advised me he was an attorney and would go to court for me and handle the charges as long as I agree to the amount. If not I will be arrested. I called the bank about the matter, they did not know what or who I was talking about, also contacted the sheriff office regarding being served, they also had no clue. The SOL in my state is 4 yr, it has now been 8. I had an attorney draw up a validating demand letter, sent certified with signature request. We will see what happens.

Good post.  These guys called my buddy's employer and told them they were going to post someone outside the business to arrest my buddy over an (old, out-of-statute) debt.  I passed on your advise to demand something in writing and these guys actually went as far as to fax him a legitimate pay-off letter.  Turns out, though, that while the address on the letter looks like a business suite it is actually a UPS store mail drop.  They are most likely having their mail forwarded to a country where they are unreachable.  No use reporting them they will be using a new phone number next week.

Ok here is the deal with these guys:  They obtain records of your old, old debt that is out of statute (you no longer owe).  Then they call you and your employer and your family members and say they are collecting the debt and that they have people on the street looking to serve you summons or even threaten that you will be arrested if you don't pay, etc.  They break every law on the book but don't waste your time calling your lawyer or reporting them to the state atty general because they are a phantom business looking to scam you out of a quick hit payment.  You can't find them to sue them or have them arrested because their "office" is a UPS Store mail drop and their business name and officers, etc. are not registered with the state and therefore not an actual business entity.  The good news is that nobody is really looking for you -- they are most likely calling you from offshore, some island somewhere where the US law can't reach them -- but your payments can.  Unfortunately all you can do is block the number and move on.

Just got a call from 980-272-3478 and answered my phone at which time the person hung up.  At that time I called back and found out it was from ARG & Associates and once my phone call was connected was told they had just received papers on me and wanted me to verify the last 4 of my social - not doing that.  She said no problem I'll just release these papers.  Well go right ahead cuz I haven't done anything wrong and I have no credit issues.  Weird.

So Carlos did u go to jail? Was just wondering because u said 24 hours n there weren't any more posts by you.?

They are not a law firm they are bottom feeder collection agents... BEWARE

Is there a way you can cut and paste that email from the DOI??

No you won't go to jail.  To threaten you with jail is in violation of the FDCPA.  If they were legitimate, they should abide by the FDCPA and MAIL you a debt validation letter showing original creditor, amount of debt, date debt was incurred, etc, and would also state whether they are license to collect debt in your state.  

You could call the bank you do owe the debt to and let them know what's happening - they will be able to tell you if they've sold your debt to a debt collector and if so, which company now owns your account.  

Tell the scammers you've reported them to the FTC and your state's Attorney General (and do it).  Also tell him that you are recording every single call he makes to you, whether at work or home (doesn't matter if you don't, they don't like to be recorded).  Read about the FDCPA and your rights as a consumer.

These people called me and said I owe a debt with a bank. I do owe a bank, but they told me if I don't pay it today I will go too jail

Email is not valid proof of debt anyway.  According to the FDCPA (15 USC 1692) a Debt Validation Notice must be sent by USPS to be valid proof of debt and there are specific pieces of information that must be included.  A court would likely not accept their lawsuit without proof a Validation Notice with all the correct information had been sent and received.

My in laws and ex husband of 22 years got a call from this Arg Company. When I called I got a line off crape and told them to Email me the info. They insisted that I pay that day using a credit or debit card how stupid do they think people are? He said he would send me an email with all the info and I never recieved anything!

So what happened? I got the same from Asset Reliance Group. But mine is $1,400 when I know my credit card was a credit limit of 200 or so. They said i can settle with $400.I was 18. I just don't trust them now that I read these comments.

Hahaha.....I AM A PROUD AMERICAN....sorry if you can't stand that or me!!! I'll continue harassing u w calls :) ya tool :)

This scum bag still up to his old tricks !!!!!!! GET A REAL JOB BUM!!!!

} you all point the finger at the debt collectors who wake up and go to work everyday to earn an honest living!

It doesn't sound like anyone at your sweat shop knows what "honest living" means. I will absolutely point fingers at lawbreakers who pointed theirs without cause at me first. Sucks to be you when some people you try to shake down with illegal threats are aware they have rights you are trampling.

I received two private calls today and a message stating and needed to call 855-312-9923 about a legal matter and at the and of it said Good Luck! When I call back with the file number they transfer me to M. William Brewer who states he is an attorney and according to him I had already been served on a debt that I know well I paid off back in 2010. My debt was $1200.00 and he said they are taking me to court for $4000.00. I told him I need it his information because I knew this was a fraudulent call and he got very offended and was very rude. I told him to never call me again and that I was going to give his info to my attorney. Don't fall for its FRAUD all the way. I know what I owe and who I owe it to A*** H***

They called me saying i was going to be served. Dumb me gave them banking info for a payment plan that i set up with them. After reading all the posts ive cancelled my card and they wont be getting money from me.  thanks for the posts.

they all use names like Joe Jamison or Michelle Moore etc... a bunch of dumbasses if you ask me.

Sorry, but you just wasted $405.00 . They are a scam, and even if it was on your credit report, its not going to change the status of it... I told him i wasnt sending a penny until i got either an email or a letter in the mail saying exactly what was going on and what i needed to do. No credit company is going to sue you over $400... EVER ! It will cost more money for them to go to court and have you served when its all said and done. I had my lawyer initially contact Mr.Brewer after i & a few family members got the calls about this, and my lawyer told me not to send a dime and they they WERE NOT a real company or collection agency.

My husband recieved a phone call on Friday 3/29 stating that I had a debt overdue from 2009 and that if he didnt approve a $405 deduction from our checking account, I would be served with papers and sued on Monday and not only would I owe the cost of the debt, but court cost as well total more than $1200 in total charges. He called at 3:00 pm. My husband in response gave him our credit card information and paid the original $405. My husband did all this before even calling me at work to inform me of what was happening. I got home to an irate husband thinking I am not paying any bills. But reading all these post,This man told me husband he would be sending an itemized email of information that my husband has yet to recieve of when the account was originally opened and such. Debt collecting is what they claimed to be. I am wandering if I didn't just lose $405. AAARRGH!!!


On a side note- a few years back we had an issue of my mother using my social security number to open house utilities, an America Online Internet account, and bank accounts in my name without consent.

My ex husband of 7 years and his mother both received calls at their work (which numbers I do not know) as well as my father received a call from this company stating the same thing as everyone else- I had 48 hours to respond or they will proceed with litigation.  I called to get more information and spoke to William Brewer.  I asked what was going on. Initially he was extremely nice and being pretend helpful.  Once I stated that I wanted to receive a letter validating the debt, he became hostile and told me he did not have to provide this to me and he would not. All the information I requested I would see when I show up to court.  He began quizzing me if I was an attorney and what firm I worked for.  He became enraged when I refused to answer that question.  I told him that his practice of disclosing my alleged situation to third parties was a violation of the FDCPA. He told me that was not him, it was their process servers, at which point I argued, they pay them for a service, therefore they are a representative of the company.   He told me he was not trying to collect a debt, he was trying to serve me.  Not sure why I'm allegedly so hard to serve, I go to work and come home. I'm not some enigma.  I told him to remove the people he called from his call list, and he stated he didn't have one.  Told him to have his "process servers" remove them then.  He got very angry when I fought back- which I was not hostile or rude or threatening, I was just firm in my stance that I would not be bullied.  I followed this phone call up with a formal cease and desist letter sent certified to their pansy UPS box and stated that further action would be constituted as a violation of my letter and the FDCPA and I would take further action.

You probably are this Mr. William Brewer guy. I am lead to believe that anyone who would take time out of their day to come on this blog is just plain stupid. I totally agree with debt collectors doing their job, that's great but, this guy is a fraud ! He is a liar and a scam. He clearly told me he had sent me paperwork regarding the matter he was calling about and never did. He blatantly lied to me by saying i had missed a scheduled court date where i was a defendant in a civil law suit. He also said that he would email all the info i needed before i would make a payment. NEVER DID ! ALSO, i called that specific debt i DID have, that i PAID off, and went down the whole line of collectors my 300$ debt went to and it HAD been paid in full 2 years prior just like i thought.That my friend is not someone who is honestly out there in society making a living. Sorry to burst your love for debt collectors bubble ! And even if anyone on here is "bottom of society" what are you, and your negative comment going to do about it ? There will always be bottom feeders and scumbags in this world. But they pay for their mistakes. I ruined my credit at 18 by trying to be greedy. Today at 32 with a nursing degree i can honestly say that not everyone ends up like what you are talking about. So please, take a second and think before you speak.

They prey on all people, not just the young or the elderly.  A bucks a buck...

I agree to a point. However bad things happen to good people. The only thing worse than the people who do live off the system are the scums who prey off of them, and make assumptions. They go through any means to collect money. Since I am a educated, and responcible, I will refrain from telling you what I realy would like to say. I will not lower myself to the standards you evidently live by.
Further more they made a mistake with me after I got hit by a drunk driver and could'nt pay a 235.00 credit card bill because I was paralized and had to go onto disability after making 100,000.00 a year. It took a long time to get settled and put somekind of a life together. ( Going back to work now, not because I have to , just for your info.)
So, its not that I cant afford it, but I will spend 100 times that amount to persue there illegal tactics.
As far as CRYING..... I feel sorry that there is someone lower than the companies in the complaint topics.... Evidently you must have a blessed life. Thats great. What comes around goes around...

I hear you on that! I settled this debt with a particular company and they said that they owned it and I paid the wrong people. He called my parents saying I was in legal trouble, my in-laws and my sister in-law saying there is an action suit against me. Not once did the a-holes contact me! When asked why he didn't contact Mr. Brewer said he didn't know where I could get served. Really? First of all, I never received any paperwork for them so they have no to right to sue me. Oh yes he threatened me bying saying that he was going to sue. There's even more but it's not worth it. It's a crock of poop! Bogus company and I reported them to the FTC and the Attorney General.