No they can not do that. I have been reciving calls from these people and they called my job this morning. They are claiming to be from United whatever that means. I called my local police department and they came to my house and they said that they can't do anything because it is civil but he said that he has recieved at least 12 of these same complaints and it is all a scam. He said not to give them any money at all. and if you are able to call your phone company to have the numbers blocked to do so. The officer said to not talk to them about anything and continue to ignore their calls. He said eventually they will leave you alone it just may not happen right away..Hope this helps

I received the same phone call this morning. They were with United and I needed to make payment arrangements or papers would be served to me at my job to go to court. Can they really do this? What are my options?

The rep that called said the company is United.  But the company is a third party collection agency.  The rep claims that Integrity Advance (internet loan company) hired them to collect on their behalf.  I'm attempting to research more info on United because their reps are breaking laws my making threatening calls claiming they do not make outbound calls.  But the only way to stop the calls is to set up payments.  Any info you find post for others.

Received a voicemail message from a Jack Spencer at this number that included something about a claim filed against me and did include a file number.  I phoned the number listed and was told that the name of the company is United Para Legal or something like that.  I asked for their address and the jerk that I spoke to would only tell me that they were located in Arizona.  He asked for my file number and I gave it to him.  I asked him again for his street address and the town in Arizona and he dodged the question again.  He asked me if I wanted to know what the claim was and I told him that I could care less and that I only wanted he street address and city and state so that I could report this SCAM call to the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI.  He hung up on me!  If these jerks call any of you, just ask for their address.  Then, report this call to the FTC and the FBI............these people are crooks!!!!

This just happened to me!  First they called my BF and advised her that I was about to be served with charges in 2 hours if they do not get in contact with me and that their name was United Firm.  They gave her a claim number and the 888-324-0701 number for me to call.  I spoke with 2 different reps both of whom proceeded to tell me that a payday loan that I took out in 2008 was filing charges against me for breach of contract and intent to fraud since I did not pay it back.  When I asked them how much time I had to contact them back because I needed to verify the company, they were like the locator is on his way to serve me and that if I did not pay or give them my debit card info right then to take at least 1 installment payment then I would have to take my chances in court.  When I asked for documentation, they were like, you know what you did and it is not their responsibility to provide me with my debt.  hmmm thats ODD.  Once I said I would call them back, on each occassion they said "good luck" the locator is on his way.  This is a shame.  I am glad I found this site.  Even if a debt is really owed it is illegal for them to scare you into thinking you will be arrested and have to go to jail.  

Caller is harrassing my friend, family and job. Idenitifying themselves as officers of the court, serving me notice, yada-yada-yada. My Father told them them off a few weeks ago yet they still call him.  He is very angry.  My friend called me this morning to tell me they left a very threatening message on her vm.  

Rachel Smith finishes her call with "consider yourself served"...HUH?

If they start harrassing my new employer we might have an issue as that might adversely affect my job.    

Same here! They called my Manager's work number and stated I needed to call because I had a claim against me. I called the 888-324-0701 and spoke with a Monica Lopez who said I was being charged for check fraud because of a payday loan. When I said I could not pay she got hostile. I also talk to a process server or so she claimed. Her name was Tonya and I also talked to Ruby at extension 311. My lawyer got involved and advised me what they are doing is illegal so we did a conferance call to the 888 number and spoke to Monica and she would not tell my lawyer anything but she did give him an email address which was customerinfo@unitedresolutions.com....

I just received a text from my ex in-laws; I have been divorced since 2008; saying they had received a call from someone and it sounded important that I need to call 888.324.0701 asap...

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
************
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
************
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
*******************************
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."
****************************************
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.

I have had the same thing happen it happened to me about 3 mths ago they said I had one last chance to pay I didn't and nothing happened so now here we go again they started calling all my family.. these people are not associated with any legal firm they are trying to scam me because when I pressed in on him asking to be served paperword by mail..which is the law, he told me F@#* You and hung up on me. Do not talk to them.. just ignore them until they get tired of calling and try someone else they are very convincing but definately fraud!!!!!!

I have recieved calls from this number 504-541-9148. They leave threatening messages call all of my family members and demand I return the call on 888-324-0701. The 504-541-9148 number just rings and rings when I call it back but the 888-324-0701 number answers by saying Hello...sounds foreign.. most businesses would have a professional greeting when answering but they say Hello then claim to transfer you and tried to get my bank account or credit card number and when I refused they suggested I go to Walmart and get a prepaid debit card..OK that's not gonna happen. DEFINATELY A SCAM!!!!

I just got a call from this number as well identifying themsevles as United firms a pre-litigation firm...are they really a law firm or is it actually a collections agency? Spoke with a Pricilla, Maria and a Mr. Rodiguez (supervisor) Stating that since I did not get a payday loan paid off they are trying to help me take care of this before I get taken to court for fraud. Trying to find out if they can do this.

Number has called my work as well as had a person named John Clark contact my family. First claimed to have a warrant for me then claimed to be a process server. Continuously called my family and job when asked to stop. I told him to go ahead and serve the papers he then got nasty with me and threatened to continue to harass my family if I don't take care if this. I then told him if he was legit then he should have no problem serving my papers. He told me that I don't get to tell him what to do. Just waiting for him to really do something stupid.

After receiving taunting,threatening and down right inappropriate phone calls from different numbers ranging from Florida all the way to California I had to look up if this place is fake or not. After much research I am seeing that people are getting the same thing and can say this is most definitely a fake trying to get money. My best guess is they are using Google Voice and getting different phone numbers and this must be the new way of the " Nigerian email Swiss Bank Account Scam".I am furious and feel violated and want to get to the bottom of this.

This person keeps calling my work number

They left a very convincing message that was actually for my step-daughter.  He even left his name as Tony Sanchez and said she had this one and only chance to settle the claim. But he never said what company he was with. Then at the end he said "consider yourself officially notified"

I am receiving calls at my parents and grandmothers home from these idiots! Even left a case number and all for me to call back. Dont have a clue who they are so called them back and the name left to contact wasnt even there. Got a man who pulled case number after him hem-haulin around he says that I took a loan out over the internet and gave an incorrect social security number!! FRAUD isnt good enough for them!!!

This is a joke outfit. ACS which doesn't stand for anything. They are certainly violating the state and federal laws but without an address to serve them it doesn't matter. Ignore their calls.

I had a message on my machine that said the number went to a law firm.  It appears from googling it that it does not and they are violating federal law.

these people claim to be state processor and want to settle the claim over the phone