I'm glad I found this site! My husband and I were already feeling like this was a big 'ol scam, but I still secretly worried if this "Mr. Martin" had any real recourse. We are buying a house soon and don't need anything on my credit that will affect that. As he has done with others, he used a "real" debt (in my case a gym membership from over two years ago; haven't heard anything from the gym up to this point) to bring a sense of validity to the situation and therefore fear that what he says could actually happen.

He called the first time at 2:30 and said that if I came up with the $250 cancellation fee (for the gym) that I'd be off the hook and he wouldn't file in court...the next day! When I began to ask questions, he got intolerant very quickly. I hung up on him. He called back and I told him that he would not raise his voice with me or we would not continue the conversation. I ended up getting a "case #" and a phone number (the one listed here as a problem number). The call had popped up on my caller id as 'unknown'. When I kept pressing for proof that the company or his 'firm' had tried to reach me prior to this, he ended up hanging up on me.

I called the number back, asked to speak to his supervisor and was connected with someone who said their name was Tom Kendall (who does come up on Google as a lawyer, but is listed as a divorce attorney; probably not even related to this at all). Same kind of conversation with him that ended with me telling him that it's no wonder Mr. Martin is the way he is with people because his boss is a big *ick, too! I hung up after that. I usually don't refer to anyone that way, but as most of you know by this point I was very frustrated. Mr. Martin called about an hour later and said, "I heard you called the office looking to speak with me." I replied that I did not, that I called to complain about him and that I'll just wait for the notice and see them in court.

He called again yesterday (the day after it was supposed to be filed in court) and asked if I had reconsidered settling this matter. When I told him that we were convinced this was a scam he said that I was the scam. lol. Ok, now it's just getting ridiculous and would be funny except for the fact that he has probably gotten money from some poor innocent folks that are too trusting or scared of what he is saying.

I'll be looking into what authorities / organization to report this type of activity to. Ugh! If only people had better things to do than to be so horrible and dishonest...

I received a call from the same person two days in a row, gave two different names.  Once called with no caller id, once called from a TX number that when i called that number back was not in service. So the next day i decided to call and when i did, the first guy (after asking a few simple questions about the money I owed) very rudely said "is this what you are going to do? oh no no no I tried to play nice." Then hung up.  The other guy calls me back, cannot give me an address of where the "bills" were sent to, and will not give me any information, yells at me then hung up.

Thank you!!

MJG is spot on. Here is some more info for you..

http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know
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
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Thank you for the info. Very helpful. I'm glad I didn't update my address ;)

Is it legal????   NO NO NO.  If you did not receive a notification IN WRITING (not the "We sent it last month") you have not been officially notified.  Phone calls, emails & faxes do NOT count.  It is also ILLEGAL to threaten you with arrest, jail time, etc. or to take your spouse's money.  Calling a third party (family member)  and giving them your information is also illegal.  Since he hung up on you several times, that should be a good indicator of this person's legitimacy.  You can not be arrested even if you did owe money.  That is a civil case, not a criminal action.  Demand written proof of the debt.  If he continues to harass you, contact a real lawyer - and do NOT talk to this "legal department" who (probably) is not a real attorney.   The MoneyGram demand is a scam - that is as good as cash.  You might also give your local police department a call regarding this person's calls.  They can probably offer more advice to you.

Mr. Martin contacted a family member of mine- stating I need to contact him ASAP regarding a legal matter. I contacted Mr. Martin at 888-360-2638 answering as "mr. Martin legal department" and informed me of an $814 debt I have (which is true)
He stated he mailed a letter several months ago so I should not pretend to not know the nature of his call. He confirmed the address he mailed the letter to and it was a previous address from 3 years ago. I offered him my new contact info and he stated he will not be taking anything from me other then payment. After being hung up on 3 times by this man, I explained I'm out if work currently but willing to set up a payment plan or pay in full at incomtax (in just 2 months) he laughed and said I was ridicouls.  I asked for his first name and address to mail payment (which I was not going to mail) he refused to provide either if these and then continued to refer to me as "lady" I told him I needed these for my records and I'm uncomfortable making any type of payment without this info therefore I will NOT until the info is provided. He became extreamily rude and angry, stated he will only accept a money gram, when I refused again he stated that I better inform my family and friends that I need to barrow the money and pay my debt by Thursday 1-2-14 as on this day he will be filing with the courts and I'm going to be sued, all my assets will be taken, and I should except the police at my door on Thursday with a summons then stated "this is not looking good for you, Lady..... And don't forget to let your husband know he'll be loosing his assets as well" and he hung up on me.
What a JERK!!! Is this legal?? I don't know how to approach this situation as he's rude and continues to hang up on me. Any advice??!  

Called my mothers cell phone concerning a "debt" to a school that had been paid off. Threatened to sue her, when the loan was under my name, and threatened to take everything she owned, including the house we lived in.

wants 1200 for a ond