A lady called my home stating a case  # to my wife and saying I needed to call her before 5 pm .My calls me with a number to call.I call the number and the lady was in a meeting, so the other lady looks up this case number and states it's from a credit card supposedly belonging to me in 1999. I told her I basically had no knowledge of this and she could call my bankruptcy attorney..
She stated my attorney could call her.  My attorney is sending her a cease letter with my bankruptcy letter..It's 15 yr old debt somebody owed,, not me..This company is a bottom feeder as I see in all these letters

Received a call today on my iphone that said "no caller ID". A lady named Tammy Bloomburg asked to speak with my mother (called her by name). I said "I'm her daughter, how can I help you"? Then she asked if she could speak to my father (called him by name). Then apologized when I told her he died last year. At this point, she has yet to tell me the company she was calling from. I asked why a phone number didn't appear on my phone from where she was calling from, and she said because it was a "legal matter". So I asked her what company she was calling from, she said ARA. I asked what this was regarding to which she replied she couldn't discuss it with me but it deals with collections. I also told her I thought it was weird that she called my number over my mom's home and cell number, to which she replied that there are 7 phone numbers belonging to her, and they have tried 4.  Obviously the first 4 numbers didn't lead her to my mother, since she called my phone. I wrote down her name and number to deliver the message to my mom.

left a message that i need to call before 3pm or else

Said that I owe over $3,000 to some bank called Southeast Bank and this was back in 2002. That I was born in South Carolina and that I worked for some company called B and ? Management. I advised the person that I never have worked for such a company and that I was not born in South Carolina, and that they had that was not my social security number.

I received a call last week from "Jason" from the legal dept. there. He too left a vm saying I needed to respond today, and pay by the 25th of April, or they will file a suit, and I have to go to the court date, and if I lose, they'll be a judgment I'll never get rid of on my credit report. Or I pay. I told the guy I didn't know what this debt was from. He said it was Citibank, from South Carolina, from 2002,and all he had was old addresses from when I lived there. He also said that since the case was passed to them, he's in Illinois and Statute of limitations there is 10 years. From what I understand the date of which an account became delinquent is when the clock starts, not from when they get the account. I was afraid bc I have excellent credit, and said that I'd pay $1000.  I remember getting a call about the same debt, from LVNV in about 2005. I put a stop payment on my account, and am sending a letter of verification of debt request. My concern is that I had agreed to make a payment, then called him back, told him that I don't believe this debt is valid, and the payment will not be made. These people cannot "reset" a clock on me fro this can they?

I agreed to pay a settlement without doin my research on ARA first what can happen if I decide not to pay that settlement? I knew all the long I did not have a cc from 1999 but they threaten me with garnishing my checks and puttin freezes on my accounts what should I do

As a former bill collector I wanted to add a note.  If they left a rcorded message saying they are a law firm or they are suing you, save it and file a fair debt collection act compliant.  Never agree to make a statement to pay even a settlement on a recorded line.   These people buy debts that are past the statute of limitations for .01 cent on a dollar.  If they get you to pay even a small amount, they make money.  Federal debt laws state that if you agree to pay a debt thats past the statute of limitations that you re-opened that debt.  The Act also states they cannot threathen to do anything they cannot legally do.  They must state at the beginning of the conversation they are a collection agency.   Them them to hold one minute as you're recording the call and they will hang up.  Tell them to send all communication in writing them if it's something you want to pay you can go from there.   If they threathen to garnish your wages laugh and tell them that requires a lawsuit, hearing, judgement then a court order to garnish.  Ask for company name, address and registered agent as you intend to retain an attorney and litigate if they do not cease all communication.  Want to mess with them, just keep laughing when they call you.  They called me on a 21 year old credit card.   Here was ther conversation:  Victoria you have a debt that will go to court umless paid immediately.  I said your name, company name and addres please.  She got mad and gave me copany name only and demanded we discuss payment.  I said to who and she gave me name so I started laughing.  She got mad and wanted to know if I intended to pay so rather than even admit I knew about a debt I said what company again? and what's their address.  Date of the debt in question?  I laughed again then she got really pissed and started yelling.  I told her she'd need to send me somehting in writing and she said fine but we'd be in court by then and I laughed again so she hung up.   If this is something you'll never pay, don't owe, etc. simply tell them sorry wrong John Doe, can't help you.  They'll say is t his your social and just say are you nuts I'm not confirming anything like that on the phone.  Cease all contact.  If they keep calling, sue em

I had to put a post here as a former bill collector.  First you can demand they cease contact - if they do not then cadvise your filing a Fair Debt Collection act violation.  Never dmit you owe money or offer any type of payment on a recorded line.  Although the debt is old and probably past the statute of limitation you can reactivate a debt by agreeing tp pay even a partial amount.  If they continue after you advise the to cease all contact, contact relatives after they arfe advised not to to threathen to sue you, put you in jail or take any action they legally can't take, you have a right to take action against them.  By violating the Fair Debt Collection Act they can in fact void the debt any way.   Tell them if they voilate it then advise your take them to court.

Thank you badge 714 your answer helped a lot . My husband has a lawyer that looks at his credit report . Thanks to you they are checking into this and said not to worry about this it was settled 9 years ago . They said next time they call tell them to call him . Thank you for your help

First off - 13 years? The debt 'may' be time barred in your State. You'll have to do a search of how long a debt is legally collectable in your State. In some States it is illegal to try and collect a time barred debt. Be aware that admitting to a debt, in some cases, can start the clock ticking all over again. I would suggest your husband get a copy of his credit report, & see what's on it. Meanwhile, be careful what you both say on the phone. Always ask for proof of debt in writing. That's US Mail. Not fax, text, or email. US Mail. As well, this debt may not even be real. Millions of Americans are being called by foreign criminals trying to extort money on fake debts. - Get the credit report.

I got a call from this number yesterday . They told be about a repo my husband co - sign for 13 years a go with his ex girlfriend. I told her that was before my time. She said the sent a letter of judgement to two different states , to be placed on him  what happen to the privacy act ? Told me everything about the ex , said they billed bith of them and he could pay 5,000 now or wait for the judgement and pay 24,000 . Can they do this ?

The website for ARA is www.arainc.us

claimed they were a legal office stating I had a court date

Who are these people and why are they calling me?  I have no debt!!!  They left no company name and said they were going to garnish my wages  -

no tell them ----- to kiss your ---......

I keep getting phone calls and treating voice messages on a pre-paid emergency cell phone from these people....It is very frustrating...Even if I had an issue where something was not totally paid off it was not due to neglect...I paid all old credit card balances off in 2002 enabling me to buy a house. So enen if something was missed in error I believe that 12 years in beyond any staue of limitations in any state....They need to stop the insanity of harrassing people.

I got a phone today from a Melissa who claimed I owed a debt on a truck from back in 1998 she had all my info SS#, previous credit agency, claim number, what credit cards I had and even what vehicle I drove and paid of I informed her that the debt was already taken care of back in 2000 or 2001 she then sent me over to a possible attorney who then started drilling me stating they were going to take me to court unless I gave them a good faith check for 1495.95 then they would clear it and call it paid. they said if I did not do this then they were taking me to court for over 26,000.00. once again I told them that debt was already paid so then they transferrd me to a so call person who was with the orginal loan company who said it was never paid and ask me if proof of payment and if so bring it to court. hopefully this will never get that far. also I told them I had to think and look this info up and asked for a name and number to call them back she did her name was Melissa beckhard her number was 888-409--5060 and her extension was 3022. the name on on caller id was FCR and the number was 630-599-5060

i am a nervous wreck. a christi called and I told her I did not know what she was talking about. she had my social security no/ I have a nervous condition I got really upset and told her off and hung up she called back 3 times hollering and saying ugly things. I told her I would have my lawyer contact her report the company to better business and consumer protection agency. They are a rip off and need to be stopped!!!

I got a call from this number saying they are ARA associates a man named Timothy Johnson. Said I have an old bill that a lawsuit will be filed against me if i dont settle. He stated my SSN and said he see that my credit is improving and dont want to mess it up so I should settlte this.

They called my house today and said I owe money on something that I paid off 14 years ago they had all my informarion !!!!!

These jokers called my parents (81 and 78 years old)  trying to collect an alleged debt on my 53 year old sister.  Timothy Johnson said he was calling from the legal division at the Brevard County Court House.  Really?  The Brevard County Court House has a legal division?  And they have an 888 number?  As soon as the receptionist answered the phone "ARA, how may I direct your call?" I knew I was dealing with a collection agency or scammers.

They call in as a restricted number, which I NEVER ANSWER and then leave me a voice mail that is extremely nasty!  Ah, let's see... I have a credit score of 820 and I always pay my bills on time.  And if you are rude on a voice mail, that's going to have me call you back!   REALLY?????????????  INSANITY!

Thank you! I didn't think this company was ligit. They need to be prosecuted.

Just received a voicemail message, at work, from a woman named Ms. Mann who called from (888) 409-5060.  She said "It is imperative that I speak with you today in regards to your case that is scheduled to be forwarded out in your county.  It's imperative that I speak with you today to receive your statement before a decision is made on your behalf."

She never identified the company she works for or why she felt the need to call me at work.  I have her message saved on my voicemail.  If she calls again I'll remind her that calling me at work is a NO-NO!!

Been through this before with old debts that resulted from my divorce several years back.  They apparently could never find my ex-husband so they picked the next person in line.  They threatened to come have me "served" at work, have a sheriff's officer come to my place of employment, etc.  Awful, awful people who will stop at nothing to intimidate and harrass.   On-line research says the company is called ARA - Asset Recovery Associates.

I received a call from this company trying to collect $20,000 on a car that I purchase in 1997. Paid car off in full, traded it in on another with a clear title in my hand. That car is also paid off. I would like to know how they had so much of my personal information. My Attorney is John B. White, Jr of South Carolina. He will prove that I do not owe anything but will be serving paper to this company to compensate for all the stress and unable to work I have gone thru because of this

I just got the same call. Let me fill some of you in. These companies buy huge lists of people that have very old debt. They might buy a list of 300,000 names with a total of 10m in debt for say $50,000. They then go to work trying to collect from them. I settled a debt about 10 years ago and have the letter but I love messing with them anyway. This one sounds like it will be fun from what I read here. They are basically looking for people who scare easily. If they bought your 10 year old 10k debt for $3 anything they get is great. The thing about these people is they know they can tell you anything on the phone. You MUST not get emotionally charged on the phone because they feed on that. If you want to make them crazy stay calm. Let them motor mouth and interrupt but be polite. Do not talk to them long or they may trip you up to say something that WILL give them a legit debt. They record conversations and will review them later. If you admit you owe the debt they will take you to court with a typed transcript. I dont know for certain but suspect that these companies are connected to people who are involved in identity theft. I dont think they do it themselves but they probably broker the information. There are people who will buy your ss number, mothers maiden name, bank account number etc. to use and broker to others. Here are the rules for these people:

1: NEVER ADMIT YOU OWN THE DEBT. Admitting you owe the debt can make it so you do owe the debt in the eyes of the law. Tell them you don?t remember it and ask them to send you a copy of the paperwork they have from the company. The ORIGINAL credit card agreement, the paperwork you signed, a statement from the company. They are probably not going to have this and if they don?t it is not lajit. To many of these companies you are a name on a list. They probably don?t even really own the debt. They will just try and get you to pay. You will be paying someone who does not even own the debt and they will just sell the debt to someone else once they bleed you. That is what is ironic?.paying them means nothing if they don?t own the debt.

2. NEVER EVER pay them a dime. In the state I am in the statue of limitations (SOL) is 5 years and it varies by state. It varies by state but there is zero chance they will get a judgment against you past that date. Unless it is a student loan then your beyond screwed. You need to research the time period for (SOL) for your state. Here is the thing though?.if you have a debt that is 8 years old and SOL in your state is 5 years and you make a payment on that debt?the time frame starts all over. Then a debt they don?t have a chance to collect is now collectable for the next 5 years by anyone!!! You do this you are screwed. They will call it a processing fee or something else to get you to pay then even a dollar?does not matter once you pay you are really in bad shape.

3. Tell them in your state the SOL time frame is (xxxx) whatever and they are SOL. They can still sue you and if they do you will have to research the letter you give the judge indicating SOL. Don?t be afraid of being sued as it is not likely they will and SOL always wins. Chances are they don?t even really own the debt. I strung two collection agencies along for a long time over the same paid off 8 year old debt. They got very highly irate many times and finally I told them they are SOL and instantly they just stopped. They gave up right there on the phone.

4. Keep in mind they can say anything to you. Ask them to put whatever they tell you in writing. I always set up a separate email account to get them to send me stuff. Send them letters requesting the info above and keep in mind it does not have to be typed and all that. Just write it on a piece of paper and send it so you get a returned receipt. If you are thinking you don?t have time for this that is the other thing they are counting on. If they are calling you at work send them a letter to tell them to stop?.google it. If they are calling your relatives do the same.

These people are predators and they will say anything to get their commission. They are on commission. Like all predators they look for the old or weak to prey on. They will be your friend or your enemy if it suits them. Don?t chat with them and tell them anything about your life. They will use it against you. Don?t be an idiot.

I got a call from ARA Inc. P.O. Box 5002 Villa Park, IL 60181. They said I owe 1,300,00 For a car that was repo 15 yrs ago. I made a mistake and set up payment. I got a hold of the EX husband and he had filed bankruptcy in 09 his name was on car title so that also we on there too.That is was in newspaper and online that he was filing. I close my bank acc so they could get anymore money.They called and demand that I keep paying them and that I fraud the bank and got a debit card and didn't tell them I owe money.I co-signed for this car for my EX husband we were married at the time. I didn't even have a job back then. Like wtf. I just hang up then they sent a letter. Wanting to pay. I google them ane they are on RIPOFF.COM. OMG I wish I seach sooner. THey are not get money from me.

ARA
1919 S. Highland Ave, 225A
Lombard, IL  60148
Phone: 888-409-5060
Fax: 888-315-1550
Contact: Bruce Cohen, President
E-mail: president@arainc.us
Web Site: http://www.arainc.us

1919 S. Highland Ave, 225A
Lombard, IL  60148
Phone: 888-409-5060
Fax: 888-315-1550
Contact: Bruce Cohen, President
E-mail: president@arainc.us
Web Site: http://www.arainc.us

Read this:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ARA/Villa-Park-Illinois-60181/ARA-Samuel-Wiser-SCAM-Claiming-I-owe-them-Money-from-a-Debt-I-Paid-OVER-8-years-ago-SCAM-645973