That's a pretty ironic statement, considering you seem to feel compelled to respond every single time he does without fail.

Outside of that, what he is saying is pretty accurate, regardless of whether or not you like the delivery of his message.

I    have   had     bad    problems   with     these    people    in    the     past     and    ended   up    paying   them    money    after    they     harassed     me    and    harassed     me.    These    companies   don't   care   one    bit.    AssetAcceptance     is    another    one    to    stay     away   from.   I     wish   I   could    pay   all    of    my    bills    but    I   can't.   They    aren't   allowed    to    take   disability    or    social   security    unless    its    in     a     private     account    that    no    one    can    get    to   or   a     personal    check.   If  you    know   someone    who   can    handle    your    money    such     as   a    bill    pay    company    or   individual    they      have   the    training    to    get    around    this.    Plus     if    you     don't     make   enough   money    from    working    they     aren't    allowed   to    take    it.   Theres    a    certain   amount    you    have    to   make    before    they    can   take.   They   can't    take   unemployment   either.   If   they   do    they    are    in   the   wrong    and    have    to    pay    it    back   then   the    debt     is    considered    paid     in     full.   You    can't    be    arrested    for   owing   money.   These    people   will    do    and   say   anything    to   scare    you    into    paying    it.   Make   sure   you    get    a    copy    of    the    bill    before    you    give    them   any   money.   Do   not    give    them    and   personal    information.   I   found    this     out    the     hard    way.  These    people    don't    care    about   you    at   all   they'd    sell   their    own   mother    or    worse   to    get    a   debt   paid    off.   If   they   continue     to    call    you     can    call    the    local    police    department    and     have    them    come    out    and    file    charges     against    them    for     harassement.    I've   had   to    do    this   before.  I   was   threatened    by   one   collection    agency   saying   I    was  gonna   be    arrested   in    the   morning    more    than    once    and    nothing   happens.  I   asked   to    have    a   copy    of    the   bill   and   if    they   say    no   you      tell    them    you     aren't   going   to    do    anything   unless    you     see   something    in     the    mail   and    before     they   put    a   judgement   against    you.   Again   we   need    to    put    these    collection   agencies     out    of    business.   I   know   these   people    need   to   work    and    bills    need   to    be    paid,   but   not    at    the    expense   of    putting   people    and   families    out     on    the    street    because    these    people   are    so    heartless.  

Thanks    for     letting    me   say   this.  Hope     it    helps   some    of    you.
ellie

Why would it?

how dare they call relatives that is past harassment

You do realize that calling a company like this repeatedly with no intent to do business is considered harassment and they can, and will, file suit against you...right?

It works both ways. Just pay your bill and the calls will magically stop.

I have a delinquent account with citibank and the people on the other end of this number have been very professional and helpful.  I owe the money even though i don't have it right now they have been working with me.  Until I finally called them back and spoke with someone they were calling a few times a day.  I set it up with them that I would call them back and have held up my end of the bargin keeping them informed of my situtation and the calls have stopped.  Very professional organization, even with such a touchy subject as collections.

When you pick up and there is no one there, say hello loud about 3 times. It is a voice recognition computer and it is common that they do not always hear so good. It will talk and connect you to a person at some point. Here is what I believe, based on what I have read on the internet: All of these numbers belong to Encor, 8887106392, 8887857719, 8887850029, 8888814967. One of the reasons they are calling is they are looking to talk with people that owe money to Citibank.  A delinquent Home Depot credit card could be one of the reasons they call. I recommend that we call them as often as possible. Send the faxes. Build a dialer for the internet with the properties options set to redial 20x, 3 seconds redial time and 5 minutes idle time. Click Dial and let the computer keep them too busy to call anyone.  When they call me and I ask them not call, that does not seem to work. Some  numbers the company calls from will not show on your ID and when you call the number back, it is a computer set up for people like me. Try this - say "He/She is not here at the moment.  Would you like to leave a message?" and they will give you a number to call back that works. You can also call and push buttons on your phone and sometimes get menus. Sometimes that gets you to more information about your callers.  I like to let my 2-year-old grandson call and talk to them!

I have received a number of calls from this number. They were looking for someone by a different name; wouldn't identify themselves or their business and started questioning me about this unknown person.  Doesn't this qualify as harrassment?

Mrs. Scott looking for my sisters ex-husband.  Asked me if I could relay a message to him.  Mrs. Scott couldn't tell me about her business but that its name is Oncore.

This number called looking for someone who did not live at my residence, wouldn't tell me what they wanted.

This number is for Encore.  Credit and collection agency for Home Depot accounts.   I am behind due to loss of job.  They were actually pretty friendly and helpful.  A first for a collection agency.   I spoke with a Mr. Phillip Good.

Here is the info from Encore Do what you must with it:

Encore Receivable Managemenet
400 N. Rogers Rd
Olathe,Ks 66062
(888) 785-0029

This number calls me at least 3 times a day.. from early morning to later 8:45 PM in the evening... Not nice.. I quit answering...

I received an email from my father stating someone left a message on his phone asking for me and wanted him to call back at 888-785-0029 with information. My parents lives in a different state and I have NEVER lived with him there or have used that phone number as a contact for me. Is this legal?

Good one, LOL. I'm sure they are not accusing him (or her) of stealing their integrity since they do not have any to begin with. Fret none "someone", every j***off (DC1480) will get what's coming to them in some way, eventually. I have been around for 40 years and have listened to holier-than-thous ranting away on how they are better than someone else, or sneaky SOB's who try to get away with situations that either are morally wrong or just plain not legal, and EVENTUALLY they all get theirs. It's just a matter a time. Hand in there all......

Haha...I'm sure you could care less even if you were a douche. I hate to be mean, but perhaps you should be placed in a situation as I have - have a good job, savings of 6 months in the bank in the event of emergencies, own a home, all bills ALWAYS paid on time, excellent credit score...then I get CANCER! That's right. Am unable to work for 1 1/2 years  as I undergo various treatments (work in a medical setting so not able to be in contact with germs while immune system is compromised), use ALL of savings, do not qualify for any assistance of any kind, pay OUT OF POCKET for my health insurance while not working - hell, it's a miracle I even had a job once I was well enough to return to work. So, after all of this - I am unable to pay my credit cards bills, and NOT ONE company is willing to work with me regarding this- all which have NOT been used for any reason since my diagnosis, because my PRIORITY is paying my mortgage and utility bills to keep a roof over my children's heads. So call me a deadbeat, call me whatever the hell you want to, but until you walk in my shoes, you can basically kiss my a$$ too. TY

Oh and by the way, you should NEVER be rude to people in my situation when you have to call us because after all, it is because of us that you have a minimum wage job calling poor souls who have become behind on their bills due to some type of hardship...in that case = YOUR WELCOME (a$$).

Someone from this number called today looking for someone with the Screen name dc1480 and says he owes them a stapler that he took when he left the collection agency.

God if you are this high strung after moving on to more relaxing work I would hate to see you when you were collecting.

Take a chill pill brother.

I get the feeling rthat you actually work for encore.  You douche

and again

again your a douche

You just sound like a douche.

Encore has called me about an overdue credit card balance but didn't want to settle for a reduced rate payment plan even though I have been laid off for six months.  Now, when they call, that is, when this number appears on caller id, they say nothing so I give them a few extra seconds and hang up.  I haven't been tracking how many times that happens but I will do so, hereafter.

Nothing you just said is actually true.

Encore, along with almost every other collection agency, contracts with a client (ie: BoA, Citi, Discover, etc...) who then provides delinquent accounts for the company to collect on. A portion of the money collected goes to the collection agency and the rest goes to the client. Collection agencies do NOT buy debt, they simply collect on it for other companies.

They ARE ruthless, but they do not "operate most times illegally." Either you have a gross misunderstanding of the law or you're trying to get people riled up over nothing. Working outside the FDCPA opens the company to lawsuits which are expensive and time consuming. For the last ~10 years these companies have gone to extreme lengths to adhere to the law just to avoid lawsuits and save their profits for other uses.

Also, taking your name off some pay-to-play website is hardly going to stop a collector from finding you. They've got far more skip trace tools than just a couple of sketchy website for tracking down delinquent debtors trying to hide from responsibility.

This info all comes from spending 13 years in the collection industry before moving on to easier, more relaxing work. I've seen and heard every excuse in the book and talked to millions of debtors over that span and there's more misinformation and fearmongering on the public's side of the telephone than in the industry.

The problem is, in order for the judge to file in your favor there has to be some sort of unfair practice committed by the collector and as long as there is no more than one voicemail left on each separate phone number per 24 hour period they're totally clear.

The FTC is going to listen to your claim and then laugh in your face because there is no violation. You have to understand that these companies go to extreme lengths just to adhere to the FDCPA to the letter (in other words, they're trying to push it as far as they possibly can while staying within the bounds of the FDCPA because that's the only way they make any money). Sure, mistakes happen and violations occur occasionally but it almost always results in the collector guilty of the violation being fired within 24-48 hours, it's that costly to the company to deal with legitimate lawsuits.

To stop the calls you simply answer the phone and either A. pay your bill, or B. tell them how to get in touch with the debtor they're actually trying to reach. In the event that you can't pay the bill you owe you'll just have to suck it up and deal with the fact that these are some of the consequences for defaulting on your contract. They have a legal right to continue calling you because there is a debt owed to their client and they will continue to call repeatedly until they speak with you and resolve the debt.

Actually you're wrong. That does not violate the FDCPA or your mysterious "Privacy Act." What the message most likely said was that there was a personal business matter being held by Encore (not Encore RMI, just Encore) and Joe Blow needed to call them back at xxx.xxx.xxxx to get it resolved.

These companies are acutely aware of the law and getting sued doesn't help the bottom line, which is what companies like Encore are solely governed by. They'll do anything and everything to stay within the bounds of the law, it's random morons and idiots behind on their bills that want any excuse to ditch their contractual obligations that grasp wildly at claims of illegality. Go ahead, call up your Atty Gen or the BBB and explain to them exactly what happened (without bending the facts to try and make your claim sound legit) and see what they say.

I have received 6-10 calls a day from this number but they never leave a message. Some days I don't receive any.  I do admit to outstanding debts but 10 calls in one day some times 3 in 1 hours?  Is that really necessary? I do not answer calls on my cellphone that don't leave a message so I imagine these calls are going to continue.

Sounds like Encore is doing the same thing too me.Encore called my mother.How do they know my mothers number?They are out of control.I hope Encore get5 sued.We should get everyone too file a class action case against these thugs!
                      James

Ignoring instructions to deal only with your attorney is an FDCPA violation.  Which is something your Attorney SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU!  

LOG ALL CALLS - DATE TIME, CALLER ETC.  Record calls where you can. Get them on their violations and report them as required.  


File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY ? use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE?S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!

Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies ? report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0

Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    
The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

Dealing with Debt Collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html


Statute of Limitations by State ? always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm


Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website ? FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you?re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor?s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation?s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn?t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they?re told (orally or in writing) that you?re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter ? even if you don?t think you owe the debt, can?t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don?t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector ? in writing ? to stop contacting you. Here?s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a ?return receipt? so you?ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don?t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people ? but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written ?validation notice? telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don?t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don?t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don?t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren?t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren?t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don?t pay your debt;
    they?ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don?t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn?t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt ? or your state law ? allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don?t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don?t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don?t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans? Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members? Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors? Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen?s and Harbor Workers? Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can?t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney?s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector?s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General?s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General?s office can help you determine your rights under your state?s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government?s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009