J A. Cambece Law Offices, P.C.
200 Cummings Park, Ste 173D, Beverly, MA 01915
Toll Free:(888) 535-6161   |   Fax: (866) 200-9330

www.cambecelaw.com  

"Looks like Tough Tony" is operating again...His scavenger debt collection company.

However, my investigations do not show that Mr. James Cambece, is an attorney at all. By the way, Cambece, is a Persian name.

This is just a debt collector, who is attempting to brow-beat, harass, and frighten the people he calls into thinking he is an attorney. He is abusive to people he believes are related to debtors. Calling debtors elderly parents, employers, neighbors, group members he thinks are connected to the debtor.

My office has sent my report to the Attorney General's office of the state he claims to be from, and to the state that my clients reside in.  


A.k.a. James Anthony aka/Tough Tony****
8 Bourbon St.
Peabody, Massachusetts 01960
Phone: (978) 535-3030    978-826-1299   707-236-3941
Fax: (978) 535-7070  or try (978) 744-1762

this "attorney Cambece", if you look them up on the web, they are a collection agency...there is a lot of info on Bud Hibbs website.

These calls started approximately 3 weeks ago. The caller leaves a message on my voice mail "hey (my first name) this is Karen from Attorney Cambeces office, I need a call back from you today (my first name) at 866-200-9389. Again; this is Karen from Atty. Cambeces office and it is important that I receive a return call from you today." I get at least 2-3 calls a week from this Karen, the vioce mail content is always the same until today she finally identified her place of bussiness as "Debt Collector Attorney Cambeces office." This woman has gone as far as to call my LANDLORD for her to give me a message to call the above number. I googled another number on my caller ID 888-535-6161 and it is also from this "Cambece Law Office." So far she has not called me at work but I am getting tired of these calls. I'm glad I googled the number 978-535-3030 and found this info on this company.

been calling the house several times, my husband answered and they were threatening to call my work. I called asked them to send legit papers that they were a law office, and the guy got real rude with me, and said they sent stuff to my email. I asked them several times to mail me paperwork to show they were a real law office and he wouldn't and was really rude, so I hung up.

I searched the Massachusetts Bar Association and there was no record of JA Cambece being a member. However, Cambece Law web site states he is a member. Requested he mail me a statement, stated sent two but I never received them. Refused to sent a statement or anything else. I will probably get more telephone calls for a debt that isn't mine. I already told them that I would perfer they sue me and argue my case n court.

i receieved a letter from J.A CAmbece and i live in michigan! and i owe some of credit cards and now they send me a letter from cambece! my question was are they licensed also in michigan? and do i need to make a payment arrangemnt i dont know what to do?:(( please send an email @ bhabyehm@yahoo.com and i really appreciate it!

I now live in India nad they are calling my son.

I keep getting annoying calls to my cellphone and have NO clue who this guy is.

We have no debt and I think this is some type of scam or fraud. We are also on the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY?  How can we get these calls to STOP??

I'm sick and tired of these calls and know they have a wrong number or person??  

I have NO clue how he has my cell number or WHY??

If I get one more call, I'm reporting them to my local police department, I get an annoying recording and never reach a real person, if I call back?

have been called several times and told them that they were calling a business line. got aggressive and is still calling.

Stop to harass or sue me, I never owe anyone!


Caller ID: 978-535-3030
Caller: Cambece Law Office

They left a message, identified themselves as Cambece Law.  Said they were looking for a nearby elementary school.  Sounds like a scam to get someone to call them back telling them they had the wrong number????

Doug, cross check the listed number of the legitimate att. with the number that people report are harassing them. They are not the same. It is very possible, that this person is using James Cambece's identity as a cover for their operation.

JUNK DEBT BUYER - ITS WORTHLESS DEBT - THEY HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT!

Cambece, James Anthony
8 Bourbon St.  Peabody, Massachusetts 01960
Phone: (978) 535-3030    978-826-1299   707-236-3941
Fax: (978) 535-7070  or try (978) 744-1762

MA AG Tags Cambece - "Debt collectors to pay $75,000 settlement"  



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bud Says                         Consumer Comments Below

This organization will lie, threaten, intimidate, extort, and coerce you into sending them money under threat of litigation, wage garnishment, and property seizure.

Attorney Cambece is ONLY licensed to practice law in MA and is unlikely to go into a courtroom against REAL lawyers who know and understand the law.

The BEST way to deal with Tony is KEEP your money. You can stop him cold by faxing a copy of my FREE cease-comm letter

His contact information is:  James Anthony Cambece

Collect (Con) America   8 Bourbon Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Fax: 978-535-7070

It is important that EVERYONE who has been wronged go after Cambece. The best place to do that from anywhere in America is through his state bar. Here is the link, with information on how to file an ethics complaint against this  attorney:

File complaints against Cambece with the MA Bar at:
http://massbar.org/lawhelp/legal_info/index.php?sw=396

CAUTION: I recommend you NEVER disclose your bank account or credit card information to a debt collector, as you risk them emptying your account, or maxing out your credit card. If you feel they are reporting on your credit bureau files in error or need assistance in dealing with them, email  the details w/your location.  Assistance and referral to a consumer legal specialist may be available.

COLLECTION AGENCIES DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!
FROM www.budhibbs.com  A CONSUMER ADVOCATE WEBSITE that specializes in Debt Collections and offers assistance to consumers.  THEY ALSO EXPOSE THE WORST FDCPA VIOLATORS IN THE COUNTRY

Dealing with debt collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html

Statute of limitations by state ? always double check directly with your own State Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from debt collectors ? always double check with your own State Government website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm

From FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

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.


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.

calls from 9785353030   calls every 1hr on the hr calling for someone who doesnt live here..... im going to report this person for harrassment along with all his/her other phone # calling

hey guys.  i had to call two or three numbers that were listed on this site to get to someone, the first person led me to some guy named joe, but after leavin a message, the actual person who had my account called me back, his name is actually bob ellis.  he explained to me that he was calling on behalf of HSBC (who has Best Buy's accounts) and that since my balance was pretty small (970/ish) they'd break that up into payments for me of around 138.  i told him to let me think about it and that i would let him know by the end of the week.  he was pretty nice actually, didn't raise his voice, but was still straight to the point.  he understood (or seemed to understand) that i am struggling right now, but still, without any action, the company would still seek further action on collection.  he did specify that he was not a lawyer, just a collector, and thanked me for calling him back.

he also honored my request to not call my work number or landline anymore.

i've been receiving calls from this company on my dad's land line as well as my work number.  i did not talk to them directly, because i wanted to be sure that they were legit before i went into any sort of negotiations with them, but they have been in contact with the call center at my place of employment, and i've advised them to inform them to stop calling, under protection of the fair debt and collection practices act, but the rep from the company, (bob cason, i belive he said his name was, on my voicemail) said that her saying so wasn't good enough for him, and that he wanted me to tell him hisself.  i thought that may have been some sort of violation, so i have ignored their calls, and i know that there are some companies who are required to notify you in writing before they make collection calls (haven't received anything yet) but i just checked my credit report at annualcreditreport.com and saw that they made an inquiry no less than a month ago, which i believe is when they started to call.  i'll go ahead and contact them tomorrow and see how they really are.  good luck everyone.

I received two calls from Cambece law Office. The first one was a threatening call that implied that this attorneys office was going to take me to court if I didn't call them back.  I was scared so I called.  I told the man that his call was very threatening and he said "No it wasn't."  Anyway, they picked up an old debt of mine that hasn't expired.  I do owe the money to Providian Credit card so I had Greenpath, my debt counselors, add the Cambece  Law Office to my debt repayment plan.  So now they are being paid monthly from Greenpath.  Last month I received another call from them.  The guy said, "Is your house paid for, hee hee, I hope it is."  I had it saved to my voice mail but now it has been erased.  I wish I still had this message, I could use it against Cambece for threatening me.  I pay them almost $300/mo and they call and threaten me.  Now today, I get another call but from Miss Polonco, very nice, soft spoken lady, but besides telling me she is calling from Cambece's office, she doesn't say why she is calling.  I am so sick of these calls from these scum bags.

I received a call from this number and the message was from a woman named Freedom whom told me to call back at 866 200 9439. She didn't leave any details as to why she was calling and mumbled the name of the law firm and stated that she was a "non-attorney representative". Luckily I found this page.

More on these "Attorneys". From http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/cambece_james_a_bud.htm

Debt collectors to pay $75,000 settlement
Peabody law firm also to implement new procedures
By Michael Rezendes, Globe Staff | November 1, 2006

After a two-year investigation based on more than 100 complaints, a Peabody debt-collection law firm will pay $75,000 and implement procedures to protect indebted consumers under an agreement unveiled yesterday by the state attorney general's office.

Thomas F. Reilly, the attorney general, alleged that representatives of the J.A. Cambece Law Office PC violated state and federal debt-collection laws by using profane language, placing calls to consumers at improper hours, making unauthorized communications with consumers at their places of employment, and failing to provide proof of the validity of debts.

The settlement "imposes restrictions on this firm to protect consumers from abusive practices," Reilly said in a prepared statement. "It also sends a message to the collection industry that abusive tactics will not be tolerated."

In August, the Globe reported that Cambece was being investigated by the attorney general's office. At the time, Nancy Sterling, a spokeswoman for the firm, said the investigation was "based on a small number of complaints."

A Globe Spotlight series in July and August revealed widespread abuses in the debt-collection industry, but the series did not focus on Cambece.

Under the agreement, filed yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court, Cambece assented to a variety of procedures designed to protect debtors. These include recording all telephone conversations with consumers, providing proof of debt -- including at least two monthly statements from the original creditor -- and appointing a supervisor to oversee compliance with state and federal laws.

The settlement also requires Cambece to pay $20,000 in restitution to consumers, $45,000 to a consumer aid fund managed by the attorney general's office, and $10,000 to cover the cost of the state's investigation.

In his statement, Reilly said Cambece cooperated with the investigation. But the firm denies it violated any laws.

"There's no finding by any court that Cambece broke any state or federal law," said Sterling, the spokeswoman for the firm.

The filing "simply confirms a voluntary agreement between the Cambece law firm and the attorney general's office. No enforcement action was filed against the law firm, and no fines or penalties were paid."

Private Investigator, I hope that is not your full time vocation and I also hope that others do not rely on your investigative skills.

You see, I received a voicemail from this number. I googled it landing me on this page and I saw your post. I was momentarily releived to find that this was some rogue collection agency and that you found that this person is not an attorney. However, I did some investigating myself. It took about 2 minutes to find that there is a Lawyer that is registered with the Massachussetts State Bar matching the name, address, and telephone number in your post.

You partially detail an occurence that does go on, and that is agencies buying debt for pennies on the dollar, regardless of the statute of limitations, and trying to get the debtor to "reaffirm the debt" which can really only be done by getting them to take some action on it such as making a payment, thereby indicating that the debt is valid. (No, simply calling the debt collector does not reaffirm the debt.)If the debt is older than 8 years and you have made no admissions regarding the validity of the debt nor made any payments, it is unlikely they can collect.

In any case, this does appear to be a licensed and practicing attorney, and therefore caution should be exercised n deciding whether to ignore them or not, and exactly how to interact with them. Below are my findings about this attorney from the web site http://massbbo.org/bbolookup.php

Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers
of the Supreme Judicial Court
99 High Street
Boston, Ma. 02110
Attorney Status Report
 

James Anthony Cambece
J. A. Cambece Law Office, P.C.
866-859-4139
8 Bourbon Street

Peabody MA 01960
Admitted to the bar on 1996-06-20
Current status is Active

Full office addresses listed for active status attorneys only.
This attorney has certified that he or she is covered by professional liability insurance.
This attorney has no record of public discipline.
Data as of 2009

A voice message left on my work telephone states her name was Monica calling from Attorney Anthony Cambece or Cambisi's office and left her direct number to call back at 866-203-9105. No reason for the call but just to call them back. I was curious and got more information from my phone in the envelope information feature where it gave me the number 978-535-3030.  I research this number and it got me to this site where I am seeing this number is from a fake attorney scavenger debt collector whacko. Needless, to say, I did not return the call.

I have received a message from this gentleman on my house phone and recognize his voice to be one of a gentleman who had harrassed me in the past.  When I received his first call he told me he was recording me for :"Quality Purposese" and I told him that I was recording his call also.  He got very angry and told me that I did not have his permission to record him..  I told him he didn't have my permission either but if he insisted on pursuing our conversation, I was going to record him for my records to be used in my Harrassment suit against him.  He stopped calling me up until this past week.  I plan on recording him if he does call and this time I believe I will go forward with a harrassment suit if he does call.  Good luck to anyone else who gets a call from him!!

Caller asked for an employee, I stated that he could not have personal calls at work.  Offered to take a message.  He got very abusive with me asking for a manager, owners of company, etc.  I wouldn't let him talk to anyone since he wouldn't give me his name.  He asked for my name, I would not give it to him.  I hung up on him, he called back.  Continued to be verbally abusive, I hung up again and haven't heard back yet.

See my other entry under their toll-free number, 866-261-5048.  I was going to have my husband blow this off; but after reading up on what kind of collector it is, I want my husband to call them and authorize them to speak to me - then we'll have some FUN, hehe.  I'm in the process of requesting our credit reports - believe me, if any collector "freshens" any of our old debts they WILL be hearing from our attorney, and it will be a REAL, honest-to-God attorney, not some idiot impersonating one.

This women (Secretary)? called looking for our Grandaughter. She led my husband to beleive it was an Atty's office, but would not tell him the problem..  We are Senior Citizens and my husband got very upset worrying about our 20 yr.old granddaughter.  We thought it was a Legal problem not Credit. We have not seen her lately and this call has caused us a lot of stress..

"Looks like Tough Tony" is operating again...His scavenger debt collection company. A.k.a. James Anthony aka/Tough Tony****"scavenger debt collector"
8 Bourbon St.
Peabody, Massachusetts 01960
Phone: (978) 535-3030    978-826-1299   707-236-3941
Fax: (978) 535-7070  or try (978) 744-1762


However, my investigations do not show that Mr. James Cambece, is an attorney at all!!!! Cambece, by the way, is Persian name.

He is just "another scavenger debt collector", who is attempting to brow-beat, harass, and frighten the people he calls into thinking he is an attorney. He is abusive to people he believes are related to debtors. Calling debtors elderly parents, employers, neighbors, group members (churhes,organizations,) he thinks are connected to the debtor.

My office has sent my report to the Attorney General's office of the state he claims to be from, and to the state that my clients reside in.  

So, what is a "scavenger debt collector" anyway? They are debt collectors who buy old, out-dated, or otherwise un-collectable debts from business. Most of these debts are outside legal collection dates. But a "scavenger debt collector" doesn't care. He/She will take the information from the business, and attempt to "freshen the date of the  debt" in order to collect. You can sue them if they do this to you regardless of the state you live in. For more infomation on "scavenger debt collectors" go to www.clarkhoward.com and follow the guildlines are what to do if you are harassed by one of these "tough guys".

Collection agency. Told them the person wasn't here, they keep calling.

A bill collector won't stop calling.  I've indicated the party they are looking for isn't at the number they keep calling, yet they continue to call.

Cambece, James Anthony aka/Tough Tony****
8 Bourbon St.
Peabody, Massachusetts 01960
Phone: (978) 535-3030    978-826-1299   707-236-3941
Fax: (978) 535-7070  or try (978) 744-1762