Investigator Leslie Black called saying my wife had better call back in response to a "complaint" in 24 hours less her pay would be garnished, etc... There is no reason and we've not been contacted by anyone prior to this call about a complaint...She gave her number as 716-961-3160 ext 105

they cannot threaten to garnish your wages its against the fdcpa law if you have it on tape you can get one thousand dollars from them..the only people who can threaten you with wage garnishment is a law firm and they must do it or they will be sued to.the debt collectors can say to you your wages can be garnish through a law firm,but cant say they will garnish your wages.
debt collectors are desperate and stupid there not making any money.

"Investigator Richard Todd" also called for my husband. The caller ID was blocked and said "unknown caller" but the number he left was the same 716-961-3160. I thought it was curious since 716 is a Buffalo New York area code and he claimed to work for Harris County. Sounds to me like he committed fraud by claiming to be working for "Harris County Fraud Investigation". I hope everyone on this site follows up with their attorney general. I'd love to nail this guy and any others like him!

I too received a call from "investigator" Richard Todd & gave a case # & that me & my attorney better call him back within 24 hours in reference to a complaint they are investigating. # was 716-961-3160. I am in FL & have not been served. I just let the voicemail pick up & I have never received anything in writing from them.

We got a call from this number and he said he was an investigator and was looking for my husband (or someone with the same name) and that he needed to speak with us about a complaint that had been filed with the County we live in and provided a case number, of course he did not know that I have been a part of the legal system in our county (working in the legal system, not getting arrested!) and know that the letter portion of the case number he provided does not exist in our county and figured out that his area code was from NY and we are in Florida! He said that failure to respond within 48 hours would result in an automatic default judgment and garnishment of wages... unfortunately they have never served this "complaint" on my husband and failure to prove even that to a court voids their ability to pursue a default. Until I receive a message with some facts, I do not plan on talking to these idiots! FOr the record, this is illegal and if you find a collections attorney you can turn around and sue them... and I think you should, bullying people before even giving them a chance to work with you is a horrible way to do business.

said his name was investigator Richard Todd, couldn't make out the company he worked for, has called twice the last time he called on a Friday and said on Monday there would be a default judgement make against us and gave a docket number.  I caled the court house and they said that they don't use that docket number, he dosen't ever say what company he represents or the amount owed, from what I've read on this web site he
seems to say the same thing to everyone he calls, has anyone ever tried to call this man?  I think a class action lawsuit would serve him right
because what he is doing the court house said was illegal, plus it really upset us, I guess the next call will be about the sheriff from what the other postings say.

THIS CALL IS ILLEGAL

They have to file a lawsuit first - they only get a default judgement if you do not show up in court.
They cannot sue you, they cannot prove itS your debt.  So they call using ILLEGAL threats to scare you only.

THIS IS VIOLATION OF FDCPA both State and Fed laws. Check your state website)  

YOU CAN SUE THEM YOURSELF FOR THESE VIOLATIONS

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 VIOLATOR 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.

How do you know for sure its even your debt?  

Its probably not your debt and they cannot prove it at all.

That is why their first contact threatened a lawsuit or arrest.  They have an old out of statute debt and are calling everyone with vaguely similar names trying to scare you into paying a debt you probably do not owe.

They cannot sue for it so they use SCARE tactics in attempt to get anyone they can to pay it

YOU MUST DEMAND DEBT VALIDATION before agreeing to pay it.

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 VIOLATOR 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.

they are a junk debt buyer and the messages left are ILLEGAL.  
They start with threats like this because they KNOW they do not have a legitimate debt, can't prove it in court, cannot sue you anyway and are trying to scare you into paying what YOU DO NOT OWE.

Report them to
Federal Trade Commission
Your State Attorney General
The State Attorney General in every state they have offices

You can also sue them yourself for their violations.  Also check your state Fair Debt Collection Practices laws.

Typical of a junk debt buyer - you pay one collection agency and they turn around and sell the debt to another one and it starts all over again!    

THAT IS WHY YOU NEVER PAY A COLLECTION AGENCY!  The FIRST CA stole your money!   They had no intent of clearing the debt.  Just taking your money!

I too received a couple calls from this number, and said his name was Investigator Richard Todd.  He left two messages, stating my County I live in, along with a case number.  I called the Clerk Of Courts, and they have nothing for me... they also told me the number he gave me isn't a docket number they use.  He now called and told me I had until 3:00 today to call him back or there would be a sheriff showing up at my home or work.  I don't believe I owe any money to anyone, and if I do, I would think they would have contacted me themselves.  I just wonder how far does this guy go?  I surely don't need sheriffs showing up at my place of employment, especially if I don't believe I owe any debts.... has anyone ignored this guy and did he ever stop calling you?

Received a call from "investigator Richard Todd", said the same thing...
Call was re: blah blah disctrict court case # "A***4" and if my dh/or his attorney did not call back immediately it could result in a default judgemnt againt him and his next pay check could be garnished!!! That is a load, because I called our local district court, and there is no such case!!!  We do not even know what/if any debt this is regarding!! I thought threatening to garnish wages violated the Fair Debt Collection act???? Does anyone know if it does?  I saved the recored message from "Investigator Todd" where he makes his threats, and if I can prove he did indeed violate the act, then I plan on pressing charges!!! I cannot stant some of these slimy collection acencies!!! It's time to hold them accountable for a change!!!!!!

CALLED MY HUSBAND "LOOKING FOR HIS RELATIVE" SAID THE SAME THING RICHARD TODD CALLING ABOUT A COURT CASE WITH A CASE NUMBER SAID THEY WOULD FILE GARNISHMENT IF I DID NOT CALL THEM BACK...CALLED MY CLERK OF COURT TO GET INFO ON THE CASE NUMBER..WAITING THE RESPONSE FROM THEM. 716-961-3160..

My mother in law received a call from Richard Todd at this number, which is funny since I have never lived at their address so I don't know how they got their number.  They said they represent Chase Bank, funny thing is if they did represent Chase, they should have my phone number since it hasn't changed.  This is from an old bill back in 2001 that I was told by another company that I had paid in full.  That company sold the debt to another company ARG in NY which I am now sueing for violating the Fair Debt Act.  Now I get this call so I just forwarded my attorneys info them for them to handle.  Anyone have anymore follow up after their initial calls with this company?

Hehe "Investigator" Richard Todd called today (Friday) and claimed that on Monday a default judgment would be entered and a wage garnishment and property freeze unless I called or my attorney called. They must work on the premise no one is going to have an attorney call I would think.

Well I also have had dealings with the civil court system and knew that was not something in our county. Actually I wish it was as I would bury this guy. This type of thing is probably the biggest problem when some court systems open the books up on the net. Too many documents DO have your SS on them.

Mrs. Adams at 106

i am sorry i should do whats right and pay my bill, i was going to try and get out of it but i do owe it. my morals kicked in.

We got the same number calling us for debt from 2000,  told statute of limitations protects us from any harm....they are a debt collector
we got Ritche T. at ex.107
They are threatening us with fraud but we need an address for a cease and dismiss letter from our lawyer

I received a call twice from this number. (Feb 8 and Feb 13) Kay is her name and her extension is 102.  She's talking about a civil complaint she is from North Eastern Capital. She said its not a solicitaion, and want me to  give them a call back. I don't want to call them that it might be a scam.

I received a call twice from this number. (Feb 8 and Feb 13) Kay is her name and her extension is 102.  She's talking about a civil complaint she is from North Eastern Capital. She said its not a solicitaion, and want me to  give them a call back.