Apr 21, 2011
They also use this number: 716-844-6899
They have several bounce numbers. I've seen them on another website as well but I can't recall the website right now.
They leave a threatening message on my answering machine for my husband. They also called two uncles of his and threatened them and said he was at the center of a "fraud investigation" which is ABSOLUTELY NOT true. They told his uncles that their "brother" was being investigated so although they have a large amount of information it's not always accurate, they are probably getting it from Spokeo.com or one of those sites. Both uncles refused them any information and called me right away. My husband does not owe any money to these people whoever they are and it is definitely a scam.
I am posting here today because even though I realize it's a scam and have dealt with it in my husband's case, I work professionally in finance and wanted to give some information out with regards to the "Fair Credit Reporting Act".
Under the "Fair Credit Reporting Act" these collectors if that's what they are, are operating highly illegally.
1. They can NOT threaten to jail you. There is no such thing as debtor's prison anymore. If you owe on a bad check the company you wrote the check to can take you to small claims court and seek a judgement but you receive a notice from the court prior to that. If it's enough to be a felony in your state you would hear from local law enforcement when they showed up at your door to actually arrest you and NOT some heavily accented unknown person.
2. They are required by law to divulge in ANY communication that they are "attempting to collect a debt and any information gained will be used for that purpose". If they don't they can be sued. That includes the threatening messages left on your answering machine.
3. They can not release any information regarding your debt or you to ANYONE other than yourself without written authorization from YOU, that includes family members.
4. You have the right to request a copy of ANY debt you owe in writing and they are required to provide it within 30 days. If they refuse to do so they are again in violation of the law and can be sued.
5. If you actually owe a debt to a company the collection agency is required by law to send you notice via USPS telling you what you owe, what charges are being added and why, e.g. collection costs, and give you 30 days to dispute the validity of the debt.
If these people call you, write down everything they say word for word, call whoever you might owe money to and read the conversation back verbatim and then turn it over to your local law enforcement. The way this company or companies as the case may be are working is illegal in several different ways and could actually invalidate any actual debt owed by you. If you owe money, pay it to whoever you owe it to and be done with it, but do make sure they understand what the collection agency they hired is doing because I guarantee you if they get enough complaints they will realize they are at risk of their debt being invalidated and of a potential lawsuit and they'll stop using them.