These people violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction but does not take legal action on individual cases.  In other words, you have to sue.

Knowlege is power.

Academy settled the case out of court, but I will not hesitate to sue them if they cross the line again.

Apparently, the FTC saw a pattern of abuses and took action.  FTC issued this press release....

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/11/endorsements.shtm

For Release: November 21, 2008

Nationwide Debt Collector Will Pay $2.25 Million to Settle FTC Charges

Academy Collection Service, Inc. and its owner, Keith Dickstein, have agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Academy and its collectors misled, threatened, and harassed consumers; disclosed their debts to third parties; and deposited postdated checks early, in violation of federal law. This is the largest civil penalty the FTC has obtained in a debt collection case....

Called them.  They refused to identify the name of the company!  Asked about someone who gave them our phone number.  I agree with comments above.  They are obviously stupid, ignorant and uneducated.

I keep receiving these F%#*!&* calls from this number looking for "EDWIN HENNESSEY". I am PI$$ED OFF at these lifeless, annoying, stupid, b@$t@rd$. They have nothing better to do with their pitiful lives. I am one step away from suing these @$$H*L3S!!!