What to Do When Fake Debt Collection Scammers Call
I got a phone call message which said someone would be by my home and place of employment to give me a summons. That kinda startled me. Then later I called the number back and spoke with someone. They said I had this old debt, I told them that I never had such a card. They then told me that I should be getting served a summons and would need to fill out my court documents. But, if that happen yet I could settle over the phone for .50 on the dollar.
They didn't know who was supposed to serve me (sheriff) and didn't even know where I lived. They just rattled off addresses.
They kept threatening that the court date would be set as soon as the guy showed up at my house.
In haste I made a payment in full (reduced amount of course) to settle and not go to court!
Thinking back, they totally got me! I totally drew a blank on the SOL.
What tricked me the most was they said I, or someone, had made payments for the last 10 years... Yeah right!
So what do you the best course of action is here? I paid on a credit card and was just going to pay it off (keeping a zero balance is habit now).
Should I cancel the payment? Did I screw up the SOL?
They also emailed me a contract but I haven't read it so haven't signed it.
I was thinking to reply that they need to state they won't take me to court and that they have called off the summons... Basically get them to admit to their illegal bullying threats so I could collect the fines from them.
What do you advise? Thanks.
Was I just scammed by a debt collector? What can I do now?
—TJ
Short answer
Never pay a debt collector who opens with a same day threat, mentions your arrest, calls themselves an investigator, or will not name the company they work for. Those are the marks of a fake. Take notes, file complaints, and speak with a consumer lawyer before you send anyone money.
Key points on this page
- A same day “or else”, such as being sued today or served at work, paired with an offer to stop it if you pay right now, is very likely a scam. Real collectors and process servers just show up.
- Any mention of arrest is a red flag. Unpaid credit cards do not lead to arrest. A bench warrant can only follow a failure to obey a court order, such as missing an asset discovery hearing, and collectors do not call to tell you about that.
- Anyone calling themselves an investigator, or threatening to involve one, is using an intimidation tactic. Properly trained collectors cannot act in a false or misleading way.
- Collectors are required to tell you who they work for and what debt they are calling about. Any hesitation or failure to identify themselves is a huge red flag.
- Scammers get real details from social networks, purchased consumer data, or a hacked collection system, so the debt they name may be one you actually recognize.
- If in doubt: take notes with names, dates and times, capture the caller number, keep any voicemail, file complaints with your state Attorney General and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, talk to an experienced consumer lawyer, and do not set up any payment.
Believe it or not, there are varying degrees of debt collection scams. And it is because of these differences, my feedback to people who interact on this, and other sites I participate on, can change. I wish things were more cut and dry, but because licensed and bonded debt collectors can say and do the darnedest things, even when they are collecting legitimate debts, there are blurred lines. Add to that the fact that fake debt collectors continue to get better at… faking it, things can become less clear.
What to do, and how to go about doing it, when you suspect you are being called by an outright debt collection rip off artist, can be different than when you are dealing with a debt collector crossing the line with their unprofessional actions. I am going to focus on the fakers first.
When Fake Debt Collectors Call You
There has been a rash of fake debt collection scams of late. Ten years ago it was not something I would run into. Nowadays, between my site, and many others that are part of my daily activity and news feed, I see a reference to some fake debt collector on a near daily basis. And some of what I see shows that the scam is getting more sophisticated.
Here are some things to look out for from a debt collection scam phone call.
- The debt collector opens the call with an immediate sense of urgency statement. This would mean saying something with an or else that packs a punch, like; you are going to be sued later today if we cannot get a payment set up right now; there is someone coming to your work to serve you a lawsuit.
Legitimate debt collectors and process servers do not make these threats. They just show up. The fact is, virtually any debt collection lawsuit that someone took the trouble to file, is going to serve you with it before talking word one about payments. That is just how that kind of escalated collection action works. There is such a low probability that a legitimate debt collector will both threaten you with an “or else” set to happen same day (or close to it), while simultaneously suggesting your payment will put a stop to it, that the chance of this being a fake debt collection scam are high.
- A debt collector mentions anything about your arrest.
There are very limited instances where you could be arrested for not paying an unpaid bill. Court fines and fees reach to that level, and so can unpaid child support, but unpaid credit cards and other types of debt do not. An exception could be if you were sued, and there is a legitimate judgment entered in the court. If there was an order from a judge that you did not follow, like appear for an asset discovery hearing, it is possible to have a bench warrant out there. But that would be for failure to comply with the courts order, not for lack of payment on a civil judgment. And debt collectors do not call you up to inform you of that in my experience.
- The debt collector refers to themselves as an investigator, or that they will contact the investigator on your case.
Debt collectors that are trained properly cannot act in a false or misleading manner in an effort to get you to pay. Referring to any investigator is awfully close to suggesting there is law enforcement involved in collecting the debt. This is an intimidation tactic. These kinds of words and phrases are not used by legitimate debt collectors.
- They will not name the collection company they are working for.
Debt collectors are required to inform you of who they work for, and the debt they are contacting you about. Any pause with, or failure to identify themselves clearly and immediately, is a huge red flag.
Debt Collection Scams are Getting Sophisticated
Some debt collection scams are designed for the quick cash. They need to scam as quick as they can using a few phone calls to their mark, or to your family members or work place. How is it that a fake collection scam can get the information they need to really cause you stress and pressure you to pay them something?
- They can learn about you, your family, friends and work place through social networks.
- Scam debt collectors with a higher level of sophistication can potentially purchase data about you directly from the credit reporting bureaus, or through a data aggregator or software company, just like legitimate debt collectors do today.
- A legitimate debt collector may have had your debt at one time. Perhaps they did not know their CMS or data management system was hacked, or files copied and sold to someone with a fake collection scam going.
In fact, the debt a scam collector may say you owe is something that could still show on your credit reports, or that once was on them. That is why you may recall the debt in the first place, and be susceptible to fork over some money to stop a fake lawsuit, arrest, or potential embarrassment.
Websites are now being published by some of the fake debt collection scams. When someone shares the name of the supposed collection scam company, I usually see what I can find online about them. I rarely see any company web presence. But more recently I am seeing some decently designed, but very basic websites with the scam company name, or something close to it as the URL. Legitimate debt collectors in this day and age have larger, more well put together web sites, and a strong web presence in general. Fake collectors websites that I have seen tend to have a home, about, and maybe one or two additional pages. The pages are skinny on any details and have no industry badging that you find on legitimate collection company sites.
When the Real Thing Looks Like a Fake
I was not kidding about some of the ways licensed and bonded debt collection agencies can be found to step over clear lines of consumer protection laws. It is not hard to understand why they do it. A real debt collector can have a real hard time getting paid when people are struggling to pay today’s bills, let alone pay for the past.
None of that excuses bad collection behavior, and it sure does not help public perception of debt collectors.
Real debt collectors may make empty threats about you being sued. These threats may not be as direct as the fake debt collectors, but the verbiage and tone that is used can be implied to the point that is what you think you heard an hour later.
Most legitimate debt collectors do not use “or else” type of threats to collect. They can be sued for these types of tactics.
In fact, virtually everything I mention that the fake debt collectors do, a real debt collector can and often will be sued for. The debt collection laws they would be breaking are both state and federal violations. Many consumer law attorneys will take these kinds of collection violations on at no charge to you, and instead are paid by the other side. This means all of their fees are covered. You could see some money back for your trouble too.
It is imperative for everyone who is harassed or abused by a debt collector to take action. You should connect with an experienced collections violation consumer law attorney. Post about your situation in the comments below and I can provide feedback and contact details to someone who can help you.
What to do About the Scam Debt Collector
You can legitimately owe a debt, but still be scammed, whether by real or fake collectors, so… when in doubt… never pay a debt collector making threats like I outline above. If you even have a whiff of concern the debt is not yours, too old to be collected, or that the collector contacting you is either a fake, or a collector willing to step over the legal lines and violate your rights, you should:
- Take good notes of any conversation.
- Write down names, dates, times.
- Capture the caller ID and/or write down any phone numbers they provided for return calls.
- Keep a copy of any voice mail recordings they left.
- File complaints with your state AG and with the CFPB when you have identified the collection company.
- Speak with an experienced consumer lawyer.
- Do not make, set up, or arrange for payments.
Having said all of that, I should mention again that most debt collectors you encounter are not going to be fake. They are not going to violate your rights. If you have a question about the legitimacy of a debt collector, or their behavior, lets talk about it in the comments below.
I reached out to the above reader offline to encourage getting those payments reversed. Hopefully he will share more about his experiences in the comments below.
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About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
My husband received a call about credit card debt from Delaware Bank from 10 years ago. Said they were getting ready to file suit again him and would take him to court. But we could make a payment today and keep it out of court. The company name was Williamson Morgan and Associates in California from #855-867-6061. The gentleman emailed me a credit form and would not take a credit card over the phone. Is this a scam??
A ten year old credit card debt is more than 3 times passed the Statute of Limitations to sue in your state. Even if this was a legitimate debt collection agency, which I doubt, they are running a scam on you.
Dear Michael,
My brother received a call today from someone claiming to be at a firm and in reference to a complaint filed against me. They had called me just before but I did not pick up the phone as it was “unknown” on the caller ID. I called back because I don’t appreciate my family being informed of “complaints” filed against me, knowing this is probably one of the scammers.
When I got the person on the phone and provided the reference number, I found they are calling on an account that is more than ten years old. SOL in Arizona is 6 years. I told them that account is beyond the statute and they need to stop calling. The person on the phone claims to have a recording of me agreeing to pay the debt from some years ago, which I know to be false as I have never spoken with a debt collector about the account in question. He refused to provide me with verification of the debt, or the recording, as he claimed to be a pre-litigator and could only handle negotiation of the debt. I advised him that unless he could produce proof that I agreed to pay over the phone resetting the SOL, that we had nothing further to discuss. He advised me that the recording would only be played at the mediation phase of the trial.
I know this is probably a rhetorical question, but does this sound like scammer to you. I called him out and told him I think he’s one of those places that bought debt for pennies on the dollar and he’s just trying to scare me into agreeing to pay, which he of course denied.
Thoughts?
My opinion is that this is a scam. It would help if you named the company and people involved. That can help protect later readers from being scammed.
Hello I received a call a work today from lady named Stephanie said there was a complaint filled in me and she needed to take my statement before it went to court. I explained to her that she was to never call me at work again. She told me to take this number down and call her when I could I explained to her I won’t call her until I get something in mail in writing and who this is from. She never once told me who she was with or what it was about that she was only trying to mediate so I wouldn’t get served.
Your interaction has several scam elements to it. I would waste no time filing complaints with the information you have to go on, and would not take any collection threat from her seriously.
I’m getting lots of calls from Zenco Collections. How do I verify they are not a scam. It seems that lots of others are having the same issue. badfinance.org/review/1715352/zenco-collection-llc-debt-collection
Read deep into the comments on this page. Zenco is well represented.
I got a call from an Anthony who worked for an unknown clerks office from unknown state. They stated that I was either the daughter or close to Ken of this person that they were trying to locate to serve papers. They new that I was from my home state but now living in another state at my new address I just moved to 3 months ago. They have called on my cell and new home number. The most recent call states that they will be sending the papers to my address. I have n relation to this person they are naming and they are using my maden name and not married name. I’m assuming this is there way of getting me to call.
Yes, scammers have all kinds of tricks to play. Nice job not letting this get to you. File complaints how I reference in the article above.
My aunt, dad and sister received a call from a women (blocked ID) stating that:
trying to get served to Megan if you could have the defendant make contact with the plaintiff immediately at 855-219-7104 she will need to reference her case 198070 it is imperative Megan ____ contact immediately to advoid the plan of moving forward in her absence it is _regarding a legal matter outside of Suffolk county. I do thank you for your assistance of my own going to investigation and let Megan know good luck…” so I call the number back and they state that she was a locator, the women i spoke with next told me they were calling to inform me that they were filing check fraud charges against me. (I put stop payments on my account because it had gotten tot he point where I couldn’t do it anymore) I paid off most accounts. I think there is one or 2. The company I had spoken with that I owed told me a year ago that they wouldn’t send it out to a company like this. I had gotten a smiliar call like this a year ago and I told them to get lost and never heard anything else. So anyway they are giving me names of two companies I never borrowed from, they are stating that it can be the head name of the company and that’s why I don’t recognize it: she said she had dates of deposits but put me on hold forever and then came back and either she hung up or we got disconnected. She’s was insistent that the paid in full letters wouldn’t match the account numbers she had which of coarse they didn’t but it seemed like she was too sure of it. She stated that they were just calling to inform me that they are going ahead with proceeding to file charges with my county and gave my county name. Said their was nothing I could do. I got nervous and stayed if I owe something I’ll pay it but I want to make sure it’s legitmately owed. Then all of a sudden if I gave them a card over the phone for 1000$ they would settle the debt. I don’t have 1000$, and I explained there was no way I’d be able to do that, I would have to make small payments. She said that wasn’t a option had to be by end of November, couldn’t be a check due to me not being able to be trusted. Do u think this can be real? I will be contacting other companies to try and find out where I still owe and if this is legitimate. I’m in ny, can I be arrested for check fraud?
You are being scammed. File complaints in New York and with the CFPB.
i was contacted today of a 10 yr old debt. he said if i didn’t pay the full amount today i would get served court papers and would have a judgment made on my spouse and i. my spouse is in the military. i told the man i did not have that kind of money. i told him i would have to call him back. i called back and suggested i could maybe come up with $1000.00. he said he would have to put me on hold to go talk to the lawyer. he came back and said he could do that and then monthly payments of $200.00. i got a call from my spouse and my spouse told me to hang up, it’s a scam. i hung up right away. i didn’t give out my personal or bank info. i just threw out an amount. i am scared i restarted the debt and i am scared i will get sued and have to go to court. money of which i do not have that they are coming after me for.
You did not reset the SOL by talking about your debt with a scammer. You will not be sued by the scam either.
Hi Michael, received a call from Anthony Mendez of Harbourside Financial stating I had an old credit card debt of 1500 from 2001 and that legal proceedings were being issued and all that goes with that. Offered to settle, In a panic I did. Is there any comeback?
I would try to reverse the payment immediately if it were me.
Received a call from Zenco about a debt. Last payment on the account by me was in 2008.
A lady spoke to me and said they needed payment now. She then put me in the phone with a guy who got quite aggressive. They threatened me with a summons and court action etc. and wanted my back details over the phone after which they emailed me a form to sign.
I would file complaints with the regulators I mention in the original article.
I got a call on 11-10-2016 from a lady say that there was a court summons going out for me. that I will need to be home from the hours of 10-5 to recived the letter or call an local number for further details. So I called them back the next day I was told that the summons for a payday loan I took out in 2012. She told how much that balance was I ask her from what payday loan company it was from, she gave me the name and had all my personal info to. She ask how I would like to handle this I told her until I received the letter in the mail I’m not paying you. She ask to make a payment now cause it got to the point that the duet was past. I told her when I received the letter I will contact you. So put me on hold and claim that she was calling the creditor to see about payments arrangements. Then a man came on the line telling me about the duet and he said all my personal info to me and he had my lic plates number. I told until I get a letter in the mail I’m not paying anything. So he said ill send you a letter in the mail and a email copy to I said the email not valid. He gave me his name and number to call him and ext and this number was different. I look them up and saw a lot of complants I look up there address and got two different locations. I think its a scam but don’t know really.
What is the name of the collection agency? What state are you in? When did you last make a payment on the loan?
The company name direct capital. I don’t recall when I made a payment. I look up the address it came up a storage company. They told me the loan came from check dupe I look up the company and didn’t find anything
The whole thing is sketchy.
Hi, I was called about two months ago about a unsecured cc debt that I owed from 2009. I had disability for several years and was unable to pay this card. The credit limit was very low like 300. About two years ago I got off disability and have been actively trying to get my credit score better by paying off student loans. So when this collector called me two months ago I had asked if I can make payment arrangements for my debts and I was unaware of SOL. The debt was originated in Texas and I was living in California at the time. The collector said no payments and they needed the debt to be paid in full. It was 2,690. I said no I can’t do that. He then proceeded to say that they will be taking this debt to court in October. Now October came and my husbands job had located us in New Jersey. I received a phone call on October 25 with the collector saying they served me court papers to my work and home and were unable to reach me and that they needed a statement for the judge, I explained I had moved and no longer lived in California and he then proceeded to agree to the payment arrangement of 100 a month. I did an edoc agreement and with 400 being my first payment. The thing that made me believe this was real is because this McKinley and Associates LLC is registered through the California State Gov as a company to do business in California.
After I made this payment arrangement I started receiving several scam calls that I could tell were not real but this got me to search out more about what I had just done. I believe now this was a zombie debt that I now have revived because I signed an agreement to the debt. I did this out of fear that a judgement would be made against me and he had said an officer went to my work and gave me the location of where the officer tried to reach me. Am I correct in believing I was scammed? And if so, I am now legally bound this contract even if it was a scam?
This may not have been a full on fake debt collector, but one that has scammed you nonetheless. A debt last paid in 2009 would not be able to sue with a 4 year SOL in California, or a 6 year SOL in New Jersey.
Call an experienced FDCPA attorney in New Jersey. I can send you an email with several contacts if you like?
Yes, I would really appreciate that. Do you need my email?
I sent the email to the one you use when comment on the site. Let me know if you did not get it.
Thank you so much! I contacted Marcus Zelman! He took a look at the contract I signed and the receipts I got for the payments and he told me that I have been scammed. He said for me to stop payments immediately and to report the company to the California Attorney General.
I called the company that is scamming me to get more information and the person answering is saying they are a law firm yet when I found their website online half the links don’t work. The receipts I got for my payments look like someone typed them up in notepad really quick. I don’t mind paying my debt but if this is a scam it will mean nothing and I will have thrown away 2,690.
Do you think I should request a validation letter or is it too late? I am just trying to think about what they will do when they find out my payments are stopped next month…maybe I should already send them a cease communication letter?
Thanks again! I really appreciate your help and your website.
Scammers do not care about debt validation letters or cease communication notices. File the complaints with the AG and move on is what I would do.
Received a call from Cheyenne Wyoming 307-274-4866 claiming company name CRS MEDIATORS collecting on a online loan that was done in June 2013. They had the last 4 of my social and the name of my bank. The loan was for 850. I called my bank and they said I didn’t have any outside deposit for that amount. What should I do? They already took me for 285 on another claimed online loan. I was scared and they threatened to serve me with a law suit and legal fees so they offered me to settle for 285.00. This was in Sept 19 2016. Scared what do I do?
Never pay a debt collector for a debt that you do not know to be yours. Stand your ground and demand they send you validation of the debt. That will include the amount owed and who the debt originated with. A legitimate debt collector will tell you their address so that you can send them your validation request in writing, and will also inform you of where the debt originated from so that you can recognize if you ever did business with that lender.
Hi Michael, I live in Denver. Revently I got 3 business cards 1 week apart stuck between my door from a Legal Processor called R & R, no address just name Robert Stewart Jr 720-675-3692. On the back he wrote my name or current address please call Rob this is an URGENT Legal Matter! ASAP Please
I did recieve a collection letter from Nelson & Kennard located on behalf og Citibank/ Cavalry Portfolio in Sacarmento last month. Checked my credit report and the account is in collections from Cavalry Portfolio Services. I sent a certified letter yesterday to verify the debit, still with in a 30 day window to dispute the debt.
Also get calls about 2-3 week from NCB Mgt. Debt collector.
Whats the deal with the legal process server leaving a card to call & no indication he has papers to server? I check Denver County Court and no case listed.
Thanks
Do you have other unpaid accounts out there? It is a bit odd that the process server is trying to serve you, but the case is not filed in the court. You could call him and arrange for service if it seems he will end up serving you anyway.
Let me know what’s up when you get the papers.
What is your goal for resolving this?
Thanks Michael. Got three other bad debt on my credit report, 1 was charged off/closed 2013. The other one not in collections but showing last activity 2013. The last one, a creditor got a judgment and garnished my wages so that account is paid in full, even though I was Never Served with a summons and complaint.
I did receive a collection letter from an Attorney for unpaid Toll Road charges and paid the balance in full on October 28, the day I got the first procecess server business card. I think his records shoukd be updated by now after 3 weeks. So this makes think the matter is related to something else.
I know that I’m not obligated to call anyone back no answer my door and will wait it out to hear back from the Attorney representing Cavalry. Should they respond without providing adequate proof of validation and the account remains on my credit report and they tempt to serve me with a judgment I would seek the advice of a low cost Consumer Debt Attorney to represent me to ask the judge to dismiss the case. I do not want to settle with a 3rd party debt collector nor do I plan to file bankruptcy as these deliqent accounts are schedule to be removed from my file in 3 years.
I will update you should I receive further information from either the Debt Attorney or the process server.
Your advice is appreciated.
Okay. Don’t be too quick to refuse to settle with a third party debt collector. That is how you prevent a lawsuit, and also often where you get the best possible savings too.
Hello I was hoping for some feedback . My husband has a legit debt but I feel like the “debt collector” who keeps calling is a scammer. He claimed to be with a company called “clark & associates” first a woman called saying someone was coming to our house to serve him papers for court if he didn’t pay this debt off. Not even 30 mins later a guy calls and tells my husband he can pay this over the phone right now so he won’t have to go to court . My husband told him he was still waiting for his new debit card to come in the mail (which is true) and the guy said ok. This was 3 days ago. He just called me again saying my husband was supposed to call him back with his debit card number . He called from a Los Angeles area code and gave me a toll free 800 number to call back . My husband wants to pay because he’s scared but I keep telling him something sounds fishy
It is likely a scam. Legitimate debt collectors do not call you to tell you someone is coming to serve you. Everything after that is just a follow up on the scam.
I am also having the same problem with clarke and Associates. They are now calling my husband and sent me a message on Facebook! I just want them to stop
File complaints with your state AG and the CFPB.
I did with the CFPB but I think they are having trouble identifying the company even though I gave them their website and number. Every time they call it comes up on my called ID as Maureen Wilson. Even more of a reason I think it is a scam.
I am a 70 year old widow and these people keep calling me and they have contacted my granddaughter. They won’t tell me the name of the company or what the paper’s they want to deliver are regarding. I have avoided them, but they are supposed to be here this afternoon. I will not answer the door because the above article has raised concerns regarding the legitimacy regarding this company.
A debt collector would identify themselves by company name. File complaints with your state AG and the CFPB.
ok im so upset they got me yesterday at work i got a call on my cell phone and because i was at work i said where i worked and gave my address . the girl said i missed jury duty and that i will be getting something in the mail it was a 347 area code when we called her back later from home she called us back with 2 different out of state numbers and then tried to tell my boyfriend she was calling him about jury duty he said bullshit and im reporting you she said go ahead and hung up . i dont know what to do now or what i should do or if i should be worried or not. is this gonna turn into identity theft or is this a collection agent doing things against the law on an old dept.. can someone please help
I do not hear about this type of fake call. Is that all they are saying, that you missed jury duty, and nothing about a debt or fine to pay?
Hello! I was hoping you could help me, I had a debt collector call my father and mother trying to get ahold of me. I phoned the number they gave me and the man who answered said he represented zenco and that I had a delinquent balance from Citi bank. The original balance was 1217, but with the now added court fees it is 3316. Their website looks legitimate to me but I’m not sure. He told me they had me on surveillance camera using the card to make purchases from 2008-2009. When I asked him questions to try and verify if this was a legitimate claim (which it may very well be, but I consolidated my debt and have since paid it off-or so I thought) he became extremely hostile. The information he was giving me wasn’t adding up, wrong name and age for my mother, wrong address listed for me ect. I have a different Citibank card now and when I asked him about this he told me they were going to deactivate my current card (which is paid on time, every month) He told me they were going to sue me and not to drive around because they were looking to serve me. I asked him if he could send me this in writing and he told me that because I moved so much I ‘forfeited my right to recieve mail from them’. Is this legal? Honestly, he was so rude and aggressive its really scared me. I don’t want to go to jail, and I thought they couldn’t contact me after a number of years. I live in Texas and have not changed my mailing address in years. Please help! Thank you!!!
Totally bogus debt collector. File complaints with the agencies I list above.
My employer received a call to day from Gregory and Associates (415-326-4384) saying that they were looking to serve me with “papers”. I called the # they gave and spoke with Brian Richardson who politely informed me that a judgement was going to be filed for garnishment of wages. I asked if there was some court appearance that I had missed and he said no I would need to be served first and a court date set. He claimed that as I had not responded to a letter allegedly sent to me 45 days ago (no such letter received), they were proceeding with this action.
He admitted that “they” should have sent the letter registered but nonetheless he was calling regarding a Credit One account from 2009. An unpaid balance at the time of $1449 had now reached $4,229; he asked if I would like to make payment arrangements today. He also gave me an account # and suggested I speak with Credit One to “confirm the debt” as it had never been disputed but that and that they would likely refer me back to him.
This account no longer appears on my credit report; I found the debt on an old report and Credit One closed that account and wrote off the unpaid balance in 2010. When I mentioned that the Statute of Limitations may have passed, Brian indicated that the last interest charges were added by Credit One in March of 2012., which seemed odd as my report indicates that they had closed the account 2 years earlier.
I have not spoken with Credit One and see no pending court action in my municipality. I’m not sure how to proceed. Thoughts?
I would file complaints with my state Attorney General and the CFPB.
I have actually gotten a call from this same number in reference to a court date I had missed. Never gotten anything in the mail about this court date when I called back I just got voice message. They said they were calling on behalf of NDF ( nothing on my collections close to that) the lady gave me a case number ( 207008) I looked that case number up in my area ( Washington State) and California cause that was the area code for the number but no case. They left a message saying that their phone call was the proof they needed to say I was contacted but that is it. I have no clue what it was for since any debt I had was paid off or dismissed from a chapter 7. Anything on my credit now is just from me trying to repair my credit. But I also have a credit one credit card. I will still call tomorrow to see what its for but will not make any payments over the phone.
Sounds scammy to me. Please do post updates with anything new that occurs.
I got a call from them today, and it says it is from “Court Document Services”. They stated that a document they certified to deliver was undeliverable. They stated to call back before any further legal action was to be taken.
This is a scam i believe. i owed a bill 10 years ago, but statute of limitations is way past, and nothing on my credit report. I am not going to call them back. If it were legit, they would have my new address (moved out of state 2 years ago), as that stuff is not hard to find for companies.
Hello. Recently I have been contacted several times by a woman from Legal Recovery Network via Litigation Recovery System she states is the firm. Her name is Gail Robinson. She states she is calling in regards to a summons on 2 complaints and that it is urgent that I call her back or this will be forwarded but does not say to whom it will be forwarded nor what the debt or allegation is?!? Any recommendations?
I would call and find out what kind of scam they are running. But that is me. Many people would not waste their time.
Lawyers that sue just sue. They do not play phone call games.
I received a phone call from retrieval mediation services out of Georgia saying I owed for a payday loan from 2010. They provided me with a validation of debt statement that lists the original lender as Alpine Direct services. I can’t find any information on either of these companies!
That is a huge red flag that you are being contacted by a scammer.