Received a call from a Tony Davis, claiming to be from the legal department of a firm hired by a bank to collect a debt. Presented like he was doing me a favor by calling, but "really shouldn't be...but wanted to help me because he could see I'd had no financial or civil trouble before." Knew details about a collections scenario with a health club that I've been fighting for over a year, and knew my name and address. Told me now that it went to legal and I was facing a court summons he was trying to protect me, and could collect the money due minus the $1000 extra they wanted to charge me for court costs. If I gave him a credit card he would then send me an email with a settlement notice, blah blah blah... It all went downhill when I asked him for some assurance of who he was and information on the company he was representing... even a simple email with a business number I could call HIM at with the info. He rattled off all of these supervisors names: Michael Ross, Marcus Mendez, etc... then put me on hold and "Marcus" picked up and was rude and argumentative, and when I tried to explain I was trying to protect myself by not giving credit card info to an unverified source, he told me I had been wasting tony's time and hung up on me. It'll now be interesting to see if any of the stuff they said was coming (civil court summons, etc) actually comes...
"Presented like he was doing me a favor by calling, but "really shouldn't be...but wanted to help me because he could see I'd had no financial or civil trouble before."
How sweet of him.
Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.
Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.
Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.
Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).
Received a call VERY similar to Debbie's. Claimed to be calling to inform me they were going to file a lawsuit and that tons of mail had gone unanswered but he could help me avoid all that if I agreed to pay $290 of the $1600 owed. I told him I had cancelled my membership and paid it off and had already disputed this bill. He said I hadn't cancelled the membership and I now owed for the full membership back owing. I also replied that I was in Bankruptcy and he was welcome to my attorney's information. He told me that he wasn't a debt collector and to call National Fitness Financial if I had any questions. I called NFF who told me they had called me numerous times but left no messages (so you don't leave a message and I'm expected to return every call I receive?) but when they didn't hear back they sold it to Precision National Recovery and I had to take it up with them. I called PNR back and no one would answer.
Just turn them over to your bankruptcy attorney and let him/her handle them. If they continue to harass you, let your attorney know. They can be sued for violating the automatic stay.
Will do...I also filed a complaint with the CFPB. What irked me was that he threatened to call my employer to notify them of my debt in order to get my wages garnished.