If it just happened to you, then that should be your first clue. Debt collectors are only legally allowed to call you between the hours of 8am and 9 pm your time. A bit too early anywhere in the States for that call.
Criminals masquerading as debt collectors attempt to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged (they use the bad check or hot check claim a lot) and go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished without actually being sued or going to court, be sued, and a variety of other variations on this, all for an alleged or nonexistent debt. One of the tricks they use is to call your family, friends, neighbors and/or places of employment (past or present or both) to create panic and embarrassment so that their intended victim calls them and they can scare that person into paying their extortion money. They will use the words “Mediator”, “Arbitrator”, or “Law Office” to make you believe that they are something other than a debt collector want-a-be and that they don’t have to follow Federal and State collection laws. They do have to follow those laws, but they won’t. They mention that they have received a Fax document, to create the sense of urgency. They also tell you that if you fail to call them back you are "waiving your right to council", which is pretty much nothing but hogwash. They also use the “process server” ruse who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number where they will ask for money to “make it go away” (this is actually the same place, they work in teams, one pretending to be the server, and the other usually pretends to be a lawyer). Process servers do not ever call ahead so that you can dodge them. Process servers get paid to serve papers, nothing else.
It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and that they have the legal right to collect it. You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
I got a phone call from this place stateing they were taking legal action against me? They has my SSN and personal info and said they were going to seek the fullest exent of the law to collect a debt?
When I statrted to ask questions they gave me vague answere and didnt seem interested in discussing who the debt was for or why they were calling my place of work.
I checked with my local courthouse to ask if anything had been filed against me and they informed me that there are lots of people who "Fish" for information or try to bully you into some kind of payment agreement. they told me to contact the Attorny Generals office and to file a complaint with the Better Business deptment which I did.
I have received a phone call from this number. They said that they were a collections place. They had my bank account info, my social security number, and my address. They did not tell me who the debt was for. They said there was a lawsuit being filed against me. I only have 2 current debts. So I called both of my debt places and they said they did not call and that neither of them were filing lawsuits. I don't know who these people are but they have my information. When I call the number back, it says, "this is paul with css, please leave a message." Can anyone help me out? I tried to research CSS and found nothing.
I just received a phone call from "Paul Smith" who said he was a lawyer and that he was tracking this call to confirm my address. I was scared. I told him to get his camel riding [***] out of my country and not to call anyone else again, or else. Do not let these idiots scare you. I wish you could forward their calls to me. They have my number blocked so I can not call them.