The company calling is a debt collector called Humphrey's and Associates (not sure of the spelling Humphrey's/Humphrie's.) They advised I would be guilty of a "theft of deception" if I didn't make an immediate payment on an account. The caller, Joseph Starks, advised that it was "time sensitive" and I needed to work through their "mediation" process.
Doesn't sound like it! Threatening someone with "theft by deception" is a violation of federal law. Debt is civil, not criminal, so even if you have defaulted on a loan, you cannot be arrested. Per the FDCPA, you should not pay any caller who refuses to mail - do not accept email or fax - proof of debt/proof the caller can legally collect said debt. Refusal to mail this documentation within five days of their initial call is another violation of federal law. In other words - no written, verifiable proof of debt = do not pay, per the FDCPA!
This is a portion of the information found @ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection
What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
use threats of violence or harm;
publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
use obscene or profane language; or
repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.
False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
misrepresent the amount you owe;
indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.
Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.
Debt collectors may not:
give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
use a false company name.
Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
deposit a post-dated check early;
take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
contact you by postcard.
These idiots keep calling my house and leaving threatening messages about a debt for a woman that I have no clue who she is. I've told them they have the wrong number and to stop harassing me. However, they continue to call. As a matter of fact, they called again today. I hung up on the idiot and he called me right back.