On January 14th, I received my first call from Brewton Law firm, a voicemail from Katie Davis(receptionist at Brewton Law firm, 404-937-3660) left at 2:07 pm stating that I had fraud attached to my SSN and driver's license # and that I needed to call Patricia Winfroe asap if I wanted to resolve the allegations against me. At 6:27 pm that same day, I called Patricia's # (404-937-3660) and it went to "Mary-anne's" voicemail but I left a message anyway, asking her to call me back and explain what this is about. She never called me back, but today 01/16/15, I got a call from Katie again at 12:55pm, and she left me the same message as she did the first time. I called her back and 1:36 pm and explained to her that I have aleady called Patricia, but she has not called me back, and that I want to know what all of this is about. She told me that I had committed check fraud, and that I needed to speak with Patricia, and transferred me to her. This is irrelevant, but Patricia is extremely rude, but this doesn't surprise me, she's got to be the unhappiest person alive, doing what she does to innocent people. Anyway, she told me I had written bad checks, and would not give me specific information. She told me that I owed $334. I knew the only time in my life I had written bad checks was 14 years ago, when I was too ignorant to understand how it worked and my parents bailed me out. I explained this to her, and she said that obviously my parents didn't bail me out because she had the checks. She told me I had to pay right now or she was immediately going to alert the authorities in El Paso county and have them take care of me. I explained to her that I am more than happy to pay a debt of mine, but this was 14 years ago, why have I not received any documentation, and why is it either pay now or go to jail? She knew my whole SSN, but could not explain why I had never received any letters at my address. She screamed at me, called me a criminal and a felon, and etc, etc. I reiterated that I am more than happy to pay a debt of mine, but that I would like to see documention, proof of the debt, sent to me in the mail. She kept yelling over, me, calling me names. I tried to interject and defend myself, this was blowing my mind to get treated this way by a professional with a law office. I asked to please be transferred to another representative or case worker. Patricia told me that I had to deal with her, I couldn't have another caseworker. I told her I needed her to listen to me, she would not. I asked to speak to a superior, she shouted "There is NO ONE above me!" She then shouted "Remember my name!" and hung up on me. I called back Katie, and explained to her what happened and said that I needed to speak with someone who could help me. She was friendly but unfortunately not able to be very helpful. I explained to her that I paid these debts in the past and that I wanted proof that the debt was still owed. She said there were three checks, but that because they were "EVIDENCE" she could only send me a copy of one to my email. I agreed to this. I got the email, and sure enough, it was a check written by me 14 years ago. So, first, I contacted the Co Springs Police Department and asked for help. because Patricia told me that she was going to notify the authorities to come "get" me. When I explained what happened and asked them if there was a record on me, I was asked to file a police report, because this sounded like fraudulent activity. I was also advised to contact the SSA (888-880-0688), because they have my full social on file and have it flagged, along with the credit bureaus to have my credit frozen. I used the copy of the check and called my old bank, Covington County Bank and spoke with Bobbie (334-222-2561), and she could not pull up any record of my old account whatsover, because this happened 14 years ago. Next, I called Walt Merrill at the DA's office in Covington County (334-222-2513), and told him everything that has transpired between myself, Patricia Winfroe and Katie Davis. He forwarded me to David Floyd in the Worthless Check Unit in Covington County, and he was able to pull up my records and official proof that the three checks that Patricia said I never paid have been paid off. They are also mailing me copies as well. Afterwards, I called back to inform Patricia that I had proof that the checks were paid off 13 years ago, but I had to leave a vm. I tried again, and Patricia picked up the phone and didn't even use a polite greeting, she just said "why are you calling back?" They must have caller id. I preceded to tell her that I had made some calls and I have obtained proof that this is not a debt anymore. She interrupted me after I said "calls" and started screaming at me, demanding to know who I called. I tried to speak but she interrupted again and told me to hold. I held the line for over ten minutes and after that, I hung up. I came back to my desk, and sent the following email with attachments showing my checks were paid: Hello, After speaking with Patricia and Katie, I contacted my old bank, Covington County Bank and spoke with Bobbie , and she could not pull up any record of my old account whatsover, because this happened 14 years ago. Next, I called Walt Merrill at the DAs office in Covington County , and told him everything that has transpired between myself, Patricia Winfroe and Katie Davis. After taking notes and getting details from me, he forwarded me to David Floyd in the Worthless Check Unit in Covington County, and he was able to pull up my records and official proof that the three checks you're referencing have been paid off. I am attaching those to this email. They are also mailing me copies as well. I called the police department in Colorado Springs because Patricia told me that she was going to notify the authorities to come and serve me. When I explained what happened and asked them if they have records of this, I was asked to file a police report, because this sounded like fraudulent activity. I was also advised to contact the SSA (888-880-0688), because you have my full social on file and have it flagged, along with the credit bureaus to have my credit frozen. I was also advised to contact the Georgia Bar, the FTC, and the Attorney general's office in Georgia, Alabama, & Colorado. I have done everything that they recommended. I called your office back, and Patricia answered without even a greeting, and when I told her that I had made some calls she put me on hold for a very long time and never came back on the line. If you have any questions, I was told by the DAs office that you can call to verify this information that I am sending you. (334-222-3513) I would like an official document from your firm showing that my account is clear with you. Thank you for your time, Amanda I haven;t heard from them since Patricia put me on hold and never came back to the line.
Caution, 404-937-3042 is a "spoofed" number, which means that whoever called you "tricked" your caller ID to display an incorrect phone number. Telemarketers do this so you cannot complain, but they failed... you can still file a complaint here to fight back against unethical telemarketers.
Amanda - thank God you shared this information because same exact experience just happened to me!! Same Pat, same number same everything - even timeline 14yrs ago I supposedly wrote a bad check and was heading to jail if I did not give them a credit card asap. Was freaking out until I read your post - saved me from having stroke and I really appreciate it. I will follow same steps you took and get this resolved BUT more importantly hoping the more victims like us complain the sooner people like this are shut down. Thanks again.