Thank you so much for your information. Yesterday a message from this entity was left on my phone, and today I received another one. I figured they were scams for the simple reason that I know I do NOT have any outstanding debts. I feel better now knowing that this is a scam as I suspected.
You need to send them a certified, return receipt debt validation, cease and desist calling, or "not me" letter (think of it as the best $6.47 you ever invested). Also send it first class mail in case no one will sign for it. Make a notation of that fact at the bottom of the letter. You also need to report them to the proper agencies to which I have provided links to. Then you need to go out and get a consumer lawyer to sue them on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket) and let them pay you for the harassment. If everyone did these three things, these crooks would be bankrupt and we would all be the richer for it. Use these web sites to find an attorney in your state that will probably take the case on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket up front): http://www.consumeradvocates.org/
http://www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-atto ... tates_value=All
Everything else you need to know follows including at least two agencies where you should report their criminal activities.
I have to wonder why a “legitimate company” would need a 100 or more different phone numbers to conduct business.
Web site lists no contact info, but lists the name as Convergent Receivables Management: http://www.convergentusa.com/contactus/contact-form.php?d=4
Ok, this is a strange company record. According to their web site, they are located in Atlanta, Ga and have been in business since 1955.
Now the BBB gives them a B rating with 899 complaints (The BBB removed 274 complaints so that they could upgrade them from an F to a B along with 2 negative reviews) and 62 negative reviews and a notation that there is a pattern to the complaints-namely that they routinely violate Federal collection laws. They also say that the business was established in 1950, that they are headquartered in Washington State, and that they are registered with the Washington Dept. Of Revenue: http://www.bbb.org/western-washington/busines ... enton-wa-501066
So if you go to the Washington State web site and look up their corporation, it indicates that they were formed in 2013:
CONVERGENT OUTSOURCING, INC.
UBI Number 603319184
Category REG
Profit/Nonprofit Profit
Active/Inactive Active
State of Incorporation WA
WA Filing Date 07/22/2013
Expiration Date 07/31/2015
Inactive Date
Duration Perpetual
Registered Agent Information
Agent Name CT CORPORATION SYSTEM
Address 505 UNION AVE SE STE120
City OLYMPIA
State WA
ZIP 98501
Now that is the corporation that is active, the other corporation with that name is inactive but was owned by the same person:
UBI Number 600059082
Category REG
Profit/Nonprofit Profit
Active/Inactive Inactive
State of Incorporation WA
WA Filing Date 01/11/1972
Expiration Date 01/31/2014
Inactive Date
Duration Perpetual
Registered Agent Information
Agent Name STEVEN J HUNTER
Address 800 SW 39TH ST
City RENTON
State WA
ZIP 980579004
Special Address Information
Address PO BOX 9004
City RENTON
State WA
Zip 980579004
Bizapedia has them as forming in 1972 and still active, although that date would apply to the inactive corporation (confused yet? I am): http://www.bizapedia.com/wa/CONVERGENT-OUTSOURCING-INC.html
The following are complaint sites:
http://www.whoscallingnotes.com/listings/puget-sound-energy/800-772-1169/ Some say that it is the electric company, but there are posts that say they have no account with them.
http://www.ruscammer.com/8007721169/index.html this site seems to agree that it is a scam
http://www.privacystar.com/lookup/800-772-1169 this site claims it is Convergent Outsourcing
As does this one: http://www.fschulmanlaw.com/800-772-1169.phtml
But I would say the proof is this Chamber of Commerce page that lists these criminals in Washington and has that very same phone number listed for it: http://chamber.gorenton.com/list/member/convergent-outsourcing-inc-1299
• Collection Agencies
Convergent Outsourcing, Inc.
800 SW 39th Street
Renton, WA 98057
(425) 562-9720
(800) 772-1169
(206) 340-4003 (fax)
Description of the business from Hoover’s:
http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs ... 80233d315d.html
“Convergent Resources strives to avoid a divergence when it comes to collections. The company and its subsidiaries provide accounts receivable management, collection, and customer care services to a variety of industries throughout the US. Clients include banks and financial institutions, retailers, utilities, and telecommunications, cable, and satellite providers. Its Convergent Revenue Cycle Management division offers health care industry collection services to hospitals, helping them recover payments from insurers and other creditors. Convergent Outsourcing provides consumer accounts receivable services. Convergent Commercial is a commercial collections agency.”
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/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general
As well as the Washington State AG's Office: http://www.atg.wa.gov/
and the Washington State Department of Financial institutions: http://www.dfi.wa.gov/