Nasty and very fake agents, beware trying to steal your money ... "Actor by legal mediation services we're trying to reach you regarding a legal matter in our office please return the call at your earliest convenience at (470) 237-4848 or press one to be connected to a live agent."
Got a call on my cell with a voicemail to call regarding a "legal matter" or "just press one". It was only a recording and no other information. Says it is a GA landline. I don't know anyone there, nor do I have any legal issues, so it looks like a spam robot call - and I *AM* on the do-not-call list!
I too received a call from 470-237-4848. It's a collection agency called 'Legal Mediation Services' out of the Atlanta area. As a former collection manager, I recognized right away what their game was when they called me. They called to inform me that I had an outstanding payday loan from 2009. I explained to the collector (who was obviously using an alias) that I had never taken out a payday loan.
if you don't pay up, these shady collectors will use legal jargon in an attempt to scare you into thinking you're in serious legal trouble. They will use phrases like 'pending court documents' or 'you're going to be served', etc,etc. I assure you its all a bunch of b.s.!
What will happen is after several attempts, they will most likely sell the paper to another collection agency down the road and in a couple months if not sooner, you'll end up getting a call from another collection agency telling you the same thing and they cycle will start over again. What I would do is next time they call, demand they validate the debt in writing. If they refuse to do (which often is the case), try to get their mailing address and send them a Cease & Desist letter by certified mail. If that doesn't work, there are several consumer agencies out there to file a complaint with.
I got the same and I knew it wasn't true I never got into any trouble so I fi to press 1 they asked for the number they was calling from and they said they were looking for rosa Martinez I told them they had the wrong number all the lady said was I'll notify the state and hung up
You're absolutely right, David. This is one of many 'junk debt buyer' collection agencies who use tactics that violate federal regulations in an attempt to scare people into paying. In every case, if the debt is related to a payday loan, the state laws under which the loan was written do not allow for any criminal punishment against the debtor, but they'll still use phrases like "sending the sheriff out to serve you" and "pressing fraud charges". Moreover, a lot of these debts are outside the statute of limitations for any sort of legal action - even civil action - on the debt.
When you receive calls like these, you are required only to give enough information to validate your identity - generally your name and date of birth; once you've provided that, the only thing you need to say is, "What is your mailing address?" Under no circumstances should you verbally confirm the debt or make or promise any payments over the phone; this can risk resetting the statute of limitations and open you up to civil action. Ask for their mailing address and state that you will communicate on the matter only through USPS; if they refuse to give you a mailing address, tell them you're ending the call, not to call again, and hang up. If you do get an address, look up the template for a Debt Validation and Cease and Desist letter, fill out the appropriate information, and mail it to them certified mail so that you have a receipt for the communication.