Just for clarity's sake, USCB is a collection agency. I have found the following links about them, including some information implying that they may have behaved badly, and may be involved in the purchase and collection of junk debt. I would be interested in any posts which can shed light on these possibilities. So far, no real smoking guns, but perhaps a hint of smoke hanging in the air.
FWIW, there B+ BBB rating (31 Complaints) is here: <http://www.bbb.org/washington-dc-eastern-pa/b ... ld-pa-235965907>
The following corporate records were found:
Name Name Type
USCB CORPORATION Current Name
Business Corporation - Domestic - Information
Entity Number: 3202733
Status: Active
Entity Creation Date: 3/1/2004
State of Business.: PA
Registered Office Address: 101 HARRISON STREET
ARCHBALD PA 18403-
Lackawanna
Mailing Address: No Address
Officers
Name: NOREEN JOHNSON
Title: President
Address: 101 HARRISON STREET
ARCHBALD PA 18403-35
---
Name Name Type
USCB Business Services LLC Current Name
Limited Liability Company - Domestic - Information
Entity Number: 4064322
Status: Active
Entity Creation Date: 10/24/2011
State of Business.: PA
Registered Office Address: 101 Harrison Street
Archbald PA 18403
Lackawanna
Mailing Address: No Address
---
Name Name Type
USCB BUSINESS SERVICES Current Name
Fictitious Names - Domestic - Information
Entity Number: 3248062
Status: Active
Entity Creation Date: 9/8/2004 3:59:25 PM
Principal Place of Business: 101 HARRISON ST
ARCHBALD PA 18403-
Mailing Address: No Address
Owner Information
Owner(s) for: USCB BUSINESS SERVICES
Owners
Name: USCB CORPORATION
Mailing Address: [Address Not Available]
----
They is also some indication that they may have a business relationship with some sort of correspondence school of dubious merit, so if anyone can address that concern, it might be helpful.
I did note this, "3:12-cv-00561-SC - Miller v. USCB, Inc. (status conference)" from <http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/CEO/cfd.aspx?7111> but could not find any additional info as this is a court calendar item scheduled for a future date. I will try to keep an eye on it, and will share more as I can.
So, at this point, in favor of USCB we have them posting here. Against them, we have the lack of candor about who they are in the posts, which could be seen as an effort to use 800notes as an extension of their collection efforts. And a couple of web links which may give us pause.
Thre are a number of other threads which MAY be associated with USCB, but there appears to be a USCBInc. located in California, which may be a different company. This makes it a little hard to know which threads are relavant. To learn more go to <www.startpage.com> and enter the following search string: "host:800notes.com uscb"
I am afraid their claims of unfairness and protests that they are just a legitimate business may be beginning to fray slightly around the edges, but time will tell. Regardless of their legitimacy or lack thereof, the rules are the same.
As always, before engaging in contact with any collection agency:
Know the law: <http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm>
And keep this in mind -
Be wary of time barred (SOL/Statute of Limitations) debt. Paying it may actually harm your credit rating.
Likewise for debts discharged in bankruptcy, debts of others, or debts which are invalid for other reasons (lie accounting errors, disputes, etc.).
Also, watch out for FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) violations: <http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm>
Never pay a collection agency without the following:
Validation Letter proving that you owe the money and that they have the right to collect it.
Settlement Letter stating what is to be paid, and that this will settle the debt in full without recourse.
When paying them:
Never give them your account number for any financial instrument, checking, savings, debit card, or credit card.
Never send them a personal check.
Never do a "check by phone".
Always pay with a postal money order (USPS - purchased at your post office).
After you pay them:
Keep these records for the rest of your life. Paid debt has a way of being re-sold to other collection agencies, and you need to be able to prove it was paid.
I don't want USCB saying we have been unfair, but we do look closely at those who come here claiming they are unjustly accused. My personal rating for these guys is: APPROACH WITH CAUTION, and be prepared to insist on proper legal process (as always).
They are not a scam. They are a collection agency, properly incorporated in the state of PA. I cannot vouch for or against their business practices. But you are in error calling them a scam (other invectives MIGHT apply ;) .
As for your unlisted private number, I don't think you realize how easily and quickly such information propagates. Odds are that someone you gave your number too (almost any and everyone you have given it to) has passed it on to a data collection firm, credit bureau, etc.,. CAs buy information from these companies in order to track you down and attempt to pester you into paying.
Those of us who actually manage to keep such information confidential must work very hard at it, and have alternative options available for those situations where a phone number is required (banks, etc.,.)
24 hours eh? It's been two weeks. You keep calling. I tell you the same thing over and over. I do not know anyone named sorensen. I am not sorensen, I've never known a sorensen. I have had the same number for over 10 years. STOP calling me you idiots!
Replying to myself here. OK, I've got it now. I received a call again a few minutes ago. I called back. I told the "agent" that I'd called previously and each time I'm told that they do not have my number in the system. This time the agent said let me try again. She said oh...I've found it. We're looking for ........... in regard to some paper work I have in my office. OH PLEASE! I said, I know you are a collection agency and you have the wrong people. We owe NO money to anyone. We are old and have no debt anywhere. We do not use credit cards or credit. What is your address, she asked. Against my better judgement I gave it to her. Oh, she said we're looking for someone Alabama. How stupid can I be? Obviously what they do is just call every number with the last name they are seeking and we do their detective work for them. We all call back! By the process of elimination they "get their man." Not illegal but certainly unethical. A tiny bit of detective work would tell you that mine is a land line not in Alabama. A tiny bit of detective work would tell you that my area code is not in Alabama. If you have someone who hasn't paid a legitimate debt, you would have their SSN and middle name.
You upset people when you call them, especially people like us who have NO DEBT TO ANYONE. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. STOP CALLING EVERYONE WITH THE SAME LAST NAME. If you were my employees, I'd fire you immediately.
Thank you for responding as you have and coming forward with some researched information. I truly appreciate it.
Yes, USCB Corporation is a collection agency. I would have come forward with that information in the beginning but wanted to be careful about disclosing the nature of the call due to privacy concerns of your posters. It was not an attempt to conceal or hide anything as I figured a simple Google search of our name would give anyone the information they needed.
I am not trying to use 800notes to further any collection efforts. I'm only trying to help people who have an issue resolve it. I do not want to gain anything from this except to try and satisfy anyone who has a problem with us and learn how we can prevent it from happening again. As I've said in a few posts, people can simply request not to be called anymore. If we are calling a wrong number people just need to calmly explain that we have it wrong and we will correct the record. Yes, we may ask if you know the person or something similar but we don't just pull any phone number out of the air like some would suggest so we do want to see where we went wrong. If there was a magic solution to knowing wrong numbers or knowing someone doesn't want to be called before hand we would use it. It would make life much much easier.
We do not purchase junk debt as you have indicated we may. We do not purchase debt at all. 95% of all our work comes straight from the original creditor use still owns the debt. The remaining 5% comes from a few debt buyers that we work for but that paper comes only months after chargeoff and would hardly be clasified as junk debt.
We are not associated with USCB Inc. who is located in CA. We just happen to have a similar name but there is no ties between us.
As for you brinkmanandalter.com link...I'm not aware of those attorney's but it is a common practice that comsumer attorneys that target collection agencies often have advertisements stating all those illegal and unethical things. We do not and will never act like that.
The BBB rating and 31 complaints is correct. FYI, those 31 complaints came from the servicing of a 10's of thousands of accounts and were mostly complaintes that should have been directed to the creditor. We resolved all of them and strive for the best rating we can get. From what I can tell a B+ rating for a collection agency who isn't a BBB member is pretty decent.
USCB is a small family owned and family run company. We live simple lives and take time to appreciate family, friends, and coworkers. We try to hire decent, honest, hard working people to do a very difficult job. No one likes collection agencies. No one likes collection calls. We do a difficult job in a fair and compasionate manner. We do things by the book and treat everyone with dignity and respect. We train our employees that we are here to help consumers find ways to pay their debts. We have had some bumps in the road over the years but nothing major or intentional and we've always learned from our mistakes.
Again, thanks for your response. It's good to know that someone actually pays attention. My goal in responding to people here is and will remain the same. If you have an issue, we want to resolve it. We want correct any problems and try to prevent them from reoccuring.