Lying scum bags!!!!!! I posted my resume online for an engineer job because I've been out of work for almost three months, and these [***] call me acting like a potential employer. Once they verified my name and address they then went on to say they were Midland Credit and attempting to collect on a debt. How is is that legal? Now I'm afraid to ever answer the phone, even if someone leaves a message about a job, how do I know it's not them scamming me again? Something has to be done about these type of collection companies. If I had a job, I'd pay my bills, but I'm close to losing my house and already defaulted on all three credit cards.
Perhaps you should take advantage of the laws that are in place to protect you? What they did was illegal. Now, to solve your problem the answer to that is to sue them and make them pay you. Just think how nice that would be, getting a nice big fat check from them.
You need to send them a certified, return receipt debt validation 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
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
(619) 354-6309 called early Sunday am, left no message. CID just says "San Diego CA". Thanks very much to all the 800 Noters who took time to post info to stop these calls. If it is a debt collector they have the wrong person, so this number is now blocked by me!
Called me multiple times, left no messages. Called on a sunday of all days and did the same. Called back and listened, got one name, and they hung up, called back, same voice different name. Demanded to speak to a supervisor, and to no ones surprise they couldn't provide a DCA License number (required by law for valid collections agencies). She then tried to get me to verify the company exists by going to the website, but still couldn't provide proof herself.
Following this she gave me a 1-800 number to call to supposedly verify, said number is NOT affiliated with the company she claimed to be with, as the web site shows so. She claimed "that is our number too". If you call the one she gave me its one of those spoof "take a survey and get a Caribbean cruise!" things.