Bay Area Credit Service
aka/ HOV Financial Services, LLC
fka/ Truelogic Financial Corp
fka/ Genesis Financial Corp.
SAN JOSE Headquarters
97 E. Brokaw Suite 240*
San Jose, CA 95112
Phones
866-222-2097
408-392-4400
408-392-4485
408-392-4480
866-835-2939
408-392-4600
Fax:
408-392-4520
408-248-7285
408-392-4420 DENVER
10000 E Geddes Ave,
Ste 100
Englewood, CO 80112
Phones
877-337-0290
866-488-4299
877-339-7500
Fax:
303-265-9544
702-488-4296
Websites www.bayareacredit.com (not updated in years)
[email protected] Web Owner: www.hovservices.com
ATLANTA
1000 Abernathy Rd.
Building 400, Suite 165
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone:
800-386-0074
Fax:
770-698-8633
INDIA
Call Center:
Kilpauk, Chennai
Phones:
800-697-1234
866-471-9387
866-773-9877
800-862-4187
800-454-2227
(Lots more numbers
than published)
Head Collectors
KARAN NEGI, Incorporator
PAR CHADHA , Manager
SUNIL RAJADHYAKSHA, Manager
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Bud Says Consumer Comments Below
Bay Area Credit Service was purchased by HOV Services, a multi-national conglomerate out of INDIA and the entire organization has changed drastically. Consumers are still being called from their Englewood, CO location that still has a small staff formerly called True logic/Genesis Financial. The majority of dealings are with INDIA callers who think they can imitate American accents.
Bay Area/HOV is buying junk debts from a variety of sellers who have already diluted many of the accounts. Expect the typical reaction from the INDIA collectors (with bad accents) who are easily frustrated in their attempts to make you understand their dialect. I strongly oppose any U.S. company sending accounts to INDIA call centers where your personal information is at risk for anyone to steal your identity or use that information for illegal purposes. It is unbelievable these organizations are allowed direct access to our most personal information and that of our families without our consent or knowledge. An attorney who represents the collection industry and travels to INDIA told me these collectors are highly educated, many with MBAs, reduced to a trivial hourly rate to work in a debt collection call center for some scavenger who is taking American money on debts they bought for pennies. As I told the attorney, it is just a matter of time until some crime organization figures out how to gain access into these organizations and American are in a nightmare of identity theft throughout Asia and Europe. It is not a matter if ‘IF’ but ‘WHEN’ it will happen, with no one to accept responsibility.
When dealing with these organizations, make them work and work hard. Use the law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) the way it was intended. Make them prove each claim with documents that give validity to their (alleged) claim. I am not talking about the bogus affidavits churned out by the junk debt buyer mills either; I am talking about legitimate documents that likely no longer exist.
I also think that Congress should be pressured to reign in information that is freely given to foreign owners without our consent or knowledge. It is appalling to me that organization such as HOV Services can buy these accounts, and then use the purchased debts to gain access to our personal information. Surprised? Experian, Equifax, Trans Union, Accurint and others will sell to anybody who can sign a check. Is your medical information floating around some INDIA call center because you did not realize you owed a deductible on your claim? It may be. Did you know that your social security number and those of your family members could easily be obtained by these foreign collection organizations? Of course, you realize they have full access to your credit reports and those of your spouse and perhaps other family members. The real scary part is that you have no say in who sees it, where it goes and who may be able to steal it.
Bay Area Credit Service is one of many organizations that buy our charged off debts, ship them overseas, and then attempt to collect at highly inflated profits. Many use the same lies, threats and bully tactics so pervasive here in America. Bay Area is not alone; this practice was started because labor in INDIA is far less than what they would pay an American worker. The hourly wage in INDIA for debt collectors starts at around $3.00/hour with no taxes or benefits paid to the employee. One thing that U.S debt collectors and their INDIAN counter parts have learned is the lesson of greed and it is all at the expense of the American consumer.
CAUTION: I recommend you NEVER disclose your bank account or credit card information to a debt collector, as you risk them emptying your account, or maxing out your credit card. If you feel they are reporting on your credit bureau files in error or need assistance in dealing with them, email the details w/your location. Assistance and referral to a consumer legal specialist may be available.
File complaints with
Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices
Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org
If you or they are located in NY – use this SPECIAL Link www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices. HE’S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html If the company is listed under agencies – report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list. You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0
Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!
The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!
Dealing with Debt Collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html
Statute of Limitations by State – always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm
Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm
From Federal Trade Commission Website – FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.
What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn’t cover debts you incurred to run a business.
Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they’re told (orally or in writing) that you’re not allowed to get calls there.
How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter – even if you don’t think you owe the debt, can’t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don’t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector – in writing – to stop contacting you. Here’s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.
Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don’t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.
What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money.
Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don’t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.
What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
use threats of violence or harm;
publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
use obscene or profane language; or
repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.
False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
misrepresent the amount you owe;
indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.
Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.
Debt collectors may not:
give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
use a false company name.
Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
deposit a post-dated check early;
take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
contact you by postcard.
Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don’t think you owe.
Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don’t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don’t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.
Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
Social Security Benefits
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
Veterans’ Benefits
Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
Service Members’ Pay
Military Annuities and Survivors’ Benefits
Student Assistance
Railroad Retirement Benefits
Merchant Seamen Wages
Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Death and Disability Benefits
Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.
Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.
What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.
Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.
For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
February 2009