I just got a call today is 1/26/2012, I though it was immigration coming after me but after i read your post i realized that im good, they called me and said someone put a restraining order out on me when i called back they said i owe hsbc bank 1,800 and if i dont pay they will freeze all my assets, I told them they can freeze them because I dont have any bank accts wtf??
Is anyone here affiliated with Pre-Paid Legal Services? We recently signed up and my husband received the same call at his mother's house. It didn't make sense (we are also several states away from the area code). Thanks to all for the important information!
So you know even if you owe a debt these tactics fall outside the fair debt reporting laws (google fair debt collection practices act). Together we could get a class action law suit against these people. I got a message from these people via a secretary at work who did not put them through to my vm. The note from the secretary said it was an urgent legal processing matter. Of course I freaked out as I thought it was related to my job. This is the second type of call like this in the past two months, the other was from another similar group with similar practices (calling at work, contacting your employer, threatening legal action, misrepresentation and stating that they have legal authority or are a legal representative (they use "questionable" titles...investigator, special BS). I have my lawyer working on the first one and will add this one to the list. I think that people who are getting these calls were on a list that may have been sold to these companies in the past few months. The first one has stopped calling and harassing as they cannot produce the paperwork necessary that shows that they own the debt (which they don't because i paid it off years ago). That group actually called my boss at home and told them that they would serve a summons on them to give to me. If you can't get legal advice this is what I would suggest....know what they are legally allowed to do by reading the fair debt collection practices act. Keep the voicemail messages and find a way to record them. If you call them back record the conversation, in most states you can record a 2 way conversation as long as one person (you) is aware that the call is being recorded (this is admissable in court in some states). Be nice, keep them talking, don't be intimidated because the law is actually on your side. Don't give your personal information out at all no matter what they say to you...remember they called you. Kindly ask who they work for, what their name and position is and how did they come to call you about this matter ect... Tell them you are happy to work with them once they provide their information. They will resist I promise and this is where you know it is a scam and you will know you are in control of the conversation. Remain calm. If they can't give you the name of account or provide a record that they own the debt they are harassing you and you can sue them in court. This is difficult as an individual because it does cost money on the front end. The fact that this is happening to me has really made me aware of the situation and has caused enough concern to consider blogging on the topic as if enough people are involved a class action law suit may be warranted for those who would like to participate.