Got a call on my cell -- male voice left a message for a woman I've never heard of -- said he was calling from M S & Associates and that he could be reached on 855-528-8454 at extension 304 and to call him back. I looked that number up and it is a COLLECTION AGENCY in NY ---- has all of their information on 1-800 notes along with the street address, owner's name, etc...... also, quite a few complaints..... I've had my cell number for over 10 years, so they obviously have bogus info, or called the wrong number, or they are phishing/scamming. If they call back, I'll give them our Sheriff's Department number and see if they can reach her there....
Got a call on my cell -- male voice left a message for a woman I've never heard of -- said he was calling from M S & Associates and that he could be reached on 855-528-8454 at extension 304 and to call him back. I looked that number up and it is a COLLECTION AGENCY in NY ---- has all of their information on 1-800 notes along with the street address, owner's name, etc...... also, quite a few complaints..... I've had my cell number for over 10 years, so they obviously have bogus info, or called the wrong number, or they are phishing/scamming. If they call back, I'll give them our Sheriff's Department number and see if they can reach her there....
Got several calls from this number, with a different person each time, but with the same message. THey did not ask for anyone by name, just read off this same script, and left a 'vague' message meant to be a threat, but not giving any information really -- just wants you to be afraid of this threat in order to call them back. I called the 404 number and it does not work and probably spoofed, but the 855 number is a call center in New York. Here is what the mesage says. "This is --garbled name with MS&Assoc to notify you of a situation that may lead to being placed in check systems. Once in Check systems, you will be temporarily be unable to access any accounts linked to your name or social security number. Once this list is faxed to the National Banking Association, it cannot be reversed. Please call this office as soon as possible at 855-528-8454."
First off, if this is a real company calling about a real "issue" , they would ask for someone by name. Secondly, what is "check systems", and there is NO SUCH THING as the "National Banking Association".....They are trying to scare and frighten people into thinking their ability to access banking is going to be frozen, which is illegal. So, B E W A R E -- these people are scammers -- trying to rip people off. I may call MS & Associates from a different phone and not give out any information, and see if they'll tell me what they are trying to do, and if they have any sort of business license in NY -- they obviously are not honest or above board. Pass this along to others, and post on as many of these boards as you can to alert others not to give any personal information and to report these thieves..... They have also used the numbers 404-382-7663 and 404-382-0132......I have had 4 or 5 messages from these numbers, all with different people calling and leaving messages....
INFO BELOW POSTED ON UPSTATE NEW YORK BBB SITE REGARDING MNS Associates>>>>
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Complaint resolved through BBB process (2 complaints)
3/28/2015 Billing/Collection Issues | Read Complaint Details
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Additional Notes
Complaint: I received a phone call from a woman who claimed that she had a sealed letter on her desk, the contents of which she didn't know. That it was scheduled to be delivered and required a signature and to prevent the scheduling of delivery I could speak with someone to resolve the matter that the letter was regarding. Although she didn't know what the letter was regarding it apparently was a matter that required attention immediately and was "not someone I wanted to receive a letter for". So I asked to speak with someone and when she transferred me I got another woman who said that my file has recently come across her desk. I told her I didn't know what it was for and why I received a call. She asked me to hold and before she put me on hold she informed me that "failure to hold will result in further determination per federal and state guidelines". When she returned to the line I asked when they purchased my debt she told me that she doesn't have an exact date but that it just recently came across their desk. She said it was for a student loan with ******** and she told me the last 4 digits of the account number, told me the date it was opened and the original amount of the loan. When I asked her for validation of the account by providing me with the full account number she said she didn't have that information and that I would have to contact ********. I then told her that she should have it if they purchased my debt, they should have all information related to my account and payment history if it was valid. She said that she is not a debt collector, she is a mediator between myself and her customer (********). I told her that I want, in writing, a validation of the debt. She first told me that I don't want it in writing because if I get it in writing the debt will be due in 30 days and that if I don't pay it I will get a 1099-C. When I insisted on the validation she told me that I would have to get the validation of debt from ******** because they are who my debt originally is with. She then said she could send me a "Chain of Title" that shows that they own the debt. She said it would take a week for it to get to me by mail. I validated my mailing address for her. When I got off the phone with her I called ******** direct and the representative informed me that my student loan was taken over by a guarantor due to bankruptcy and that it was NOT defaulted at the time of sale. He said that it could have been sold to ******** ******* ****s. So I called ******** ******* ****s and they informed me that they had not purchased my loan. I called ******** back and they are going to investigate my account and provide me with written documentation of the exact status as this loan should have been discharged in bankruptcy.
Desired Settlement: I want BBB to have this information on record. I will be filing a complaint with the consumer protection agency as well.
Consumer Response: Private student loans are dischargeable in bankruptcy. They were calling to collect on a private student loan Of which I have never received notification in writing by mail or any other previous calls for collection. All of my federal student loans are currently managed by fed loan servicing. To clarify, my resolution will be for them to provide written proof of their ownership of my debt with accompanying documentation validating the debt. The includes, but is not limited to payment history and history of contact by phone and mail by the original creditor (********) and any other "owner" of this "debt".
Business Response:
At this time we feel this complaint is not valid. Our company offered all information that was requested by Ms. ***********. We acknowledge that the sale of this account between multiple clients can be confusing to consumers such as Ms. ***********. If this account was previously resolved all that would be needed is written documentation stating such. However all information provided from M.N.S. & Associates LLC is complete, accurate and intended to help Ms. ***********. We request this be removed from our profile, due to the complaint being invalid. Sincerely M.N.S. Associates LLC
Consumer Response:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. I do not believe this is resolved nor should it be removed from their profile for being invalid. They did not offer all of the information I requested. To date I have not received their "chain of title" as indicated would be mailed after I confirmed my mailing address. They have also not provided any other written verification of their ownership of debt they are claiming I owe. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
Any debt collector who contacts you claiming you owe payment on a debt is required by law to tell you certain information about the debt. That information must include:
The name of the creditor, The amount owed ,How you can dispute the debt or seek verification of the debt, If the debt collector doesn't provide that information in the first contact with you, it is required to send you a written notice including that information within five days after contacting you. Regards, ********* ********
Business Response: To whom it may concern,
We are more than happy to work with Ms. ******** to answer any questions on this matter. We are attempting to obtain the documents that were requested. It does take a longer time period due to the documents are coming from another client. I would strongly recommend Ms. ******** contact our office at ************ *** ***. This will be the easiest way to properly assist Ms. ********. Thank You M.N.S. Associates LLC
Consumer Response: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
The company is required to provide written proof of their ownership of any alleged debt. They have exceeded the time frame allowed and therefore violated the fair credit collection practices act by not providing said proof of alleged debt as they have indicated through this process they would. If they have reported negative information to the credit bureaus regarding this debt they claim to own I request, as is my protected right under the fair credit collection practices act, they remove said references and they cease and desist any further efforts to contact me and collect on this alleged debt. Regards, ********* ********
Business Response: To whom it may concern. We are a third party, therefore we do not own the debt. Nor have we claimed to own the debt. A letter of placement from our client had been provided to the consumer. We also have not reported anything to the credit reporting agencies, so there is nothing for us to remove. We have honored Ms. ********'s request to cease any and all efforts to contact her or collect any alleged debts. We strive to be in compliance with the law and work diligently to ensure our agency makes every attempt to resolve any and all complaints received by a consumer. I trust this satisfies the request and expectations of our company, but I will be available any time at ************ **** ***. Regards, ******* **** M.N.S. & Associates LLC.
Consumer Response: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 10414895, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I will reopen this complaint if they contact me again. I also want to note that to date I have received no written documentation from them supporting their claims. Regards, ********* ********