I have been getting calls saying that I have a legal matter pending against me. I know for a fact that the last payment date on the credit card account as of this month is 7 years old. They tried saying "if we dont hear from you by tomorrow close of business we will give the case to the lawyer". I know debt collectors are suppose to announce that they are calling in attempt to collect a debt, but come on. The were calling my cell and then turned around and called my step-dads home office line and claimed "it was the only number they had to contact me that was on my file". That is bull! I created that debt in another state before I even knew his work number!! They are just out to try to intimidate people who dont know about SoL into paying! I found a website that has every states SoL here is the link:
Claimed to be Law Office but used very illegal and threatening language. Threatened to have sherriff arrest me for debt (NO SUCH ANIMAL IN UNITED STATES!!!) Demanded full payment immediately or I would be arrested! Definately a Scam Artist!!!
Someone named Tawnie called from this office first claiming to be a debt collection service trying to collect a debt from 2001. I knew this "debt" was really just a credit card (not in collections) that I had paid off in 2002 when I sold property. She claimed the debt was for $1200 but after legal fees I would be responsible for $2200. then a few minutes later she said that "the lawyer" would accept a settlement for $800 if I would pay by the end of the month. Somehow the entire amount moved to $3000 when they ofrwarded my file to an "asset investigator" who called and said the total amount would be $3200. they should at least get their scam correct. They are now threatening to contact my neighbors, place of employment, and relatives. All for a debt I never have owed. I'm considering taking legal action against them. The caller ID stated the phobe number was 801-466-2130 with the call back number left as 866-507-5050.
The "Tracy Paul" scam pops up here from time to time. And it's just that -- a scam. There's lots of information about who this may be....check out this link: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-507-5050 Then check this link which describe calls from a supposed law firm called Gillette and Paul in Utah: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-359-7171 And here's some information from consumers who were looking into Gillete and Paul: http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/creditors-information/about25511-1.html
You'll see that one message in the 866-507-5050 thread says that "Tracy Paul" is someone named Ryan Baker doing business behind the name Arches Financial in Utah. But knowing how these debt collector crooks work, I would bet that "Ryan Baker" is a pseudonym, too. Another message in that thread shows the results of a WhoIs search on the suddenly missing Arches Financial website. Here's Arches' address as listed on WhoIs:
Arches Financial, LLC
2989 South 300 West
Salt Lake, City UT 84115
Even more interesting is this federal lawsuit brought by several people against "Tracy Paul" http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-moedce ... /case_id-65173/ I don't know if it's the same Tracy Paul, but the suit was filed over a question of fair debt collection. So what are they odds that it's a different Tracy Paul? If I had to guess, I'd say that Gillette and Paul, Tracy Paul, Ryan Barker and Arches Financial are all connected.
If you take legal action, some of the information in the above weblinks may be of help to your lawyer. You may also want to consider filing a complaint with the consumer affairs division of your state's attorney general. And you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission here: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Also...check out these websites for more advice and legal assistance in protecting yourself from debt collection criminals.
I JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THESE PEOPLE AND A LADY NAMED SHANTEL LEFT A MESSAGE STATING THEIR WAS A PENDING LAWSUITE AGAINST ME AND THAT I NEEDED TO CALL THEM BACK IN REGAURDS TO THIS MATTER. AND I SHOULD NOT HER CALLING AS A COLLECTION CALL. I THOUGHT THIS SOUNDED STRANGE SO I LOOKED THE NUMBER AND FOUND THIS SITE BEFORE RETURNING THE PHONE CALL. I GUESS I WILL SAVE MYSELF THE TROUBLE OF EVEN CALL BACK.