These people called repeatedly, mostly early in the morning and left incomplete mssgs ("press 2" were the only words). As I work night shift, this was very annoying, like being called at 3am for a day-shifter. I called them back and after 5-7 minutes on hold, a woman named Betty answered. I asked why they were calling me and was told that my # was given to them as a contact # for someone I did not know. When I explained that I did not know that person, and asked what Academy Services did as a business, Betty went completely incoherent! She began shrieking at me that it was none of my business, that it was a legal matter and that she didn't have to tell me anything. I calmly informed her that if she was calling me and my name was being given out, that it was my business and that I wanted to speak to her supervisor (I said this over her incoherent rantings). I repeatedly and calmly asked for a supervisor while she continued to shriek and rant. She then screamed "You need to talk to someone else!" and hung up. I called back, and Betty answered again. She said "Oh, it's you again!" and continued her ranting, this time accusing me of hanging up on her twice! I answered that if I did not get to speak to a supervisor, I was going to call the police. Betty shrieked "Are you threatening me?" I informed her that yes I would call the authorities. She told me not to call back and hung up on me again (or so I thought). I mumbled "you B***h" and a woman's voice answered "That's not very nice"... Surprised, I apologized and commented that I had just been hung up on by a crazy woman and asked if she was a supervisor. She informed me that I was speaking to the IRS! How can they transfer my call to the IRS? (or maybe another person in their office, but this woman did sound legit). The third time was the charm; I did get a calm young man, who told me that he could only say that it was a legal issue and that my number would be removed from their call list. After hanging up, I checked the phone book and found the listing for the person Academy Services were looking for (turns out she is one of my neighbors) and called her #. No answer, so I called the town office, which also houses the police station in the small town I live in, and spoke to the office manager who is the wife of one of our deputies as well as a personal friend of mine. She knew the person A.S. was looking for personally and agreed with me that the person in question may be a victim of identity theft and promised to call and warn her about this company. I only found out that Academy Services was a collection agency when I Googled them. I am more than happy to report these jerks and am also willing to be a witness for my neighbor should she need to go after these jerks. One phone call and they have been reported both to the police and the neighbor!
Another place to file a complaint is with the Federal Communications Commission. The rules they govern are stricter. I believe it is complaint # 1008, or something like that. It's been a few days since I filed a complaint on another number.
FCC doesn't mess with complaints; and my complaints in the past have always been investigated!!!
FTC and donotcall, place complaints on a list, and will investigate, file charges if they see a pattern. So everyone needs to file complaints, so that there will be a definite pattern!.
Anyone have problems with Collection Agencies calling? There are laws to protect Consumers from these jerks. #1, they technically do not have any authority. They usually purchase charged off bills, from other creditors for pennies on the dollar. #2, because the bill is with an original creditor, you are NOT obligated to these jerks. They will try to convince you that you are. #3 the only way you become obligated to these agencies, is if you make payment arrangements with them; thereby creating a contract/agreement, where none exist, when they first contact you!!!
If you answer the phone, simply say:"I do not discuss financial matters by phone - send me a statement in writing and I will respond to it." Then Hang up!!! Otherwise, they will have you completely shaken!!! The longer they keep you on the line, the more chance they have, to get money from you including payment arrangements – or payment agreement/contract!!! You are NOT legally obligated to talk to them!!!
Collection agencies are ruthless jerks!!! They will tell you they are the original creditor when they are not - even though it is illegal, for them to do it, per Federal Consumer Protection Laws. You can legally sue them for $1,000.00 per violation.
When you do get a statement - google "FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT" One or more online Attorney websites will be shown. These websites will have valuable information, including a Cease & Desist sample letter; or a Cease Communication letter. Once received, it is a violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, to contact you further.
You can also educate yourself by reading Consumer Protection Laws at www.ftc.gov; a lot of valuable information. Don’t have time, download and read later. You will be glad you did!!!
I am not an Attorney - just an Educated Consumer, in Consumer Protection Laws. I have spent hours studying these laws and becoming familiar with them. They have helped us and friends/family as well; and hopefully it will help someone, who reads this.
Regular Mail & Certified Mail #:
Collection agency name
address
date
RE: Account #’s:
Capital One F.S. B.
Amount in Dispute:
To Whom This May Concern:.:
I am in receipt of your demand for payment. However, this Notice is to confirm that I do not wish to be contacted again by you, and that you are hereby put on Notice to Cease Communication pursuant to 15 USC Section 1692c(c). Failure to comply with said Notice, shall result in a complaint filed and submitted to the Federal Trade Commission, and possible legal remedies in an appropriate United States District Court.
In addition, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, I am not waiving my right, to dispute the alleged debt asserted herein, but at this time I am under no obligation, to respond as a result of (original creditor)’s default.
Sincerely,
_________________________________
your name
Address
City, state
These people called repeatedly, mostly early in the morning and left incomplete mssgs ("press 2" were the only words). As I work night shift, this was very annoying, like being called at 3am for a day-shifter. I called them back and after 5-7 minutes on hold, a woman named Betty answered. I asked why they were calling me and was told that my # was given to them as a contact # for someone I did not know. When I explained that I did not know that person, and asked what Academy Services did as a business, Betty went completely incoherent! She began shrieking at me that it was none of my business, that it was a legal matter and that she didn't have to tell me anything. I calmly informed her that if she was calling me and my name was being given out, that it was my business and that I wanted to speak to her supervisor (I said this over her incoherent rantings). I repeatedly and calmly asked for a supervisor while she continued to shriek and rant. She then screamed "You need to talk to someone else!" and hung up. I called back, and Betty answered again. She said "Oh, it's you again!" and continued her ranting, this time accusing me of hanging up on her twice! I answered that if I did not get to speak to a supervisor, I was going to call the police. Betty shrieked "Are you threatening me?" I informed her that yes I would call the authorities. She told me not to call back and hung up on me again (or so I thought). I mumbled "you B***h" and a woman's voice answered "That's not very nice"... Surprised, I apologized and commented that I had just been hung up on by a crazy woman and asked if she was a supervisor. She informed me that I was speaking to the IRS! How can they transfer my call to the IRS? (or maybe another person in their office, but this woman did sound legit). The third time was the charm; I did get a calm young man, who told me that he could only say that it was a legal issue and that my number would be removed from their call list. After hanging up, I checked the phone book and found the listing for the person Academy Services were looking for (turns out she is one of my neighbors) and called her #. No answer, so I called the town office, which also houses the police station in the small town I live in, and spoke to the office manager who is the wife of one of our deputies as well as a personal friend of mine. She knew the person A.S. was looking for personally and agreed with me that the person in question may be a victim of identity theft and promised to call and warn her about this company. I only found out that Academy Services was a collection agency when I Googled them. I am more than happy to report these jerks and am also willing to be a witness for my neighbor should she need to go after these jerks. One phone call and they have been reported both to the police and the neighbor!
I receive numerous telephone calls from (856) 668-4140. I received a cellular telephone from Verizon and I constantly get collection calls for a person named "Eduardo." I don't return any calls where I do not recognize the telephone number. For S#!+s and giggles, I called back 668-4140. I identified myself and they said "how may I help you today?" I asked who it was that I returned a call to and they were reluctant to provide a name or business name and they stated "we don't like to help people that don't help themselves." They finally identified themselves as Academy Services but declined to say outright that they were a collection agency. They pulled up "my" account (based upon my telephone number) and it was regarding "Eduardo _______." At a certain point, the conversation became very heated by me towards the caller after he became even more rude. It was a lot of fun. It took out all of my aggressions for the whole day and the guy rightfully deserved everything I could lash out as he pleaded with me to not use foul language. At the end of the lashing, I told him to remove my (exploitive) telephone number and I promptly hung up. Later, I called the number again and contacted a different clerk. She stated that it appeared in her computer that my telephone number was removed from their directory earlier in the morning. Moral of the story; unless you can dish it out, don't waste your time by returning any telephone calls. If you continue to receive telephone calls, just call and tell them to remove your number from their database (and/or follow the guidance below). The guidance below is sound. I was a legal clerk for years and now I am a criminal investigator.
You boneheads stop calling me. Keeping number of the times you clowns call. Nobody has ever called me that much. You people looking for a job-this kind just isn't worth it. Either that or you have no conscience. Too bad.