The phone was answered without a company name. I asked her where her office was and what was its’ name she told me Integrated Financial Group/Services, 2045 Mt Zion Rd Suite 290, Morrow, GA. This is a UPS store with mailboxes. I asked her if I could speak to her supervisor and she said that there wasn’t one, she was the “Lead”. I asked her why the call came from San Diego since she was in GA, she became bullyish and told me she was going to press charges against me for obstructing information. I asked to have documents mailed/emailed to me and she said” I don’t have them”. I asked to have a Validation Notice sent to me having the amount owed, who the creditor was it owed to and she said enough of them had already been sent. Again she reiterated in a threatening manner that the amount of $392.92 needed to paid immediately or charges would be filed that afternoon. She said that the remaining balance would be set up at a later date, again she wouldn’t give any details. She had personal information about me (i.e.my age,location) as well as myson's SSN#, DOB, DL# and an old address dating back to 2010.She said 8 “notices” had been mailed. None were ever received by me and I receive all of my sons for the past 8 years. She was rude, a bully and caused me to be fearful of legal action. She wanted my email and I didn’t give it to her. I asked that she send me copies of all the documents and she said she’d try but it would take awhile. She was high pressuring and threatening arrests.
The phone was answered without a company name. I asked her where her office was and what was its’ name she told me Integrated Financial Group/Services, 2045 Mt Zion Rd Suite 290, Morrow, GA. This is a UPS store with mailboxes. I asked her if I could speak to her supervisor and she said that there wasn’t one, she was the “Lead”. I asked her why the call came from San Diego since she was in GA, she became bullyish and told me she was going to press charges against me for obstructing information. I asked to have documents mailed/emailed to me and she said” I don’t have them”. I asked to have a Validation Notice sent to me having the amount owed, who the creditor was it owed to and she said enough of them had already been sent. Again she reiterated in a threatening manner that the amount of $392.92 needed to paid immediately or charges would be filed that afternoon. She said that the remaining balance would be set up at a later date, again she wouldn’t give any details. She had personal information about me (i.e.my age,location) as well as myson's SSN#, DOB, DL# and an old address dating back to 2010.She said 8 “notices” had been mailed. None were ever received by me and I receive all of my sons for the past 8 years. She was rude, a bully and caused me to be fearful of legal action. She wanted my email and I didn’t give it to her. I asked that she send me copies of all the documents and she said she’d try but it would take awhile. She was high pressuring and threatening arrests.
Of course she was high pressure. Their scam only works if they scare you enough into paying right away without taking the time to look into what your right actually are.
This is a common ploy by criminals masquerading as debt collectors who are attempting to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged, go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished, be sued, and a variety of other variations on this, all for an alleged or nonexistent debt. One of the tricks they use is to call your work place, friends, or relatives repeatedly in an attempt to shame you into paying. They also use the “process server” ruse who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number. Please not that process servers do not ever call ahead. That way you can’t dodge them.
If you feel you SSN has been compromised, in addition to putting a fraud alert at the 3 credit bureaus, you may want to notify the IRS. Here is the link, fill out the proper form (probably 14039):
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/How-Do-You-Rep ... aud-Activity%3F
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general
This company called me about a debt that was included in a bankruptcy. It was a pay day loan. She told me it didn't matter if it was included or not and she had 21 years experience and I was being charged and would be arrested. I called the attorney and they called her. These people are crazy.
This happened to me today from the same number and I called the Better Business Bureau and it was indeed a scam.. I had already given them my card number because they scared me into it. After I had contacted the BBB they informed me that they were just out to get money. So I immediately called and canceled my card. It's sad that they do people this way!