585-598-6196

This call was from the Department of Education about defaulted student loans. They were calling to setup voluntary repayment schedule before they started the procedure of garnishments.

A man called and identified himself as John Cummings. The caller ID view stated 1-585-598-6196---Fairport, New York; however the direct number that he said to call back was 1-866-633-7945.

He stated that his company was CONSERVE and he needed input on a decision from the person that he was calling and that he would be available until 10 PM for that person to return his phone call.

Do you have any suggestions about help with defaulted student loans???

I work for a software company. Yesterday a person named Lisa Robinson called 3 times for one of our employees. The first time she called, she was transferred to the employee with whom she verified the birthday of the person she was calling about and it turned out that it was NOT our employee! She was assured by Lisa that her phone number would be taken out of their system. The employee didn't think anything of it, because Lisa said they would remove her phone number, so she didn't say anything to us about the details of her phone call.
Lisa called back a little later in the afternoon and she asked for the employee again. It is my job to find out who people are before I transfer them to whoever they ask for. (It is a sales office and that's just our policy) This time the employee was at lunch. Lisa left her name and number for a return call. When the employee came back from lunch I told her that Lisa had called again while she was at lunch. This time the employee told me what was going on and so I Googled the phone number Lisa was calling from. {585-598-6196} I just love Google! I Google EVERYTHING! So, That is when I found the entries on 800 Notes, so the employee declined to call them back on company time.
Lisa then called a third time and didn't ask for the employee this time, but asked for (by first name) the owner and CFO of the company, who also does payroll. She was trying to verify all of the employees' personal information, which was not given out and is protected by law! You would think that if these jokers were legit, they would know that you can not give out an employee's personal info out, over the phone, computer, email, us mail, it doesn't matter, it is not legal to do that.
Today, some guy called and identified himself as a "Mr. Bishop from Conserve" I immediately knew who it was and so I asked if it was business or personal. He said business. Again, I know where he is calling from, but he doesn't know Googled his number and I know! lol You still with me? I know it is long, but I want you to know it all!
I went round and round with him and finally he said "it is personal business". Wow does this guy really think I am that dumb! I told Mr. Bishop he would have to call the employee at home on her personal time. He said but (again called the owner by her 1st name) she said I could speak with the employee (please keep in mind I am trying to keep the employees name and the owner of the company's name out of this) and I told him that didn't matter, if this is a personal call, you will have to call her at home and I hung up. The whole time I could hear him saying "ma'am, ma'am" as I was hanging up the phone. We can not have personal calls in a sales office! That way there is no money being missed if the rep is always on a business call and never a personal call.
Bishop called back and wanted to speak to MY BOSS...I put him on hold and went and told my boss what was going on, that even the owner of the company told me to have them stop calling. Bishop was going to fax a complaint letter about me...ummm ok whatever, go right ahead! I don't have anything bad on 800 Notes or Google as he does!! My boss spoke with him, gave him our fax number and hung up. Pretty much listened to what he had to say and blew him off!
Nothing has come across the fax as of yet and I am really not concerned about it.  Again, I am sorry I took up so much of your reading time, but as I said, I wanted whoever reads this to know the whole story!
I swear when these bill collectors that are MEN and they start threatening a WOMAN and she doesn't scare easily (like me) it really makes them irritated! LOL I think it is hilarious! Have a fabulous day everyone!

I got a call on our home phone, and it is in my husbands name. The woman on the other end of the phone asked for my husband by first name only. The cheeriness in her voice made it seem as if she knew him personally. I asked who was calling and she, even more cheerfully, said "Oh this is Lillie!". I snapped very abruptly "Where are you calling from cuz my husband don't know no Lillie!" She said that she was calling from CONSERVE. I asked her what the company does and she said that they were a confidential business consulting BLAH BLAH BLAH; She said it so fast that I couldn't make out the rest of the words. I asked if this call was a solisitation and she said no and she immediatly asked if my husbands birthday was 19**, and I asked her if she could repeat what business her company was in. She immediatly said that first, she would have to verify some information about my husband, again referring to him by first name only. She again asked me if his birthday was 19** and not answering her question, I asked her again to tell me about her company. She then asked "By chance, would you be his wife?" I said "Sure am". She then said that she needed to speak to HIM and asked when would she be able to get into contact with him. I know BS when I hear it so I told her "You never will!" and I hung up.

This guy called my cell and was looking for a Jesse Speigal (I'm guessing at the spelling not like he was any help) said he was not a collection agent but needed to speak to him. After I explained I knew no one by that name he became aggressive. After the third time of telling him I did not know him I hung up. One other time a message was left but it was more like dead air.

just got a call  no message.

So i just got this call from CONSERVE, not knowing the number i pretended to be someone not me, they identified they were from CONSERVE, but when i asked what the company was what they did, the lady on the line wouldn't give me response. And when i asked if i could take a message, i was told it wasn't necessary they'd try back later.

Soooooo.....
real company here?
Or hoax?

They called my Skype number and didn't leave a message.  So I called back.  Got some girl named Joy (or Joan?) at Conserve.  She asked what number had been called.  I told her.  She said it wasn't in the system and, if it wasn't in the system, then they couldn't have called my number.  Right...my caller ID is lying.  So I said, "Oh, must have been a wrong number then."  She said, rudely, "Probably not."  And hung up.  What the heck??  

Oh, did I mention that we have no debt in default and always pay everything on time?  I think it's a hoax to collect information.

A person called asking for our employee.  I told him he does not come into our office very often and could I take a message.  He said, no he really needed to talk to the employee (by name).  I looked the phone number up and found that it is a collection agency.  I feel calling a employer's phone number, and tying up the business line is out bounds.  Also, not being truthful as to the reason they are calling is out of bounds as well.

I received a bizarre call from CONSERVE today 585-598-6196 - a very nice woman asked for a person that I dated when I was in high school.. I AM 35 years old now! I asked (nicely) how in the WORLD did you get my name/number, and she said I was listed as a reference. Now, I haven't seen/heard from this guy since 1993 -- and just got the number she called me on in 2004.. how in the hell did they get my name/number? WTF?

These people called my brother asking personal questions. Then called me and left no message. Can't be legitimate or legal and are probably stealing ID's.

call rec'd today.  do not answer these calls!  these are scammers!  they get your # from who knows where.  do NOT give out ANY informtion!

Miguel with Conserve called and claimed he was calling for my ex-roommate.
I said "I keep telling you people she moved to Japan 3 years ago". He says we've never spoken before, I said, I'm sorry I assumed you were a collection agency.  He said NO - he was calling because I was listed as a REFERENCE.  I assumed as a job.
But then he started asking me about contact info. for her (which if it was a job application he should have), then asking to speak to someone who "handles her estate".
So basically he completely lied to me, reported to DONOTCALL & will be sending CONSERVE a cease & Desist letter.

Calls repeatedly from August 6 to 13 from "Randel" at what sounded like "continential services" but probably was conserve.

Asked for a name "Michael ????".

He said he had been given the number. Declined any further information.

Will refer to FTC and NY Attorney General.

You get a gold star.  Sock it to them.  Gotta play their game  Kudos.  Job well done.

Same number called and left a completely different contact number than he had called from.  Then refered to me as my last name used for my middle name and my boyfriends name used as my last name.  That seems kind of fishy since I am not married and never have been.  I have no idea, but they should be more honest and at least identify who and what they are.  I am not in default in student loans, so I have no idea why they are calling, but it is getting to be every day a couple times, very early in the morning and on our cell phones to top it all off.  Then when I try to call the number back I get a fast busy signal.  Not sure this is as legit as they play it off.  Since when does the US Gov. use a second rate collection rate on student loans?  That just does not seem right.  I think they could be somewhat frauds.  Please be careful talking to these people and giving out personal information.  It just is not adding up. If the US Gov. is using low rate tactics and a company like this, then the country must be in worse shape than I had thought. I mean lies, misleading, and rudeness????

Contact the Dept of Education if you have Student loans and CHECK WITH THEM FIRST
Check with YOUR state to see if they are following YOUR state laws regarding licensing and have a legal right to contact you.


ConServe
200 CrossKeys Office Park
P.O. Box 7
Fairport, NY 14450-0007

(800) 724-7500

Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    
The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

NEVER ASSUME THEY HAVE A VALID DEBT OR LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT.  

HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND THEY WILL END UP PAYING YOU

Debt collectors MUST FOLLOW your STATE laws regarding licensing.  Check your Secretary of State for licensing requirements for ANY collection agency that contacts you


READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE

You can also post your questions here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum/   NEW URL!    

These links are to attorneys for those being scammed www.naca.net or http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/searchattorneys.aspx


Dealing with Debt Collectors
Http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm    
    
Statute of Limitations by State – always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website – FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn’t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they’re told (orally or in writing) that you’re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter – even if you don’t think you owe the debt, can’t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don’t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector – in writing – to stop contacting you. Here’s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don’t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don’t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
    they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don’t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don’t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don’t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans’ Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members’ Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors’ Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009

File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY – use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE’S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
    
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies – report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0

Last month I started receiving calls from this number, someone named Jason from Conserve.  He called me at my cellphone, and said it was regarding a business matter.  I asked, how did he get my cellphone, he said they called many people trying to get my number.  He said they've been harrassing people I used to work with from 15 years ago just to get my number, even though they kept telling them they don't have my information.

Though I have paid my debts, I wanted to verify who/what the matter was regarding.  He said it was regarding Department of Education loan.  He went on and on, saying that I owed $8,000 and "how would you like to pay right now" as if anyone would ever give that type of money over the phone without verification.

I advised him that no letter was ever received of even this debt ever existing, in fact I asked him for the EXACT amount, according to the old letter I had of Department of Education before I had paid it off back in 2004.  Of course, his quote was $6,000 more than the actual debt, and I told him it was PAID OFF FOUR YEARS AGO, what was he doing calling me?

Then he said that his company Conserve bought an old debt from the Department of Education, and possibly the reason why it was so high in addition to the amount of the actual debt was due to collection agencies' incurred charges.  Then he tries to tell me that when I got the loan, I signed saying that I'd allow collection agencies to charge up to 50% of the loan in collection fees.  I told him, even if I had not paid it off, the amount he was advising was THREE TIMES the actual amount "allegedly" owed.  What does he think, that I can't figure that 50% off a $2,000 "alleged" debt does not equal to $8,000?

Although I had already paid off the loan, I asked for a verification letter with all the information he has of me, so I could verify whether they did have my SSN and DOE information.  I did this so I could report them for false collection practices to the DOE and the proper authorities.

He said that even if a loan is paid off, that Conserve STILL BUYS DEAD PAID OFF LOANS and tries to collect on them, and that they do this all the time.  He was boasting that he just collected on a poor guy's auto loan which he had already paid to the lender.........just by claiming that they were a collection agency.  He said he told the guy "it doesn't matter if you already paid off your loan, we can still collect on it, we buy all dead loans and get our money, that's what we do............even if you already paid off the loan, the collection fees are 3x what the actual loan amount is, it doesn't matter you still owe us just because it's "collection agency" fees.

It has been almost a month since I requested written verification that they worked with DOE.  I advised them 3x that if they worked with the DOE, they should see that it was paid off to the Dept of Education over FOUR YEARS AGO.  They have not sent any letter, but instead keep calling me 4x per day nonstop.

How do I make them stop?

Don't trust them scammers!