800-710-2122

unknown caller

Called my work number.  Said to my secretary that they were an investigator.

This "investigator" schtick is common among less-than-reputable debt collectors.  I've also hard of examples of debt collector thugs referring to themselves as "Officer" or "Special Agent" and other such nonsense. Of course, the idea is to scare you into thinking that a law enforcement officer is calling you.

It's illegal to for any debt collector to pose as a law enforcement officer. And it's illegal for a debt collector to threaten people with courses of action that they don't intend to take or don't have the power to take.  (I can't tell you how many times I've heard about debt collectors threatening people with arrest.)

All these threats are laughable and illegal.  If this "investigator" calls again, inform him that you'll only deal with him in writing and ask for the name and address of his company.  Then send them, via certified US mail with return receipt request, a notice that they are to cease all attempts to communicate with you.  If they contact you more than once after receiving your notice, then they are in violation of federal law and subject to a fine for each time they contact you.

Don't be surprised if he refuses to give you a company name and address!  If that happens, then it's probably a scam or the debt is longer collectible (or both.)

Here's more helpful information:

http://naca.net/debt-collection-abuse
http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
http://www.fairdebtlawyers.com

The "investigator" (I thought he was an attorney)threatened criminal charges and discussed my financial situation with co-workers and family members.  I am looking for their address so I can file a complaint against them for violation of federal law.

As I'm sure you know, it's illegal for this crook to threaten you with criminal charges and to disclose anything about your finances to third parties. In addition to filing complaints, I suggest pursuing civil action against this crook.  There are several ways you can put the screws to this criminal, and I suggest you employ them all.  :)

1) file a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission here: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

2) Then, for good measure, file a complaint online with the Federal Communications Commission here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints_tcpa.html

3) File a complaint with your state's attorney general. (I'll bet your state's AG already has complaints filed against this crook.)

4) For advice on other ways to deal with these slimy collector thugs, you can peruse the websites of consumer law attorney Bud Hibbs ( http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm ) and the National Association of Consumer Advocates ( http://www.naca.net/debt-collection-abuse )

5) If you can find this lowlife's address, send him a letter directing him to cease attempts to communicate with you and warning them that if he ignores you cease-communication notice that you'll you'll gleefully pursue every applicable legal sanction against him.  Just be sure to mail it via *certified* US Mail with a return receipt request, and save a copy of your letter.  If the debt collector contacts you more than once after receiving your cease communication letter, then he is breaking the law and subject to fines for each incident.  You can find more details about the cease-communication option on the websites of the NACA and Bud Hibbs that I referenced above.

6) Hire an attorney to help defend your rights and to explore suing this guy. Many consumer law attorneys work on contingency, so if having money upfront to hire an attorney is an issue, don't worry about it. You can easily find an attorney through the NACA's attorney referral link or through Bud Hibbs' office. (If Bud can't take the case, his office is always happy to help find an attorney who can .)  Also, here are two law firms who specialize in pursuing outlaw debt collectors: http://www.fairdebtlawyers.com/ http://www.myfairdebt.com/

I don't know the address of this debt collector but when I googled the phone number, I found a message posted on a public board posted by this same collector. In the message, he indicates that he's in Dallas. Here's the link to that message: http://www.zabasearch.com/messages/zaba_messages_research.php?mquery=Bryt  Note that there's a link at the bottom to send a reply email to this collector thug. (Might be interesting to reply to the email and pose as "Bryt" and ask for an address to send the payment.)  Anyway, I googled for a "Matthews Law Firm" in Dallas and found this:

Matthews Law Firm LLC dba Law Office of Shannon D Matthews LLC

So far, I haven't found an address or a local phone number associated with this debt collector. However, this debt collector is listed on several websites as being a licensed collector in Texas. But when you can't readily find basic contact information for a debt collector, that's always a red flag.  I'm sure that if you contact an attorney, he or she can track down who this collector is and then go after them.

Good luck!

This list was taken directly from their website. So now we all know who and where.

Good luck all.

The "investigator" called again and was less than nice.  He said the name of the firm is Matthews & Micheals.  Here are some other #s for them - 214-328-8243 & 310-862-9033.   Thank you so much for the information. I've already submitted a note to www.fairdebtlawyers.com.

Good job...the only way to stop these crooks is to pursue them as relentlessly as they pursue their victims. Here's some other information on "Matthews & Michaels":

http://www.mojopages.com/business-profile/matthews-&-michaels/dallas/tx/1325

Matthews & Michaels
PO Box 181852
Dallas TX 75218 2845

My guess is, it's the same operation as Matthews Law Firm LLC dba Law Office of Shannon D Matthews LLC

I've been checking the Texas Bar Association to locate their address, bar #, etc. There is a system in place with most state bar associations to address allegations of misconduct - Bar Complaint/Grievance forms.  

http://www.texasbar.com/template.cfm?section=member_directory
http://www.texasbar.com/Template.cfm?Section= ... tentDisplay.cfm

Here's another complaint about what I assume is the same Matthews Law Firm in Texas: http://www.complaintservice.com/2155548.php

Notice the pattern of illegally threatening people with arrest:

"Tracking number: 2155548  Date: September 01st 2006 02:50:38 PM Complaint: On 8-24-06 I was contacted by the Matthews Law Firm in an attempt to collect a debt for Spiegel, Inc. The outstanding debt is approx 6 years old and I am responsible for the unpaid balance on the account, I do not dispute that. A representive from the firm, contacted me and told me that Speigel and retained them in order to proceed with litigation of the unpaid balance. At which time we made an arrangement for the balance in payments. I failed to contact the firm on the day that was agreed upon, due to circunstances beyond my control. The following day a representive by the name of Ken contacted at my place of employment by telephone at which time he said that he was going to dispatch the Richland County Sherrif's department to serve me a warrant/summons on my job. He then contacted my boss and told her was a sherrif with Richland County and needed to come and pick me up. The gentlemen harrassed me and could have cost me my job."

Anyone pursuing legal action against these outlaw collectors should refer their attorney to this 800Notes.com message thread.  Also, since it appears that this debt collector is in Texas, I suggest also contacting consumer law attorney Bud Hibbs. His website is is www.budhibbs.com  Bud practices law in Texas and, I would bet, knows all about this particular debt collector/law firm.

Almost forgot, yet another # for them - 972-546-1547

perturbed01, did you run a check on those two phone numbers through 800Notes?  214-328-8243 came back with no hits.

However, 310-862-9033 has a thread here:  https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-310-862-9033  According to some of the reports, the number belongs to a particularly heinous collection agency, NCO Financial Systems. NCO, by the way, was fined $1.5 million by the Federal Trade Commission a few years ago for serial violations of federal credit reporting laws. More info on that -->  http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/05/ncogroup.shtm

Maybe Matthews & Michaels/Matthews Law Office (or whatever the hell they're calling themselves) is one of the shysters used by NCO Financial.  Just a guess.

Here's more dirt on NCO and advice on dealing with them:  http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/nco_financial_systems.htm

perturbed01, that 972-546-1547 number is also NCO Financial:

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-972-546-1547

This is all starting to add up now. :-)

No, I didn't run a check on those numbers.  I thought this was just for 800 #s and didn't think to do so.  I will run all of them now.  I really appreciate your help.  I have never been in a situation as this before and am unsure how I should proceed.  I did notify the guy @ Matthews law firm that I was represented by counsel, but he refused to take my attorney's information and said he would make a note that I was refusing to return the property in question.

Glad to help. Given NCO's reputation and the fact that his collector has already broken more than one provision of federal debt collection laws, I'm sure Warren & Vullings or Bud Hibbs or any other consumer law professional would gladly be of assistance. My only advice is to note the date and time of each call, keep notes of what he says to you and, if at all possible, record the phone calls. I don't know what state you're in, but in some states, you can record your own calls without disclosing it the other party. To be sure if it's legal in your state, you can check this website: http://www.rcfp.org/taping or ask your lawyer.  Good luck!

I'm not sure if they are connected or not.  But, I will continue to check on it.

These scumbags have been calling my neighbors claiming to be an insurance investigators and said they dont want to embarass me any further. I did some digging and found out they where 1 out of 13 companys sued by at&t for pretexting to access cutomer phone records. There company is Nae-Mo Corporation d/b/a Mathews and Michaels of Dallas, Texas; there adress is 270 12025 SHILOH RD. Dallas,Texas

Austin, sue the hell out of them. They're crooks and have already violated federal debt collection laws by disclosing information about you to your neighbors.  Check out these websites for assistance in defending your rights and puting the screws to to these criminals:

http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
http://www.westonlegal.com/debtcollection.htm
http://www.naca.net/debt-collection-abuse/
http://www.fairdebtlawyers.com/
http://www.myfairdebt.com/
http://www.consumercounselgroup.com/

By the way, two of the websites above are leading consumer law attorneys in Texas. Since the outlaws who are harassing you are based in Texas, I'm sure Bud Hibbs or Weston Legal would find your case especially interesting.  Also, if you end up contacting an attorney about this and/or filing complaints with government agencies, you may to give them the link to this 800Notes message thread so they can see the pattern of illegal behavior by these bum debt collectors.  Good luck.

oops..that should read "putting the screws"...damn my fingers. :)

They will tell you they are investigators because they are "investigating" the debt.  I thought the guy was an attorney.  Jerry Rodgers is the worst of the worst.  He talked to my brother, our receptionist at work and who knows who else.  Once I told him I was represented by counsel, he should have taken down the information and contacted my attorney.  He refused and indicated he would pursue criminal charges against me since I was not cooperating with him & his agency.  I have spoken with my personal attorney and he has advised they HAVE violated federal laws.  I emailed one of the law firms above, but never heard back from them.