855-323-6169

Keep getting calls saying there is pending litigation against me but they don't leave a business name. I have called back and get an answering machine with no business name and can't get ahold of anyone.

Received phone call from 716-376-0576 telling me to call 855-323-6169  regarding pending litigation and it provided a case number this obviously  a scam. I won't be calling the number

I also received a call from an unknown number telling me to call them back at 855-323-6169 stating his name as Tony Williams and he was from PreTrial Investigations for the county in which I reside. He also provided a case # as well. I searched in every court database I could and nothing pops up with my name or the case number he provided. I will NOT be calling him back.

they keep calling me too and are looking for someone who is not me. Told them to leave me alone!

This man James Sims called me and harassed me at my place of employment and cell phone. He threatned that he would take my mom to court if we did not pay the full amount today. I stated that we did not have the money that is why we hadnt paid but that we could work out payment arrangments he said no if I couldnt pay my debt in 5months what made him think I would pay in 30 days. He kept screaming everytime I would tell him something. I asked for the businesses address and he said he couldnt give that to me because he didnt  want masked gun men going to his door and shooting up the place. When I mentioned that we could only pay $100 today and the rest in a month, he suggested we call our mortgage company and ask them for a defferment on our payment just so we could pay him the money owed. That is crazy who in their right mind would ask you to do something like that. Also number he called me from wasnt 855-323-6169 it was 281-299-3391. Finally asked to speak to the manager which he stated was his partner in the company. I got transferrred over to Mrs. Brown who was a great help! I understand they want to get paid but to go through all of this and disrespect a person like this is so uncalled for. Also when he called my job the first time I told him I would call him back in 10mins because I was busy. I did not have a chance to call back so he once again calls my job and says we spoke an hour ago and I havent heard from you so I will be processing these papers.

Did your caller actually MAIL you a debt validation letter showing that (1) you owe a debt and that (2) he has the legal right to collect said debt?  Per the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) you should NOT pay any caller who refuses to MAIL the DV letter to you!  It is a violation of federal law to refuse to mail this documentation.  In fact, your caller has only five days from the date of their first call to mail this to you.  It is another violation of the law to refuse to give you the company name and physical address.  What makes you think this caller is legitimate?  You don't just take the word of some caller.  And the way he's been racking up FDCPA violations, he is the one who could end up paying YOU in court!

ALWAYS make the caller PROVE you owe the debt to them - there are just too many scammers these days to take the word of your caller.  More info here:

Consumers across the country report that they're getting telephone calls from people trying to collect on loans the consumers never received or on loans they did receive but for amounts they do not owe. Others are receiving calls from people seeking to recover on loans consumers received but where the creditors never authorized the callers to collect for them. So what's the story?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.

Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft – charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

Elspeth thanks for all that information. And honestly I didn't think of any of the things you mentioned because I was completely shocked by the attitude this man had. They have my credit card on file because they will withdraw the rest of the amount in 30 days. Do you suggest I call them and ask for a DV letter? We have not received anything from this company.