855-879-3002

They called both my work and home. Very suspicious, ungrounded threats. Intend to pursue these people

Received voicemail stating they have a complaint against me and if they didn't hear from me within 24 hours they will make decision without my consent...lol

How can I verify whether or not a debt collector is legitimate?
Here are a few warning signs that could signal a debt collection scam:

The debt collector threatens you. Legitimate debt collectors probably won't claim that they'll have you arrested or claim that they or their employees are law enforcement officers.

The debt collector refuses to give you information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you do not recognize. You have certain rights to ask a debt collector to verify the debt. You can use this sample letter to request this information. Ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.

The debt collector refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number.

The debt collector asks you for sensitive personal financial information. You should never provide anyone with your personal financial information unless you are sure they're legitimate.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.

Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.

Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.

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 the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft such as:
Charging your existing credit cards
Opening new credit card or checking accounts
Writing fraudulent checks
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. Submit a complaint with the CFPB or get in touch with your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers.

Stop speaking with the caller.If nothing else works and you believe the calls are fraudulent, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files.

Tip: You can use this sample letter to write a letter demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/

I did this Mid after noon on 11/17/2015, they stated that they are not debt collectors, but it's an attorney office.  And that they have sent me letters to old addresses and since I didn't respond to them, the debt collector is trying to serve me papers for court for a civil sue.  She said that I opened a line of credit back in '09 and didn't pay if off, she couldn't tell me what place was it that I opened was...she just kept saying that it was from HSBC.....and that they have sold the account over to so many other collectors that it would be hard to find out who it was.  She had me verify my last 4 of my ss#.  She seemed to have a lot of personal info about me, like my previous addresses.  She stated that if I don't pay the amount that I originally owed of $849.50 or something like that, that if I was to let it go to court....it would be $4,000.00 for everything including court fees and stuff.  She also said that if I don't resolve this....that they could garnish my paycheck,,,and tax money.    Don't know what to do........

they cant touch you since they don't have any info on the loan.and no info from you for payment .they need to send legal papers in the mail.not emails.just don't answer them anymore.turn them in to the fcc.and they'll handle them.

The US supreme Court has ruled that attorney's that collect debts are subject to follow the rules of the FDCPA.

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) 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://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php

The FCC has no jurisdiction over debt collectors.  See my post for the proper places to report them.

THis is basically a debt scamming attempt. Only a court can garnish wages. And that's only as part of a court case where ALL parties are given a chance to make their say.  Garnishment is strictly regulated and some states do not allow garnishment of wages.  No debt collector can do anything to your tax refund.  They are not attorneys.  Attorneys usually initiate contact by letter.  This is necessary to keep a written  record of all communications.  No attorney will cold call you and demand money.  Don't fall for it.  Block their calls and ignore them.

Just because a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt does not mean you owe it
If a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt:

1.    Demand the person give you his or her name, company name, and address
2.     Demand a debt validation letter by US mail.  E-mail no good.
3.    Do not pay  the collection agent or anyone else a  DIME  until the debt is validated.

Of course they won’t do this, no scammer ever will, so simply block their calls and ignore them.

If they are bothering you,

Report them:

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

Also contact your local attorney general

If they continue to bother you, and you know you do not owe any money,  tell them that you know this is  a debt scam and that you are making a complaint to the police for extortion.  You might have to yell at the scammer and talk over him or her.  Once you get a copy of the police report and they call you again , just read out the  file number and the name of the PD or Sheriff’s office involved.   Tell them you’ll be glad to send a copy to them at whatever address the jack***es are working out of now.

This happened to me same story as yours they did end up sending a certified letter I sent a letter disputing the charges they sent back a letter saying they had investigated my claim and the debt was mine (credit card was opened in a different state than the one I live in) I still insisted in writing the charges where not mine. Long story short in went to court and a $500 debt became a $1000 debt and they garnished my wages. It would have cost me more to keep fighting it so I just paid please be careful!

i dont believe you if it wasnt your debt then you shouldnt be paying  the judge would of ruled in your favor because westwood would have to show proof it was a legite debt
people you have to be careful some of these people who post these bogus post works for the debt collection company and they will come on here and lie because there low lifes

you said the debt is from 09 well  most likely the debt is a SOL that means they cant sue you and also dont say to them you recognize the debt
also they have to validate the debt on your request
when you opened and closed the account   you want to check to make sure there isnt any fraudulent charges on the debt and you also want to make sure all payments were credited
you want to know how they accrue the interest because when these idiots do the math they always make a mistakes in there favor
you would like to see the original contract with your signature on it
THE LAW SAYS IF THE LOW LIFES CANT VALIDATE THE DEBT THEN THE DEBT IS INVALID AND THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE 100 PERCENT

Thank you all for your comments, glad to see that I am not the only one out there about this.  KBullard, I also don't believe your story..maybe there's more to the story...but when you say you didn't open the account yourself that would have  told me that it could be an Identity theft and you went ahead and paid just to get them off your back.  If you're story is true that is.  GHG...I have learned about the laws about this kind things, by just reading up on blogs.....just gotta watch out for the low lives that come on here with their misleading stories.

Per federal law, victims of I D theft are NOT liable to pay back debts incurred by thieves!

So how about giving us the rest of the info on this company there! Since you have done business with them you should have the following information.

▬► Legal verifiable Business name
▬► Legal verifiable street address, city and state
▬► Web site
▬► BBB page

I received a phone call from this same number with a message that sounded pretty important. I got the phone call when I was at work and wasn't able to call back before they closed I guess. I called and got a voicemail. I'm debating on calling back tomorrow to see what this is about. Will keep you guys updated with how it goes.

"I sent a letter disputing the charges they sent back a letter saying they had investigated my claim and the debt was mine "  OK right off the bat, this is not how things get done.  They have to furnish proof supplied by the original creditor that the debt is yours.  In other words, if it was a credit card, a copy of the signed agreement, copies of billing statements, and copies of any payments sent.  Now if they had your address so that they could send you a certified letter, then the credit card company would have had it also and you would have received bills from them, as well as phone calls.
You claim to went to court and lost?  How did this debt collector prove that you owe the debt to the judge?  Or did you not go and they received a default judgement.
"It would have cost me more to keep fighting it "  Actually it wouldn't if you had a decent attorney, he would have filed a counter suit against this bunch of criminals.
But your whole story is made up in an attempt to scare people into thinking your criminal enterprise is an honest and legitimate business when in reality you are nothing but thieves.

Since they have contacted you, remember that they are required to do certain things by law, the following is the first and main one:
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) 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://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php

I decided to call back today to speak with a live person. Ended up being a litigation firm. Woman on the phone informed me I had a debt with Wachovia that I owed and I do recall having this account that I never closed out. I was under the impression that since Wachovia is no longer in business I wouldn't have to worry about it but I was mistaken. They helped me resolve my debt and set me up on a payment plan to get it taken care of. My debt was pretty old and I thought it was out of the statue of limitations but I did my own research and realized they were right. I opened this card when I was young and had overdraft fees and a negative balance that accrued interest and the balance was well over 2000 I was able to speak with the hardship department to get a lower amount to settle on. If you do receive a phone call from them I believe it's worth calling back to make sure it's not an old debt you forgot about.

And though they are not the original creditors you people do realize debt is sold to other companies to collect on after a certain amount of time right ? I was upset too that I got a call out of the blue saying I owed money and I honestly don't have a lot of money to spend after paying my bills for the month but I think it's better to at least try to pay some of it off or set up a payment plan instead of letting the debt get to an amount I'll never be able to pay. So thank you Westwood.

*** not a scam ***

did anybody get a letter from this company more people have to report them month just pay any body it is 2015 tpeople send fake letters out every day use spoof numbers  have to be very carefully