866-634-9003

Capital Management Services... Never leaves a message.

Got a call from the above #, but they didn't leave a message...I guess if it was of that importance they would have left a message.

Received a call from this number, lady asked for a name I could not even understand, asked who this was and would not answer and hung up.

COLLECTION AGENCIES DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!

FROM www.budhibbs.com  A CONSUMER ADVOCATE WEBSITE that specializes in Debt Collections and offers assistance to consumers.  THEY ALSO EXPOSE THE WORST FDCPA VIOLATORS IN THE COUNTRY

Dealing with debt collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html

Statute of limitations by state – always double check directly with your own State Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from debt collectors – always double check with your own State Government website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm

Capital Management Services
aka Center One Financial
726 Exchange St #700
Buffalo, New York 14210


Typical of the Buffalo style CMS has an endless pool of potential employees to fill the chairs that feed their operations.

The newspaper stories extol the optimistic attitudes of owners, Jeffry Hauser and Larry Costa along with Patricia and Timothy Kraska of an ever growing business that needs only their talent and expertise to survive.

Emails and information from former employees suggest Capital Management Services is suffering from the same fate that most other Buffalo, NY debt collection organizations face in an unhappy work force, far reaching drug use and untrained, unprofessional management and work staff squeezing every minute they can out of their unprofessional collectors.

CMS, is suffering from too much growth too fast. The number of debt collectors in America is at an all time high, which has created a shortage of accounts to collect and a potential drought in areas like Buffalo, the debt collection capital of the world.

So if we use terms such as... ”Buffalo style collection practices’ to describe the actions of CMS employees and are told that drug use and criminal activity is on the increase, why should we even blink, isn’t that what the business in that area is expected to do?



If CMS has anything good going for them, it is the fact that they have an experienced and respected attorney in Patricia Cipriani. Her background and reputation may be saving Hauser a bundle in legal settlements. Don’t count on luck forever Jeffrey, your house is reported to be a mess and it needs a thorough cleaning.

Anyone dealing with Capital Management Services, Buffalo, NY be warned to take precautions, NEVER give a  collector your banking or credit card information, tape ALL of their conversations and contact me for referral to attorneys. As long as they are making money, they will continue to pay off their law suits.



CAUTION: I recommend you NEVER disclose your bank account or credit card information to a debt collector, as you risk them emptying your account, or maxing out your credit card. If you feel they are reporting on your credit bureau files in error or need assistance in dealing with them, email  the details w/your location.  Assistance and referral to a consumer legal specialist may be available.



Also in Greenville, SC
Phone: 716-871-9050
Fax: 716-566-2107
Web Address: www.cms-collect.com
Also:  2213 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14207


Head Debt Collectors:   Jeffrey A. Hauser, CEO

Larry Costa, President

Karen Kraska, Secretary-Treasurer
Timothy Kraska, (very) Silent Partner
Patricia M. Cipriani, House Lawyer
(Drug Testing by: Quest Diagnostics)


LEARN YOUR RIGHTS!  

From FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

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.


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.

Calls many, many times.  Today I got a call on voice mail with a name and phone number...no idea what company. Very annoying.

Got a call today the lady left a message on my voicemail at work left a number for me to call her back at 866-934-9003. I called the number back
she want me to give her my SSN#. I told her my name but she told me she could not help me if i didnt give her my SSN#. I told her no she hung up on me.

This number keeps calling our home and asking for someone named Oscar Hughes.  They call multiple times a day.  We don't know anyone by that name, but they still keep calling! I'm assuming they're a collection agency or something.  Very annoying!

about fed up with them, they have a 10 year old debt say account #121212 which another company aquired them and gave the account a new nimber like #34343434.

 Well, 10 years ago account 121212 was rolled into bankruptcy, so now that this account 34343434 is not on the BK, they demand to be paid. this 3434 account has passed from one collector to the next collector for the past 7 years. Every time I PROVE it was included in BK, they stop calling and a new compny then calls trying to collect on it? at one time two diffrent collector called for the same debt?

FACT: this company says they mailed out a letter time and time again, then they say it is not our fault that you did not receive the letter.
I only wish I got even one letter to bring to a lawyer and sue the crap out of them for all the false grounds they are bothering me.

THEY know it is false that is why they never mail anything out!!!!

 I guess even the debt collectors are selling bad debts like home mortages. Second I think it should be a federal offense for a company to sell off closed debt to others making money on informations that is false.

I think some lawyer could have a feild day how many accounts got aquired and had account numbers changed as they were merged into a new company database looking like a new account in debt not reflecting the TRUE debt's origins.

A**holes call day after day, asking for a "Francis Dickerson."  Never anyone here by that name; the line they're calling is a cellphone that is used only for texts and travel.  Same firm, but from different numbers, has been calling for two years.  Have reported them many times to the Do Not Call Registry, to no avail.  Would *love* to sue their sorry [***] off.

long story short, went BK on $1004.56 to clear an old debt that HSBC changed the credit card/account number when they took over household cards. Little did I know that HSBC like to change account numbers so when they say you own on this new account # it has know history back to the old account which is really another # which got lost in a database merge I guess. So HSBC knows they can not collect, they sell it off to collector after collector when each collect knows they can not collect on it. So this cycle never ends getting a new collector trying to collect on a BK account. this is going on nine years now.
 Every time I ask to mail me a paper, they say they already did??? which is BS. So I can not take this false claim to a lawyer to sue them trying to collect on something they can't. 2Nd none of these collectors while offer any paper work so you can have proof to bring to a lawyer to show them the fraud of one collector selling a colsed debt to another collector.
 They sell off closed debtsto new collectors all the time and harses to now end.

Today I got a call from 866-634-9003 on my cell phone.  They asked for John and I said no one here by that name and they hung up.  I have gotten calls at home from this number and each time they ask for a different person.  However, this was the first on my cell phone.

They call me approximately twice - 3 times/week. Never leave the message.
I know, why do they call me. I have one medical bill, which is considered past due (and it really is) but it will be paid within next two months. But, as you know, medical debt collectors want usually everything at once and they don't care, whether you have money, orr not. They have short patience and give your past due account to collection agencies pretty soon.
I have strict policy; NEVER ANSWER UNKNOWN, OR 800 CALLERS AND REPORT LAST ONES TO DONOTCALL.GOV EACH AND EVERY TIME!

Tell them not to contact you by phone anymore and to only do it in writing.  That way you will have what you need in writing.

The company - Capitol Management - is known to the Better Business Bureau and is NOT accredited by the BBB and has an F rating. The BBB has written a report on Capitol Management out of NY and the date of the report is 7/7/2010. The report is below:


Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F on a scale from A+ to F. Reasons for this F rating include:

375 complaints filed against business
Failure to respond to 3 complaints filed against business
10 serious complaints filed against business
Government action(s) against business
The BBB file contains a pattern of complaints from consumers who report dissatisfaction with the company's debt collection procedures. Consumers claim they felt harassed and were treated rudely by company personnel. While Capital Management Services has responded to the complaints by offering an adjustment or an explanation of their position, they have not eliminated the underlying cause of the complaints.


Business Contact & ProfileBack to Top
Business Name:  Capital Management Services, Inc.
CMS, LP
CMSI
Sherman Acquisitions  
Business Address:  726 Exchange Street
Ste. #700
Buffalo, NY 14210
See the location on a Mapquest Map
See the location on a Google Map  
Original Business Start Date:  9/28/2000  
Local Business Start Date:  9/28/2000  
Incorporated:  2000 in NY  
Principal:  Jeffrey Hauser, CEO  
Phone Number:  (716) 871-9050
(716) 566-2630
(716) 873-1695
(800) 295-6137
(800) 504-2404
(800) 519-2649
(800) 906-5917
(866) 792-9369  
Fax Number:  (716) 852-1620  
Email Address:  cmagnuson@cms-collect.com  
BBB Accreditation:  This business is not a BBB Accredited Business

Type of Business:  COLLECTION AGENCIES  
Website Address:

http://www.cms-collect.com  

Products & ServicesBack to Top
This company offers Debt Collection Services.

Business ManagementBack to Top
Mr. Daniel Abadir , President
Mr. Paul Hunziker , CEO
Ms. Dena Biondolillo , Sr. V.P. of Compliance and Qua
Mr. Cory R. Magnuson , General Council

Additional Locations & Phone NumbersBack to Top
2211 Niagara St. Buffalo , NY 14270
See the location on a Mapquest Map
See the location on a Google Map



2207 Niagara Street Buffalo , NY 14207
See the location on a Mapquest Map
See the location on a Google Map



Customer Complaint History Back to Top
This reflects national complaint activity.



When considering complaint information, please take into account the business's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB processed a total of 375 complaint(s) about this business in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total 375 complaint(s) closed in the last 36 months, 112 were closed in the last 12 months.

These complaints concerned:

4   regarding Advertising Issues
4   regarding Advertising Issues  

36   regarding Billing or Collection Issues
36   regarding Billing or Collection Issues  
198   regarding Credit or Billing Disputes  

15   regarding Contract Disputes
15   regarding Contract Disputes  

198   regarding Credit or Billing Disputes
36   regarding Billing or Collection Issues  
198   regarding Credit or Billing Disputes  

14   regarding Customer Service Issues
14   regarding Customer Service Issues  
4   regarding Customer Services Issues  

4   regarding Customer Services Issues
14   regarding Customer Service Issues  
4   regarding Customer Services Issues  

1   regarding Refund Or Exchange Issues
1   regarding Refund Or Exchange Issues  
6   regarding Refund Practices  

6   regarding Refund Practices
1   regarding Refund Or Exchange Issues  
6   regarding Refund Practices  

2   regarding Sales Practices
2   regarding Sales Practices  

94   regarding Service Issues
94   regarding Service Issues  
1   regarding Service Issues  

1   regarding Service Issues
94   regarding Service Issues  
1   regarding Service Issues  



These complaints were closed as:

3   No Response
3   No Response  

371   Resolved
124   AJR  
200   Assumed Resolved  
1   BBB determined that despite the company’s reasonable effort to address complaint issues, the consumer remained dissatisfied.  
2   Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.  
1   Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.  
30   Company resolved the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.  
7   Delayed Resolution  
6   Resolved  

1   Unpursuable
1   Company cannot be located.  



   



Government Action(s)Back to Top
Imported

The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government's allegations, which have not yet been proven.

In June 2009, the New York State Attorney General reached an agreement with Capital Management Services, Inc. The company has agreed to substantially reform their business practices in order to be in full compliance with the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and New York’s Debt Collection Procedures Act. According to complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office, collectors employed fraudulent tactics in an attempt to collect debts, including: •Contacting alleged debtors without a lawful justification for doing so and even after being asked in writing to cease all communication •Contacting consumers at their places of employment even though the collectors were aware that such contact was prohibited by the consumers’ employers •Discussing consumers’ debts with third parties (i.e. employers, neighbors, etc.), and doing so even after the third party told the company to cease such communications •Falsely claiming that the company was acting on behalf of an attorney and that the company or a creditor was about to commence legal action against the consumer •Failing to respond to consumers requests for debt verification. The company has agreed to enhance their compliance protocols and make it easier for consumers to file complaints against individual collectors. They must create a direct link on their web site to consumer complaint forms. They must also maintain an employee disciplinary history database, as well as a comprehensive database of all complaints made by consumers or third parties who were wrongly contacted by collectors. For more information go to http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2009/june/june2a_09.html 

In June 2009, the New York State Attorney General reached an agreement with Capital Management Services, Inc. The company has agreed to substantially reform their business practices in order to be in full compliance with the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and New York’s Debt Collection Procedures Act. According to complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office, collectors employed fraudulent tactics in an attempt to collect debts, including: •Contacting alleged debtors without a lawful justification for doing so and even after being asked in writing to cease all communication •Contacting consumers at their places of employment even though the collectors were aware that such contact was prohibited by the consumers’ employers •Discussing consumers’ debts with third parties (i.e. employers, neighbors, etc.), and doing so even after the third party told the company to cease such communications •Falsely claiming that the company was acting on behalf of an attorney and that the company or a creditor was about to commence legal action against the consumer •Failing to respond to consumers requests for debt verification. The company has agreed to enhance their compliance protocols and make it easier for consumers to file complaints against individual collectors. They must create a direct link on their web site to consumer complaint forms. They must also maintain an employee disciplinary history database, as well as a comprehensive database of all complaints made by consumers or third parties who were wrongly contacted by collectors. For more information go to http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2009/june/june2a_09.html 
Advertising ReviewBack to Top
BBB has no information regarding advertising review at this time.
Industry TipsDebt Collection

BBB Copyright and Reporting PolicyAs a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.

BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.

BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time.

If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Reliability Report.

Report as of: 7/7/2010
Copyright © 2010 Better Business Bureau®, Inc. serving Upstate NY

I just got a call from them about half an hour ago (number listed was 800-439-2704).  I thought it was fishy an 800-number was calling me on my cell phone so I didn't answer.  They left a message (for once) that they were looking for a "Diana Cathill" and they were a debt collector's agency, and told to call back to 866-634-9003.  Um hello..there is no one here by that name.  I have gotten calls from another kind of debt collector harassing me a few months ago asking for a different name.  FCC I believe took care of that one, but they just keep popping up new ones each time.  And yes my number is on the Do Not Call list.

I believe they are debt collectors with a lot of very old bills they are trying to follow up.  "Do not call" applies to random telemarketers; if they have a need to contact a specific person there is nothing to keep them from calling.  My wife got several calls from them, asking for a "Steven" whom we do not know.   We've had this number for three years so the paper they are chasing must be very stale.  Finally she convinced them that there is no Steven and they have stopped calling.

One of the calls from the same organization, from a different number, was a recorded message offering to provide financial services at an unbelievable rate.  When I pressed "1" as prompted, the call terminated, so they were probably polling to see if the number was working.

Spread the word to all....when these pesky debt collectors call you all the time...ANSWER it!! BUT don't hang up yet, DON't talk to them at all...simply, go flush a toilet, brush your teeth, watch TV, make a meal, read the paper, whatever you can do to tie up their phone lines!!  

When they call on the toll-free lines, the caller ends up paying for the long distance calls.  Plus it ties up that one line out of many they have for a few minutes....the longest time one of them held on too was 15 minutes....

Just keep them on the line by saying..."oh, hang on please"....toilet flushes...."hi, still there?".....brushing of teeth sounds...."don't go away".....shuffle papers around..."sorry, i'll be right there, hang on"....cough and ruffle a newspaper or magazine..."oh, you still there, sorry"...turn up the TV sound....

Get my drift.....then hang up!! If they call again, do the same thing...."hi, hang on"...etc....just don't give out any names

Have talked to these people several times, and have told them to send me a validation letter confirming my debt. The amount they claim I owe is substantially higher than I believe it is. Every time they claim they have sent one, and I must not be telling the truth about not receiving them, I might believe the postal service misplaced one but not three. Have even made the offer to make payments on the debt, but they say they cannot accept this and to borrow the money from family or friends.  Now they are calling with these recorded numbers demanding return calls, has been happening at least once a day. They refuse to send proof of total amount owed or the fact that they own the debt, plus the refuse to accept payments, I am tapped out on borrowing and cannot give them a lump sum. Really at a loss on how to proceed with them.

Whatever you do, as far as workouts, please keep these simple rules in mind: 1) you want everything in writing, including all of the details of a workout, 2) NEVER give up over the phone telecheck, or other online banking information to them, 3) Do not send cash or checks from your bank account, because there is an account number and routing number on the bottom of the checks, instead send them money orders, and 4) make sure you keep photocopies of all corresponence and payments as well as return receipt mail slips for ALL mail that you send to them.

On the other hand, if you really want to "work something out" with these guys or any other debt collector, it is usually best to USE AN ATTORNEY.  An attorney who isn't afraid to actually go to court and get a judgment for FDCPA violations, defamation of credit, or anything else that may be actionable.

I commend your offer to pay but sometimes there's just no getting around a hardheaded debt collector. In the meantime, it seems like you're in a standoff - they want a lump sum that you cannot afford, harass but won't sue (the buck stops in court) - so perhaps a long term strategy might be to run the statute of limitations out http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/SOL-by-State.html in which case you should never admit you owe the debt (might reset SOL clock). Not much else you can do. Keep good records of calls and see if you can recover money via FDCPA violations. Beware if you do somehow settle, that you receive proof in hand that you've paid the debt so they can't come after you again for the same debt.