877-852-4425

She left a message claiming she is an investigator and is calling from LAPD concerning my social security number that someone else is using, she however used my previous last name.

Got a call like the one above. Instead of claiming she was LAPD it was investigator for attorneys office, blah  Lafayette & Associates concerning direct link to my ssan and giving me a case number of 147168.

I had to play back the message 4 times to piece it together. Guess she's getting tired of saying it over & over. My DirecTv logs calls and that6 one actually CAME FROM 716-335-93210. !

Call came in about 2PM today (Saturday, 7/17/2010) cst.

A man called and left a message saying he was investigator Brooks and it would be in my best interest to call him back it was concerning my SS # and he left an ext. 331 and a case number of 144963.  When I called I got a recording saying I had reached Blackman / Lafayette and Associates and my party was on another call and to leave a message.   That is when I tried to firnd them on the internent and couldn't and then I looked up the phone number and found this site.

This company called my sister's house claiming they needed to deliver court papers from a court case filed in county court against me.  Couldn't find the case on the court website.  Why are they calling my sister? I don't live with her, not even in the same state.

A man called about 7:30 PM and left a message saying he was investigator Brooks and it would be in my best interest to return his call.  It was concerning my SS#.  He left the call-back number of 877-852-4425, x-319.  I returned the call and got a recording saying I had called Blackman/Layfayette Associates.  I tried the extension, but no one answered and I was asked to leave a message.  I didn't.  I searched for them on the internet and found this site.

My brother-in-law just called me from another state stating that he had a message on his machine to call this guy back regarding his SSN when my brother-in-law got the guy he said no I am actually looking for ___ and gave my husbands name and state that it was in his best interest to call back regarding Sonoma Co.   We live over 3000 miles from there!!!!  So after blocking my number I called and got the same recording as the previous posts.

I got a message from Investigator LaPorta yesterday at 3:37 p.m. who was calling in regards to my soc. sec. number and giving me this number to call back when actually the call came from a 716 phone number which is listed in Buffalo, NY.  A few mintues later someone called my mother from the same 716 number and asked if she knew a person with the same last name as mine.  She of course didn't I am reporting this to the police.

Just got a call from the above number. Woman left a message stating that it had to do with SS number and left a case number also. Bill collector, fraud?? Didn't want to pay the $1 for the info about the company that is available on reverse telephone number listing. Don't like giving out too much personal info to strangers over the internet or the phone.

Now yesterday I get a call from an out of state number with no numbers appearing on my caller ID.  The gal was wanting to update my medicare and medical and I just told her that I don't answer questions like that on the phone. I have heard that when you call the numbers back that they give you to call they can use your number to call anywhere in the world.  The caller that came up on my Caller ID for the Soc. Sec. # was from a Bryant.  No company but the call was from Brooklyn, NY.

Had a message on my phone last night from a woman who identified herself as Inspector Smith, concerning a social security number and telling me it would be in my best interest to call. Ext 325 Case number 154741. I got a message that the party I was attempting to reach was on the phone. That was a little too weird.

ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTOR OUT OF NY - AFFILATED WITH  BRYANT LAFEYETTE AND ASSOC.  

REPORT ALL CONTACTS from them to the NY ATTORNEY GENERAL ASAP
– use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com

as well as your STATE Attorney General

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

Check YOUR STATE SECRETARY OF STATE website to  see if they are LICENSED in your STATE - if not - they are contacting YOU illegally.


RECORD CALLS WHERE LEGAL, DEMAND DEBT VALIDATION,
Found the AFFILIATION info here http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=442289
NEW contact information:

Blackmon, Lafayette & Associates
P.O. BOX 482
Buffalo, NY 14226
PHONE: 1-877-852-4425
FAX: 1-716-564-3087





http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=7192
Bryant, Lafayette & Associates, LLC  
10 John Glenn Drive, #14
Amherst, New York, 14226




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  866-359-0770 716-844-6899 716-362-0279 716-882-5934 716-882-0212 716-335-9940 716-335-9943  
Fax 716-564-3087  

  Aaron B. Siegel, Owner Andrea L. Siegel, co-owner  


NOT a law firm, NOT a pre litigation firm, however a LOT of Senior investigators working there. Typical 'Buffalo Style' debt collectors, lies, harassment, junk debts, no documents to back them up.

Representing themselves as lawyers (Aaron Siegel), threats of judgments and court dates, all of which are bogus.

Lies, threats & extortion, typical debt collection slime.

These are parasites, they need to be avoided.


THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND THEY WILL END UP PAYING 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

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

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

And I am wondering all the above information isn't being given to get more info too. I don't trust people at all anymore.  How do we know if we click on a link if that doesn't take us somewhere that someone can hack into our computers and get info that we don't know about.  I have to be very careful and skeptical as I have had my credit card compromised a couple of times and someone wrote and made checks on my account and got about $30,000 from the account. Of course the bank had to replace the money but still its not a fun thing to go thru.

Debt Collectors – Collection Agency's do NOT fall under Do NOT Call registry, as they are not telemarketers.  However, they do constantly violate other Federal Laws, because us American's don't know the laws to protect us.  They are counting on that.  

- Federal Law says you don't have an obligation to Collection Agencies or Debt Collectors; you can send them a written letter and they cannot contact you after that.   This includes Attorney's in state's other than your state of residence.  The only Attorney's that can sue you, have to be licensed in your resident state.

A word of caution:  Some Law Firms do have Firms in other states, and Lawyers licensed in other states, so you have to do a little research before sending a Cease & Desist (Do Not Call & Go Away letter) to make sure they aren't in your resident state or you're likely to get sued by these #%#&*@!#%&@$^*.  

Once a debt collector makes contact with you, they also have to contact you within 5 days after the first phone call, letter etc., and give you validation/proof or judgment of the debt.  You are not required to ask for it.   They never do this!!!!

This law is known as the Fair Debt Collector Practices Act.  You can get it at FTC.gov; as well as other Consumer Protection Laws.

Most collection agencies, purchase your delinquent debt for pennies on the dollar.  Guess what? It is no longer your debt!!!  You don't have any agreement/contract with the debt collector or collection agency.  Your only agreement/contract was with the original creditor.

Do NOT agree to any payment arrangements, or you'll be creating an agreement/contract, where upon initial contact by the Debt Collector, one didn't exist.  The collection agencies are counting on you not knowing this little bit of information.  

The best advice I can give you is, do NOT talk to these idiots - they will leave you in a frustrated heap on the floor.  They lie, and will tell you whatever they need, in order to get you to commit to paying them.

The lies are illegal, but they honestly don't care, they're probably on commission for how much they collect from you and others like you.  

If you do answer the phone, do NOT give out your employer, social security #, DL #, Credit Card and/or Bank information, or any personal information.  Tell them to send you a written statement & you'll respond. Then hang up.  When you get that statement, google, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and you'll probably find a letter you can send them   Or:  send the letter I’ve enclosed that I use.  Sign and mail that letter Certified Mail, so you have a signature and confirmation of delivery!!!

Allied International Collection Agency


Date:
RE
Account #  
Amount in Dispute: $  
 Account #  

Dear  :

I am in receipt of your demand for payment.  However, this Notice is to confirm that I do not wish to be contacted again by you, and that you are hereby put on Notice to Cease Communication pursuant to 15 USC Section 1692c(c).  Failure to comply with said Notice shall result in a complaint filed and submitted to, the Federal Trade Commission, and possible legal remedies in an appropriate United States District Court.

Your representatives have been trying to contact me,   I am requesting again that you cease and desist from contacting me.  Please remove the phone numbers XXX-XXX-XXXX .  The calls constitute harassment at this point, which is causing a major disruption in both my business and personal life as well as being an invasion of my privacy, which I will not tolerate.

If you continue to contact me, I will file a complaint with the Attorney General.  The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, which branched from United States Code Title 47 sect 227, implemented a do-not-call list from solicitors, which mandates a solicitor to abate phone calls to customers who have requested in writing to cease all phone communication.  Please comply with federal law or a complaint will be filed.

In addition, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, I am not waiving my right to dispute the alleged debt asserted herein, but at this time I am under no obligation to respond.  

Sincerely,



Your Name
Address
City, state Zip



Certified Mail#:  


In the Law of Novation: if a debt is purchased by another, for that to be a legal owed obligation, a new contract / agreement has to be written and signed by all parties.  Google Law of Novation and read up!!!

No I am not an attorney, just a well knowledged, educated consumer.  I have spent the past 2 years studying various Federal Consumer Protection Laws.  

I wasn't just satisfied knowing I could send a letter to a Collection Agency/Debt Collector and they had to go away.  I read that in the Fair Debt Collector practices Act law;  I needed to know why, what law tells me the reason why I can.

Everything I have typed, I have learned basically on my own through reading, studying, printing out and binding the laws and underlining/highlighting them.  Not to mention the knowledge I have gained on my own fighting two lawsuits without an Attorney.

I was sued by a Collection Agency, and waiting for a Court date. The Collection Agency Attorney, sent us a letter willing to dismiss with prejudice our lawsuit, if I dismiss our Cross/Counter Claim for Fair Debt Collector Practices Act violations.  Oh, I forgot to mention, we do not have an Attorney representing us; and I have not had any legal experience, in the past whatsoever.

I have read / printed & bound, my State's Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Civil Procedure - Evidence.  I catch Attorneys on violations of State Rules of Civil Procedure all the time.  And our Judge's let them get away with it.

And for those of you who say pay up and quit being a deadbeat; it appears that you have never had your life turned upside down, because a good job, not high paying by any means, but a supposed secure job, got your hours cut by 3/4.  

And then a couple years later, as you are just recovering, you lose that job.  And when you are in your 50's, a new job is not so easy to come by.  And when that happens, then what?  

Or what about a major illness, guess you've never had that either - too bad.  Maybe if you did, you'd understand why and how people end up getting in financial straights. Not because they chose to, or decided they were going to find loopholes to get out of paying obligations etc.

What if the money isn't there to pay these debts to begin with?  We've been barely able to pay a mortgage, let alone credit cards etc. It's easy to tell someone else what to do.  I hope someday, something throws your secure little world off its axis, and you find yourself in the very situation as some of us here. Maybe then you'd learn it isn't such a cut/dry situation.

Oh, we've struggled.  And the job last hasn't exactly been replaced.  We're still behind in our Mortgage and trying to catch up, as with our other legal obligations.  I can't work because of various health conditions, or I would, including a part time job at least.  My husband started his own company with the tools of the trade, and now contracts for copier, computer, IT technical jobs as he has a computer science degree, and has years of experience in the others, especially the wide format copier / printers / computers.

People, please read the Fair Debt Collector Practices Act; if a Debt Collector violates any one harrassment or other law in there; Federal Laws says you can sue them for $1,000.00 per violation.  Do it, and then THEY can pay off YOUR obligations!!!  

Again I am not an Attorney - but have learned these by my own experiences.  There are Attorneys you could talk to, and I would, if any violations of the laws have occured in your circumstances.  I am posting this strictly to help others maybe have a piece of mind, if they are up all night worrying about financial problems, and sick to their stomach in worry as I have been, and still are in some ways. I am again just a well informed, knowledgable consumer, who has spent hours studying the laws, because I had no where else to turn for help.  If anything I have written, causes you questions, please seek the advice of an Attorney.

Certain situations such as Mortgages and Car Payment loans usually do not apply here; so you may need to seek the advice of a Lawyer for your individual situation.  For individual questions or help with Credit Card and/or Collection Agency lawsuits, please contact me at tlcpetmommy@gmail.com

© tlcpetmommy copyright 2009 All rights reserved
tlcpetmommy@gmail.com

I don't really think any of us on this page have any debt collectors after us anyway I know I don't and I think what the whole thing on this topic is the phone number and the fact that some one is trying to scam older peopleand even younger ones.  I am not very young nor is my mother. They have called her as well. Its people seeking info to use to get credit and pay bills just like when some stole my identity to get $30,000 out of my joint account with my mom. They paid bills like cell phones, etc and even had account numbers but the police never filed a charge as far as I know and neither did the bank.

The message I received was similar to other posts... "You are a person of interest in an investigation".  When I returned the call, it was to Blackmon, Lafayette & Associates.  I asked if I could record the conversation and she said ok.  Turns out they were trying to locate my ex-husband who has a history of bad debts.  When I told her that I hadn't know where he was in 15 years, she apologized. I asked her to remove my phone number and she said she would.

Just be very careful. They have a line of talk that makes you think they are legit and they are definately not. The gal who called never gave a department she was connected with. Now they also have a scam to get a soc. sec. number and that is a call about a jury summons not being honored.  I haven't gotten that one yet but they call to ask why you didn't come to the jury duty summons.  Then ask for your soc.sec to be sure you are the right person and voila they gotcha.

I too received a call and told to call 877-852-4425 ext 321. The message they left said "you have been listed as a person of interest in an investigation" and they left a case number.  When I called they said they were wanted to know how I was related to a man with the same last name as mine and funny he had the same initials.  They said they would remove my phone number from the case and not call me again.  Now I am worried that they lied to me on all accounts.

I have been receiving calls from a company claiming they are a credit collection agency by the name of Blackmon, Lafayette & Associates. They have been harassing me at work all day and leaving threatening messages stating that they are going to have the IRS come after me for the interest that has built on a credit card balance.  In Texas isn’t it illegal for any credit collection company to call your place of employment? These guys have been calling me for about a month now. They acted very professional in the beginning and then when I did some research about the company and found nothing I stopped any further contact which really ticked them off and that’s when all the threatening call started coming.
How can I stop these guys? Are they even legally licensed in Texas or how can I found out?
Thanks!

I knew it was a scam from the get go. Wanted my wife as a person of interest in an ongoing investigation. Had this happen once before so I thought Id punch the number into the internet and here we are. She has no debts but has several relatives that are deadbeats so im sure its got to do with them. Was contacted by an investigator LaPorta at xt 308. She did not identify the company.

Got a call from a person claiming she was an attorney for this group and that she needed either me or my attorney to contact her immediately for the case coming up in my county - gave me a reference number -