325-224-6000

i got a call that my loan is in default and they are the last step before collection and thatI need to make an arrangement before it goes to collection. I'm very suspicious they are trying to get information. I dont know what she is talking about. Still researching.....

Beware: They called me and I was told that I owe student loan and asking for my SSN and date of birth to confirm the account. These people are scammers.

I answered a phone call from this phone number and they asked for my husband by his formal name, so I at least figured this was a sales call.  Since he was not home at the time, I offered to take a message.  The lady wanted him to call back which surprised me.  However when I asked what it was regarding, she said it was "personal business".  She gave me her first name, and her last when I asked for that also; when I asked what company she was with, she said she wasn't at liberty to say insisting it was personal, although she eventually gave the initials "DCS" (which did show up on my caller id), and when I asked her what that stood for, she again said she wasn't at liberty to say, so I told her that was the end of the phone call since she wouldn't at least tell me what company she was with.  A few minutes later I got another phone call from the same number asking if this was a business by a certain name.  I said no, this is a private residence, and asked her to confirm what number she dialed.  She read back our home phone as well as our street address, which I confirmed regardless of the wrong business name.  Her response was apologetic as if she had the wrong contact information.  However, the first phone caller from that number asked for my husband by name; therefore, I am still leary of the company that perhaps that was a "sneaky" way of confirming where we live.  The cumulative information and conversations (& lack thereof) concerns me.

If you go to www.1800iwillpay.com you will see that this company is listed on the dept of ed website.

Julie Carr from an unknown collection agency calling for an old student loan from over 20 years ago.  I was sure I paid this off so I am reluctant to call back.  Very agrresive and rude so I will let her do her thing.  For some reason this loan does not appear on my credit report which makes me suspecious abougt her motives and sources of information.

two repeat calls about someone that I know.

i wasnt really sure what this was either.  but t is what was said for defaulted student loans. they are even on my credit report. they might be rude and aggresive and secretive etc. but they are legit

Received a call from 321 224 6011 and person was calling for a person across the street. She asked that I take down her number and give to that person across the street. The number that she gave was 866 486 0885 ext 6011 - her name was Melissa??

DCS knew my name saying they were calling for a neighbor that lived a few doors down. I told them to call the main office. 325 224-6036

DCS called regarding a personal matter. The person said that he needed a phone number for a man named Thomas down the street. This is ILLEGAL if it is a collection agency trying to put pressure on a consumer for not paying off a debt by calling neighbors.

325 224 6587 DCS

Just got a phone call from a person at DCS at 325 224 6587 asking if I knew a person called Charles with a simlar sounding last name as mine.  She gave no name or company or reason for the call.

Called my place of employment (which I thought was illegal) but am pretty sure it is DCS regarding defaulted student loans (which is true) regarding "Personal Info".  Name of Kami Coleman with the number 325-224-6587.

1) Never assume they have a VALID DEBT OR LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT - Contact the original CREDITOR!  
 
2) Debt collectors MUST FOLLOW your STATE laws regarding licensing.  Check your Secretary of State for licensing requirements for ANY collection agency that contacts you

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

THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

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


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

YES its a woman at DCS calling from 325-224-6792  she calls anyone with the same name looking for people who owe money, they are a debt collection service --  I was not the person she was looking for and she said she would not call agin, lets hope!!!   she asked for my date of birth, and I refused, then she asked it I was born in 1954 and I said NO and then, she was done, Hopefully!!!
3252246792 1-325-224-6793 dcs dsc

I live in the city that these calls originate from, San Angelo TX. This particular DCS/Performant Financial location solely does collections for delinquent student loans. Yes, most of them are rude. Yes, most of them will threaten you. They do a lot of 'investigating' and will call neighbors & friends of yours to try to get any info on whoever they're trying to collect from. They are not trying to scam you, they are trying to get money that is owed on a student loan. I definitely wouldn't give them my ss#, dob, etc. However, always ask if there's a ph# you can call them back on. If they decline that's a scam. If they provide one you can always look it up (as you've obviously done if you're reading my comment on here) and call them back to try to settle.
"Lamet" listed a lot of great information, be sure to read his comment several below mine.

A woman just called my home from 325-224-6034 and asked for someone I know by first name.  When I said that person was not here, she said, "Do you have another number for them?"  When I repsonded, "Who is this?" She said, "This is Sylvia."  I asked where she was calling from and she replied, "Texas."  She proceeded to say, "This is really urgent and important. Do you have another number where I can reach them?" I asked her again who she represented and if she was with a reputable company and what their official business name is. She proceeded to ask who I was in relation to the person she called my home about.  

I am an upstanding, responsible adult, who is not in default or arrears with any person nor business. I am all for conducting business and holding individuals responsible for any debts they owe and agreed to repay BUT I am not for harrassing innocent parties and inconveniencing households that have nothing to do with other's finances.  What this company needs to realize is that in this day and age of fraud and scamming, they cannot call an individual's household and expect them to willingly and readily provide personal and private information to unknown individuals.  IF this company excercised some professionalism and manners, they might actually be perceived as a reputable company trying to elicit information for business purposes. I still don't get the big secret of telling someone the name of your company after you have called THEIR home.  The vagueness and lack of disclosure is not acceptable.  Additionally, to try and invoke fear regarding "urgent and important" which can imply many things to include the safety of those they are calling about is uncouth and outright nasty. For a moment I actually was concerned that the person she called my home about (or their loved ones) might have been in an accident, hurt, or harmed in some way and that she was calling to notify us of such bad news.  Due to the way she proceeded, I realized that no emergency care provider would speak to someone so rudely and insensitively and I proceeded to give her "the business" for causing my heart rate to go up without need.

I did not use profanity with "Sylvia" but I did harshly and rudely inform her that unless she was willing to provide the name of the company she was representing or doing business under the guise of.... she better not EVER call my home again. I also told her that she better not ever call my home and ask questions of anyone of my household unless she was accurately and honestly representing herself and her company.

I'm all for conducting business and such, but NO ONE has the right to call your home and violate your privacy without telling you for whom and why they are asking questions!!! They also do not have the right to invoke fear in citizens under the guise of "debt collecting."

I got a call from 325-224-6987.  I do have 2 accounts with Great Lakes Higher Ed, and both are in forebarence, about to expire.  They were calling to let me know it was expiring soon.  They claimed they were calling on behalf of Great Lakes, and this company was PTI.  (I forget what it stood for).

I do believe this is legit, to be honest.

325 224-6380 Used my Father's name so she could try to peak my interest. You can smell these people a mile away. When she wouldn't tell me what it was about I hung up and blocked her. Easy peasey ;) If they try to call my neighbors or anyone else, I will travel to where they are and settle it physically.