617-581-1058

They sent me a letter to my mailing address saying that they are Progressive and I owe $71
I’ve never had Progressive as my insurance in my life, what do I do ?

That letter tells you exactly what to do, or at least it should.  You need to follow those directions and ask for debt validation which should be sent certified, return receipt.

You will need to send them a certified, return receipt debt validation (by law they have to go back to the original creditor to prove you owe the debt), cease and desist calling, or "not me" letter (this will be the best money that you have ever invested).  Also send it first class mail in case no one will sign for it.  Make a notation of that fact at the bottom of the letter.  You also need to report them to the proper agencies to which I have provided links to.  Then you need to go out and get a consumer lawyer to sue them on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket) and let them pay you for the harassment.  If everyone did these three things, these crooks would be bankrupt, and we would all be the richer for it.  Use these web sites to find an attorney in your state that will probably take the case on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket up front):  http://www.consumeradvocates.org/
http://www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-atto ... tates_value=All

Everything else you need to know follows including at least two or more federal and state agencies where you should report their criminal activities.

THE CCS COMPANIES

Other names:  Credit Collection Services (CCS)
CCS Commercial, LLC
Customer Contact Solutions, LLC
ClaimAssist, LLC
First USA Financial, LLC

Web site: https://www.ccsusa.com/contact_us.html

BBB page lists them as accredited with a B rating with 912 complaints and 39 negative reviews as of 7/7/22:  http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-reviews/co ... ewton-ma-15265/

LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ccs-companies

Looks like a lot of the employees are unhappy as well:  https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/CCS-Companies-Reviews-E246357.htm

They are required to be licensed by the Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, but a search produced no results.

I found a Massachusetts Dept. of State registration under a different name, but it was dissolved in 2000:
ID Number: 000667659

Summary for:  CREDIT COLLECTION SERVICES, INC.

The exact name of the Domestic Profit Corporation:   CREDIT COLLECTION SERVICES, INC.

Entity type:   Domestic Profit Corporation

Identification Number: 000667659
Old ID Number: 000000000

Date of Organization in Massachusetts:   07-22-1999

Date of Voluntary Dissolution:   12-07-2000
Last date certain:

Current Fiscal Month/Day: 12/31
Previous Fiscal Month/Day: 00/00

The location of the Principal Office:

Address:
240 COMMERCIAL ST., STE 3A

City or town, State, Zip code, Country:

The name and address of the Registered Agent:

Name:

Address:

City or town, State, Zip code, Country:

The Officers and Directors of the Corporation:
Title
Individual Name
Address
PRESIDENT
ROBERT I. TATEL
77 BICKFORD AVE., REVERE, MA USA
TREASURER
ROBERT I. TATEL
77 BICKFORD AVE., REVERE, MA USA
SECRETARY
SAMUEL MIRKIN
30 ST. PAUL ST., #7, BROOKLINE, MA USA

Massachusetts debt collector license info:
CCS Commercial, LLC
NMLS ID:
1098814

Street Address:
725 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062
Mailing Address:
725 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062

Phone:
617-965-2000
Toll-Free Number:
Not provided
Fax:
617-762-3349

Website:
www.theccscompanies.com
Email:
gprilutsky@ccsusa.com

Other Trade Names :
Credit Collection Services Commercial
Prior Other Trade Names :
None
Prior Legal Names :
None
Sponsored MLOs :
0

Fiscal Year End:
12/31
Formed in:
Delaware, United States
Date Formed:
11/01/1997
Stock Symbol:
None
Business Structure:
Limited Liability Company

Regulatory Actions  :
None posted in NMLS.
Branch Locations

(2 Active, 0 Inactive)

State Licenses/Registrations
(Displaying 3 Active of 3 Total)
Regulator
License/Registration Name
Authorized to
Conduct Business
Consumer Complaint

Idaho
Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: CCA-7528
Original Issue Date : 12/04/2008

Status : Approved
Status Date: 12/31/2015
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Idaho : Credit Collection Services Commercial

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

Indiana-SOS
Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: INSOS-C-02040
Original Issue Date : 12/11/2013

Status : Approved
Status Date: 12/11/2013
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Indiana-SOS : Credit Collection Services Commercial

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

North Dakota
Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: CA101923
Original Issue Date : 01/13/2009

Status : Approved
Status Date: 07/31/2013
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in North Dakota : Credit Collection Services Commercial

Hide License Status History
Start
End
Authorized to
Conduct Business
7/31/2013
Present
Yes

License/Registration #: CA101923
Original Issue Date: 01/13/2009

Regulator: North Dakota
License/Registration Name: Collection Agency License

Resident/Registered Agent

Company:
Registered Agent Services, Inc.
Name:
Not provided
Title:
Registered Agent
Address:
1501 North 12th Street, Suite 1
Bismark, ND 58501
Phone:
800-906-9220
Fax:
Not provided
Credit Control Services, Inc.
NMLS ID:
932663

Street Address:
725 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062
Mailing Address:
725 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062

Phone:
617-965-2000
Toll-Free Number:
Not provided
Fax:
617-762-3349

Website:
www.theccscompanies.com
Email:
gprilutsky@ccsusa.com

Other Trade Names :
Credit Collection Services
Prior Other Trade Names :
None
Prior Legal Names :
None
Sponsored MLOs :
0

Fiscal Year End:
12/31
Formed in:
Delaware, United States
Date Formed:
03/20/1969
Stock Symbol:
None
Business Structure:
Corporation

Regulatory Actions  :
None posted in NMLS.
Branch Locations

(3 Active, 0 Inactive)

State Licenses/Registrations
(Displaying 6 Active of 6 Total)
Regulator
License/Registration Name
Authorized to
Conduct Business
Consumer Complaint

Connecticut
Consumer Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: CCA-932663
Original Issue Date : 05/01/1995

Status : Approved
Status Date: 12/13/2016
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Connecticut : Credit Collection Services

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

Idaho
Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: CCA-3457
Original Issue Date : 09/24/1996

Status : Approved
Status Date: 01/05/2016
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Idaho : Credit Collection Services

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

Indiana-SOS
Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: 932663 CA
Original Issue Date : 07/12/1998

Status : Approved
Status Date: 11/19/2012
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Indiana-SOS : Credit Collection Services

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

Massachusetts
Debt Collector
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: DC0376
Original Issue Date : 12/28/1995

Status : Approved
Status Date: 12/13/2016
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Massachusetts : Credit Collection Services

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

North Dakota
Collection Agency License
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: CA100314
Original Issue Date : 07/01/1999

Status : Approved
Status Date: 07/29/2013
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in North Dakota : Credit Collection Services

View License Status History

View Resident/Registered Agent(s) for Service of Process

Rhode Island
Debt Collector Registration
Yes
Submit to Regulator
Hide Details
License/Registration #: 20082447DC
Original Issue Date : 06/30/2008

Status : Approved
Status Date: 10/18/2013
Renewed Through : 2017

Other Trade Names used in Rhode Island : Credit Collection Services

Hide License Status History
Start
End
Authorized to
Conduct Business
10/18/2013
Present
Yes

License/Registration #: 20082447DC
Original Issue Date: 06/30/2008

Regulator: Rhode Island
License/Registration Name: Debt Collector Registration

Resident/Registered Agent

Company:
CT Corporation System
Name:
Not provided
Title:
Registered Agent
Address:
10 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone:
401-861-7400
Fax:
Not provided
For some reason they have a GSA contract, probably revealed in the contract but I don’t have the time to read it:
https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS23F0456P/GS23F0456P_online.htm
Other complaint sites:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ccs-credit-collections-services/newton-massachusetts-02459/ccs-credit-collection-services-ccs-is-scamming-me-newton-massachusetts-183401
http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/CCS-Companies-Reviews-E246357.htm
http://www.scambook.com/company/view/26272/Credit-Collection-Services-Two-Wells-Avenue-Newton-MA-02459
http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=239672
Looks like they have been sued:
http://www.law360.com/cases/520bf7c37de1f668f9009b64
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/9408213/Hall_v_The_CCS_Companies
https://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2014cv05993/299043

It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and (this is the important part) that they have the legal right to collect it.  You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.  

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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.  If and when you get that letter you should immediately send that debt validation letter by certified, return receipt mail.

First, you should make a complaint at this Federal Agency, and while there you should also read up on how debt collection is supposed to work as well as what your rights in this matter are: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Also file complaints with the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:   https://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general

Also file a complaint with the Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation:  http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agen ... -complaint.html

And the Massachusetts AG office:  http://www.mass.gov/ago/