716-245-7044

A legitimate collection Company supported by a poster on 800 notes, that's in Western New York State? Where did that transporter malfunction send me?

You tell 'em Bobby lynn!

Bless you for defending your legitimate employers who legitimately bought some huge spreadsheets of once-upon-a-time legitimate debts, some of which are still actually owed. Who can blame them for legitimately trying to collect on all of those, whether or not already paid off or otherwise forgiven, because they need to be paid off over and over again to your legitimate employers. And when they have legitimately harassed both all owed and not owed debts into paying whatever they legitimately demand, they will legitimately sell the entire spreadsheet on to the next legitimate debt collector who will legitimately repeat the whole process, even upon those who were legitimately harassed into paying what they did not owe the last time around.

Because, you know, that's just how they roll. Legitimately.

Alternate universe!

...however, the call was from an obvious scammer.  So, how long have you worked for them?!

....a phone call is not proof of debt.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

Consumers across the country report that they're getting telephone calls from people trying to collect on loans the consumers never received or on loans they did receive but for amounts they do not owe. Others are receiving calls from people seeking to recover on loans consumers received but where the creditors never authorized the callers to collect for them. So what's the story?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.

Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft – charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.

Also good info at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau:
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1699/h ... legitimate.html

To File complaints FDCPA/TCPA violations:
Your State Attorney General
Their State Attorney general
www.naag.org (you can find your state AG at this link).
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.rcfp.org/reporters-recording-guide/state-state-guide
http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/recording-phone-calls-and-conversations
Also with the BBB and follow completely through with it.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/haunted-phantom-debt
Seek a FDCPA/TCPA Attorney if need be.
***A company must be licensed in their state as well as the one they are trying to collect in if two different states are involved.

Some Tips:
*Keep all messages
*Take a picture of your Caller ID
*Keep any and all conversations recorded to your states recording laws, some require they be told, others do not. This can be transferred to a recording device.
*Keep a notebook handy for writing time,date, who you spoke with and what the conversation detailed.
*Check your SOL for your state as well.
*Attorneys need to be licensed as a DC to collect, all DC's must be licensed in their state as well as yours if different.

https://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassi ... ou-need-to-know
See Residents post here also:
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls
Templates of Letters:
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-319-242-7350

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection
http://www.insideedition.com/investigative/93 ... debt-collectors

I got the same call from Kevin Whitmore 716-256-1664 and he called my daughter's cell phone and my brother-in-laws cell phone all before I could even listen and respond to messages. It was regarding a dept that I am disputing I spoke to his supervisor and explained that I was not in a position to pay as  am about to have surgery.  I explained I have six kids and I am s student and they did not even give me a chance to call them back. He said they were calling to "verify" my employment. I said there was no reason to as we are not in litigation and I have not been served with any paperwork. He than (the supervisor) proceeded to tell me that since "I have six kids he bets I got a pretty hefty tax return and surly I have not spent it all". Informed him that was none of his business and no I did not have any left. I have been ill hence why I am having surgery soon and that I have only $98.00 in my account... This joker wanted half... Unbelievable! I told him to stop calling me and my family and that this dispute was between me and the company. I told him to stop harassing me.

I don't have an account with Fingerhut.  The man refused to tell me who he was with, I requested written information and an address to send a response too.  I explained I do not for any reason give credit card or bank account numbers out over the phone.  He gave me 10 min. to tell him and then he was going to sue me, put a lean on my property, garnish my pay and that I could possibly lose my job and go to jail.So how about you read up on the Fair Debt Collections Act and stop being a douche.

I keep receiving calls stating I owe on a fingerhut account I thought was paid in full. These calls are from Hatfield portfolio and they keep demanding paynent saying that they process lawsuits for fingerhut and telling me I have to pay 151.00 the same day they call. I advised them I have not received any letter of valudation on who they are and I am afraid if identity theft so I will not give them any info over phone. Rep took my email and I have been waiting for a email ever since. I have checked my inbox And spam and nada. i refuse to accept the reps calls or return them until I have dime proof that they are who they say they are. Everything I have read suggest otherwise and when I spoke with fingerhut today after getting a message from the head of this company Ray Webster stating this was it and I need to have my lawyer take care of this matter further, fingerhut denied knowing who they were or how they got my info. From what I read this conp may not be credited by the BBB. I contacted Mr Webster back and advised I have received no email and that fingerhut did not verify that they were authorized to speak with me or collect money from me. Not sure how to handle further.

if the debt is in stat that [***] is getting called ....period .....whats next pal ...you gonna say every account in collections is illegal to collect on .... give me a break

thats funny ...fingerhut cant speak to you about your debt when they place it elsewhere....track your chain of title for christ sake....call fingehut and ask where your account went ......come on people use your brain

If I could make heads or tails of your grammar, I might be able to reply more completely.

However I can address the almost coherent bit "you gonna say every account in collections is illegal to collect on"  No, I'm not going to say that, and I didn't say that. You're putting up a "straw man" argument, and badly.

The pervasive activities of criminal debit collectors has been thoroughly  exposed in the media, over and over again. Your illiterate argument will not persuade anyone here that this particular number is associated with a "legitimate" company, and neither will "Bobby lynn"s empty assurances.

Portfolio:
http://consumerist.com/2015/05/19/jury-hits-d ... ogus-1130-debt/

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

Section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf requires 3rd-party debt collectors to give debtors written notice of debt (the key word is *shall*) :
"§ 809. Validation of debts
(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing—
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer’s written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor."
****************************************
A Collection Agent May Not…

Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

Misrepresent Him or Herself

  A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.

Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass

  A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.

Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit

  A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.

Use Abusive or Threatening Language

  A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.

Publish a Bad Debt List

  Publishing the consumer’s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.

Contact By Embarrassing Media

  A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector’s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.

Contact a Consumer at Work

  A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.

Seek Unjustifiable Amounts

  A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.

Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney

  A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.

Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request

  If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.

Communicate With Third Parties

  A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer’s debts with third parties other than the consumer’s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.

Bills.com FDCPA FAQ

Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:

Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?

  Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.

I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?

  No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.

A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay

  This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.

I am a pay ur billz shill.  Please feel free to make fun of me and point out how wrong I am.

Your own posts have convinced me that people should avoid this company.

Why should they have to track anything when the law says that your scumbag company needs to prove that they owe the debt?  I would tell you to use your brain but you don't have one.

Did you ever get out of 1st grade?  It doesn't look like it.

These Buffalo bullies never completed kindergarten.

You are a fool who probably gets called by debt collectors on a regular basis....Why else would someone with such insight as yourself be on a site like this lol

No in fact he is not breaking the law by coming to this site and giving any testimonial at all.... You should grab a book