800-220-0605

You need to file a complaint with the:

Write to:
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

There is also a website at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm

This conduct is ILLEGAL and you should report them.
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357);

My husband has a very common name and every 6 months a debt collector calls and harrasses us over someone elses' debt, they obviously have the wrong person. This time I got a phone call from 800-220-0605 which was very threatening and rude. I am tired of being harrassed when my family always pays their bills. I think I will get an unlisted number this time.

from bbb.org... rating F

Business Contact and ProfileBack To Top
Name:    Academy Collection Service, Incorporated
Phone:    (215) 281-7500
Address:     10965 DeCatur Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154
     
Business Category:    Collection Agencies
BBB file opened:    October 17, 1994
Business started:    July 1976
Business started locally:    July 1976
Primary Contact:    Mr. Sidney Miller (President)
Complaint Contact:    Ms. Amy Levitan (General Council)
Other Contacts:    Mr. Keith Dickstein  (Manager)

have any of you ever heard of  www.donotcall.com   use it I do all the time. for just all your complaints. I get calls all the time  for other people or family members. I suggest you all go check it out and do what it tells you. It does work...

it depends

How old it is - (date last payment of last activity)  Every state has a Statute of Limitations on debt.   YOU have to check your state goverment website.   If the debt is older then the Statute of Limitations - legally they cannot sue - but the JUNK DEBT BUYERS will try if they think you WILL NOT SHOW UP and dispute the debt.

They will also threaten lawsuits they have no intention of ever filing - THIS IS ILLEGAL.

OTHER DEBTS THEY CANNOT COLLECT ON - BUT WILL TRY TO USE ILLEGAL THREATS
Already paid, discharged in bankruptcy or result of identity theft,


NO COLLECTION AGENCY CAN CALL AND DEMAND PAYMENT WITHOUT FIRST PROVING YOU ACTUALLY OWE THE DEBT.


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

I was to be in touch ASAP.  No company name or personal contact name.  The voice made this message sound urgent and imparative that I do this.

My parents did not raise me- I was adopted- how dare you call my biological parents about a bill that I owe.  You have no right.  I will sue the hell out of you all and pay the creditors that I owe with the settlement money if you all continue to call my parents home for me!!!  And I mean it!!!

you say get a job, we do a job everyday. to some ppl right now this is the only job that might be around. im a laid off union worker, that has a wife n a son to provide for.... ppl that have time to site online n cry about how they get calls about a bill they stoped paying are funny.. it is your bill that you used to buy or purchase whatever it was. it is you loan for that bike you had to have, or your second morg for that house you where never able to pay for. these are all yours... not ours.. yours.... just pay them.. now back years ago when all the complaints where mad. the fdcpa laws where alot different.. the laws have changed since then. we paid 2.5m, it was for complaints years ago. ppl will complain about anything they can.. just pay your bills and you wont have any problems. stop spending beyond you means...its easy.. every person i talk to who owes a bill gets treated the way i would want to be treated. i help as much as i can, and i give advice as much as i can (by law)..if you catch a person who might come off strong.. let them talk, it might just be the way they are saying what they have to say.. ppl need to stop crying get up n get a job.. n pay your bills.. i pay mine

you say that you worked for them, u had posted this in 2008. now did you post this years after or after you where fired from academy collections service... all the things that you had said that went on.. where things that took place years ago when the FDCPA  laws where diff. for a company to be around as long as they have been with all these cpmplaints that you so called took place. they would be shut down, but they arent. so what does that tell you, ppl will say n write anything to get a buck.. also the so called drugs being sold.. that happenes on everywhere. i have been with company when the 2.5m fine was placed n when it was pd. we had met all the guidlines that where set by the fdcpa n we havent broke those guuidlines. the news sd that we are criminals... we arent anywhere near that. the news also sd that we almost led a man to shot himself. but yet we where the ones who called 911 n told they what was going on, and when the police got to him he had a gun that was loaded..also that person lied on the news about what happen, and what his so called bill n amount was for. you cant take everything that ppl say to be the truth.....

well call an talk to someone dont ignore it. by law we are able to call any number listed to your name.. just call n talk work it.. dont call n be rude or yelling, they dont fix anything

that is old and not up to date. before you post something get your facts right

I received a call from 18002200605 ext 2687 asking for someone who doesn't live in my residence. I have told them many time that there is no one living here under that name. But they still keep calling many times. When I call them back they are rude and unprofessional. What kind of company is this??????/

They have called my wife's ex-husband saying that she owed them money!! They have been divorced for 7 yrs....????? How do they even get his # They told him she owed money, how much she owed, when the debt was incurred, everything. We called them back and told them to stop. They are still calling.

Didn't say what they wanted

It's for Citibank

keep calling and have my ss#

i received a call a man asked to talk to my husband i let hime know that he didnt live here. he had the nerve to tell me if u r married how is it that ur husband didnt live their in the same house as u? i told them its none of their damn buisness but sence they are so concern why i let them know  that we have been separated for 8 years. they asked if their was a phone # where they can reach him. i asked what it was regarding but they didnt want to tell me. when i did get a hold of him they desided to refuse his call. hell if they are bill collecters they can expect payment all they want [***] they aint going to get a pennie out of me. we are in a resection people can only afford what we have right now and can bearly pay the main bills we need to servive.

This company, Monarch Recovery, called for my daughter.  The number they called from was1-800-503-3852 but said to return the call to 1-800-220-0650.  Sounds like a scam to me.. Attempt to collect a dept...even gave me a name and an extension number.  I will NOT let her return this call.

Their behavior towards you is illegal.

OMG!!  That was pretty crafty of them.  I just got a message from someone who said "...please call Happy Craft at 1-800-220-0650 at ext 2737."  and then hung up.  Happy Craft?  I never return a call to anyone I don't know personally.  I plugged it into my computer to see who the number on the caller ID belonged to and I find this site.  How absolutely misleading this chick was.  She even lied about who to call.  Happy Craft??  Nice.