800-433-8784

Said they were calling from attorneys office really aren't they are 716 services magazine scammers trying to make people pay for there over priced magazines after they lie and say diffrent things to get you to agree

Person (Carmen Lopez) called and said it was a legal matter, to immediately call 800-433-8784, or the case will be taken to the next level. I didn't return the call, sounded suspicious. Should be illegal to threaten and mislead people.

(Carmen Lopez) Called and said she was taking me to court over magazines that I refuse to pay for. I was swindled into a scam by this company and now they call me with threats! I asked for them to send me a copy of my contract and recording of my "so called" agreement to pay $800 for magazines and they have not! This company is a fraud(seven-one-six)

Bryan Morris called and said he was a investigator with the attorney generals office.He was going to file papers to go to court for unpaid magazines. This is a scam. they told me I cosigned the agreement which I never did.

Same as Mindy...Bryan Morris and Tom Browser called and said he was a investigator with the attorney generals office.He was going to file papers to go to court for unpaid magazines. This is a scam. they told me I cosigned the agreement which I never did.

Man called my home # form this number looking for a friend of mine, and when I refused to give info, stated he also had a subpoena for me and I was supposed to appear in court yesterday as well.  This is a total scam,  the man actually called me a [***] before hanging up the phone. Would love any input on how to give this sum Tom Calhooooon or whatever his real name is a taste of their own medicine.

Man called my home # form this number looking for a friend of mine, and when I refused to give info, stated he also had a subpoena for me and I was supposed to appear in court yesterday as well.  This is a total scam,  the man actually called me a [***] before hanging up the phone. Would love any input on how to give this scum Tom Calhooooon or whatever his real name is a taste of their own medicine.

I received a call about co-signing a loan for my sister for magazines.  The names I received were Michael Schaefer and Dale Schnider.  They actually threatened to put me in jail.  There is a difference between a civil suit and a criminal suit.  Civil suits don't land you in jail, they land you in court. Basically I laughed at him.  Then I became "cursingly outspoken" with him.  I let him know that I was aware of his BS and looked him up on the internet.  I also learned that what they were doing was illegal.  He told me that he was an investigatior AND a court services officer.  That was 3 years ago.  I just received another call.  It was the same guys.  I am not sure if it was the same phone number.  Last time he was from New York, this time he is in Pennsylvania.  He stated he was currently in his Lansing, MI office.  (I live in Michigan).  I asked him for the name of his office, and he responded Attorney Clerks Office.  I asked for his address and he stated Lansing MI.  When I interrupted his threats by asking for his street address, he became angry telling me that I shouldn't interrupt a court service officer.  I then stated he shouldn't be interrupting a customer, called him a few unneccesary curse words, and hung up the phone.  I can't wait til they call back.  I have a few more things I would like to take out on THEM. My extension I had to call was 111 if that helps.

did you have an extension number to call?  I would love to call these guys back and harrass them for a minute. lol

A senior investigator jim hawkins has been calling my cell phone recently,stating that i missed my court date in new york and was now being charged with a federal offense for receiving magazines i did not finish paying for through the mail. Said i was looking at a year and a half in the federal pen for mail fraud. He told me tht i had one day to come up with 203.00 or charges would be filed in the state of new york. Funny, I thought I already missed this court date that i never recived paperwork on. And doesn't the company have to try you in your own state for a "felony"? This number is a scam from 7-1-6 services. It is illegal.

On 2/11/09 I received a phone call about 3:45 pm with an unregistered telephone number on my cell phone. Caller left a message stating that his name was James Hawkins, and he needed to speak with me. I dial number 1(800)433-8784 ext. 111, and older sounding male answered and stated he was a Sr. Investigator. I told him my name, he then asked if there was another telephone number he could reach me at. I stated No! I asked what this call pertain to, he stated again he needed another telephone number without answering my question. I told him again that I would not give him another telephone number due to my job. He then said, "Don't ever call this court house again with that attitute." I called the number again a few minutes later and some Tim answered the phone and said "Unless you need shipping and receiving don't ever call again." So I called again a few minutes later and there was no answer.  The original telephone number did not register in my cell phone.  I am going to attempt to have this call investigated.

They told my daughter they would clear her name for $100.00. I told her to contact our lawyer. Needless to say, they are not getting the $100.00 they lied about.

A man named Ronald Hall called me today and said I owed 1760.00 for magazines that I ordered 2 years ago. He told me I was on a recording using a false Social Security number (which I have never done), and I coud go to jail. He said he could settle the debt for 230.00 , but I had to have a debit card. I did not have it with me, thank God! I'm glad I googled the phone number or I to would have been scammed.

That is the same extension this Ronald Hall gave me.

Ronald Hall is playing this same scam on my son.  When he spoke w/my son this morning, he got him all scared saying that he would go to jail, that he would have to appear in court in NY on Friday, that a friend's mother co-signed (who Mr. Hall had already called).  My son had him contact me and I tried to be nice, but he ended up hanging up on me before I could get a straight and honest answer from him. He stated he worked for Consumer Protection....I used to work at the Michigan Atty General's office? He backed out of that statement.  He said he was in Lansing, Michigan (which is where we are).  I asked him what company he worked for, he wouldn't give one.  He claimed that my son had made a "plea"! Oh pleaaaaaaase!  Mr. Hall ought to at least use proper legal terminology!  He did not have a "plea" for my son to pay $177 to make it go away.  He cannot have my son put in jail - this is a civil matter.  He said something about having a judge in his office or some crap about why he wasn't sure he could call me back. There is no lawsuit filed.  That phone call was actually kind of fun!  Got my blood flowing!!  I'm sure we haven't heard the last of him, but we'll be ready!

Oops!  I meant to put in an exclamation point not a question mark in my previous post where I said:  I used to work at the Michigan Atty General's office!

(Clearly these "investigators" (or "lawyers") will say anything that sounds good and that will scare an inexperienced or young person.  As if being suckered/shammed into hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of magazines is not bad enough.)

I received a call from investigator Matthew Gibson today from 800-433-8784x111. He was asking questions about my ex daughter in-law and stating he was investigating a claim that could result in a subpoena in the state of New York. He wanted her contact info which I don't have not involved with her for years. He knew info about my son and grandson so I thought he was legit till I googled the 800 number. I have no idea what he was after or what he was looking for.

All the same stuff just now he/they are going by the name Shawn Crawford. Stated that he of all things was an harrasment invetigator dealing with harrasing phone calls from an attorny from Ohio, and a month ago he (the same guy useing the name Morris) called threatening to put my sister in jail because she refussed to give him my cell number. She simply said go ahead and proceeded give give them the phone number to the local State Police barracks down the street. Yaeh the cops never did show up.

the number and extension is always the same  1-800-433-8784 ext. 111

this man todd holiday called my home yester day while i was at work, my fiance having no idea why a man from the us dept treasury was calling me, gave him my work number.  which he then called and kept me on the phone for 15 min.  he told me i was due in court on tues in ny.  And called back this morn to get my credit card info, to make it all go away, I assume this is all a scam how do I get rid of them?  I threatend with my lawyer, but that did not deter him any suggestions?

its illegal for a collection agent to claim to be an attorney or that they work for the attorney general's office.

They have no legal right to collect this debt that does not exist and these fdcpa violations prove it.  

If it was a legitimate debt - they would not need to use terrorist tactics to collect it

from federal trade commission website

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.

COLLECTION AGENCIES DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!
FROM www.budhibbs.com  A CONSUMER ADVOCATE WEBSITE that specializes in Debt Collections and offers assistance to consumers.  THEY ALSO EXPOSE THE WORST FDCPA VIOLATORS IN THE COUNTRY

Dealing with debt collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html

Statute of limitations by state – always double check directly with your own State Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from debt collectors – always double check with your own State Government website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm

From FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

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.


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.