800-477-6441

What is the statue of limitations?  The debt they are trying to collect on is 8 years old, the last payment the original creditor received was in June 2003.  Now that I think about it, my mom tried on numerous ocassions to work something out with those people b/c she was disabled and not able to pay, but I don't think they were willing to work with her then...so screw them!!!

Here is a link for the SOL's in each State:

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html

I cant speak to the law in every state but in many states when a person dies someone is appointed as the executor or personal representative (PR) for the estate. That person usually contacts an attorney to handle the estate in probate court. One requirement of many states is that the PR publish in a local paper for 2 or 3 weeks a disclaimer that states the estate of X is being heard in probate court for X on (date) and all claims against the estate must be brought before the court by (date) or they are FOREVER barred. Any claim brought after that date is worthless. For those who die without an estate or without going thru probate court, it is extremely unlikely that the debts of the deceased can be enforced on any living relative besides a spouse unless there is a signed agreement signed by that relative. The statute of limitations also prevents the collection of old debts. Bottom line is to demand written proof of all debts then decide how to handle them. Anyone who tries to collect debts by telephone without providing written proof is likely a scumbag who uses your ignorance of the law to collect debts that you do not legally have to pay.

Its hard to believe there are people out there
so Greedy,desparate, sad, sorry and pathetic
they would prey to get money off the dead.
what is this? were you waiting for the person to die
in hopes you would get money at their death?
how long did you wait for them to die
so you could scam money from them, from their poor,
grieving relatives? did you even give them time to mourn
before you made the pathetic call of
begging money from the dead?

whats next? will you be reposessing their headstones,
memorials and flowers from the grave site
so you can sale these items for money?
will you be digging up bodies to reposess clothing
and coffins and even selling the dead remains to science
or museums to get more money in your pocket?
sad and pathetic.

The tactics of some of these CA's have gotten downright dispicable...

The dirt had barely been shoveled on my late Mother's grave, when a CA for a bank credit card company called, demanding money from my grieving father. When my sister asked them to provide proof that his signature was also on the contract, they refused. He paid on it until his money ran out and when the CA got nasty with him, threatening to "ruin" his credit rating, he calmly responded: "I'm 78 years old. Go ahead and "RUIN" it".

They left him alone after that and "forgave" the remaining balance.

If I had known then what I now know, they wouldn't have gotten a DIME out of him.

I was called a month ago from this Tamara Schroitz, about an unknown person to me regarding their "Final Affairs" and I did recieve several calls for a couple of weeks. After finding out about others being harrassed for no reason I chose to ignore these calls. I have recently had to deal with my "real family affairs" and did not need this extra stress... The calls stopped for a few weeks, now this Tamara, with Phillips & Cohen, is calling again. I am not sure if she is referring to the same person, Sheryl Jean??? She left a reference number and I still do not intend to call back. Patty

I was called a month ago from this Tamara Schroitz, about an unknown person to me regarding their "Final Affairs" and I did recieve several calls for a couple of weeks. After finding out about others being harrassed for no reason I chose to ignore these calls. I have recently had to deal with my "real family affairs" and did not need this extra stress... The calls stopped for a few weeks, now this Tamara, with Phillips & Cohen, is calling again. I am not sure if she is referring to the same person, Sheryl Jean??? She left a reference number and I still do not intend to call back. Patty

The posts here and on many other consumer websites only serve to emphasize the desperate need for Debt Collection reform in this country. The abuses have gone on LONG ENOUGH!

http://www.consumerlaw.org/issues/debt_collec ... TC_Comments.pdf

I received a call from Dawn as well. I emailed the company and advised I was not a relative of the late person (probably why the cell phone number was reassigned) and threatened to sue if they continue to leave me messages. I think they'll stop. We'll see.

Got a call today from them on my voicemail asking to speak to someone responsible for the estate of ________.  Just a first name, a toll-free number (1-800-477-6441), an extension (2489) and a reference # given.

Sorry people, can't get blood from a stone.  My late mother had no estate to speak of; my father is moving in with me due to his financial situation and we're not a community property state so...bascially...they can whistle dixie.  Now that after a number of calls and they finally left a number, the next time UNAVAILABLE pops up on my phone I'm definitely going to take the call and tell them as professionally as I can...POUND SALT.

I am so glad I searched the internet for this toll free phone number. We recieved a call today from Philip Cohen Assoc. regarding my deceased mother in law. Since she passed away, and my father in law passed away 7 days later everything was left to my father in law's family. Not only are they screwing us out of anything my mother in law worked her whole life for, there are vulterous strangers trying to do the same thing to people who haven't even had enough time to go through their grieving process. THANK YOU for having this message board to educate people who have no idea about the freaks-of-nature in this world.
signed, Sad and Disgusted

I received two voicemail messages from Chris Mongrin with the phone number 800-477-6441 and and extension and reference number.  He said he was calling on behalf of my husbands grandmother who died several months ago.  I called the number at 9:30 at night and it said that it was Phillips & Cohen and in the company voicemail message says that they are a debt collection agency.  Oh yeah, PLEASE call me back!  I don't think so...

Got a call from these clowns today (05-18-2008)
Same as above "Blah blah blah "estate of the" late blah blah.

Mumbled the company name, left reference number...

Contacting the attorney general as I speak !!

this same number called my house. they left a message saying they needed to speak to someone regarding my late grandfathers estate. i have had nothing to do with him my entire life. my real dad and his mom are still alive. i am also married so it shouldn't be that easy to track me down. should i bother calling them and asking them how they got my number? and demand they never call again? just curious...

I had two calls today from 800-477-6441 a Ms. Finley ext. 2125 and a case number.  I find it very, very interesting because my parents (both deceased now) always paid every credit card completely each month.  I'm glad I googled this number.  I don't intend to call them back.  Also, its almost a year since my mother died, so why call now!!  The number comes up as unavailable on my caller id.  Thanks everyone for all of the information on this number.

Well, friends, it has been awhile since I checked in here, and I was surely surprised to see the lying and deceptive post by "Collector."  He definitely IS a collector, and his post is a good example of the deception they employ.  I will set his post out here, with my comments in parentheses.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
   "Collector - 21 Nov 2007
word to the wise, if you are the person taking care of the final affairs, and you DO NOT return the calls, you CAN BE HELD LEGALLY RESPONCIBLE! (sic) (WRONG!  Trust me, there is NO way you will be held legally responsible for any debt by not returning a collector's call. This is total BS.) Even if there is no money in the estate, or no estate at all...take the 5 minutes to call back.(You aren't going to get away within 5 minutes unless you just hang up on the rude creep.) Most collectors are extremely professional. (This is a blatant lie, and anyone who has ever dealt with a collector knows it.  They are poorly educated, stupid, rude, belligerent slimeballs. Every antonym of the word "professional" applies to collectors) FDCPA keeps collectors in line. (Yeah, right.) If they step out...they can get sued - PERSONALLY!  They aren't going to risk their jobs or their companys to upset you. (You can't even find out their real names.)  The collectors in the "D-care" units take it very seriously and will treat you with respect and dignity. (Oh, please. Whoever believes this, report to the electroshock ward at once.)

Avoiding them WILL NOT MAKE THE CALLS STOP! (Neither will talking to them. Ultimately, they will quit calling)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Just keep in mind, friends, these people are pond scum.  I DO agree with Alfalfa, above, that this country desperately needs debt collection reform.  Bulk debt buying should be absolutely illegal.  These scum are purchasing hundreds of millions of dollars of stale debt, for two cents on the dollar,or less, and then clogging up our court systems at YOUR expense to try to take advantage of the legal system and hammer unsuspecting disadvantaged people.  It must stop.

Said they were calling about my deceased father's estate. They would have no reason to call me since he did not owe anything I was financially responsible for. It sounds like a scam.

A caller with very bad broken English has called repeatedly about a past due bill and I asked what was the bill was about and could he send me info about it. He started ranting and raving and saying it must be paid.  He has called my former work place and left a very scary and threatning e-mail on my cell phone saying I am going to be sorry and may god be with me on tomorrow because my social security number will be blocked and everything will be blocked.

Received a similar phone call. The agency called a neighbor of my Late Fathers Estate. Questioning aggressively the neighbor as to whereabouts of the children of the estate.