855-464-6490

Got a call saying im being sued for over $1000

How can I verify whether or not a debt collector is legitimate?
Here are a few warning signs that could signal a debt collection scam:

The debt collector threatens you. Legitimate debt collectors probably won't claim that they'll have you arrested or claim that they or their employees are law enforcement officers.

The debt collector refuses to give you information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you do not recognize. You have certain rights to ask a debt collector to verify the debt. You can use this sample letter to request this information. Ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.

The debt collector refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number.

The debt collector asks you for sensitive personal financial information. You should never provide anyone with your personal financial information unless you are sure they're legitimate.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.

Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.

Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.

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 the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft such as:
Charging your existing credit cards
Opening new credit card or checking accounts
Writing fraudulent checks
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. Submit a complaint with the CFPB or get in touch with your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers.

Stop speaking with the caller.If nothing else works and you believe the calls are fraudulent, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files.

Tip: You can use this sample letter to write a letter demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/

If you were being sued, you wouldn't get a call about it.  You'd get lots of letters, and then you'd get a visit from a process server - who doesn't call to give you a heads up.

Never pay any caller who refuses to mail the required dunning letter within five days of their initial call to you.  The letter should give you the caller's company name, street address, name of the original creditor, amount owed, and will also give you the "mini-miranda" - that the letter is an attempt to collect a debt, also that you have 30 days from the date of that letter to dispute the debt in writing.

The link below is for the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau:

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1699/h ... legitimate.html

I was also told that im a horrible person and my credit score is horrible and I need to get off my butt and pay my bills. They knew I had student loan debt. Refused to tell me what I was just paying for just that they bought my account from us bank

Just called the number back again they said corprate offices but when I asked corprate offices of what she refused to tell me and hung up

Total fraudsters.  First of all, abusive behavior and comments are big no-no's.  Refusing to tell you what you allegedly owe the debt for and to whom - their behavior should tell you everything you need to know about them.  Read what was posted above - you should never pay anyone who refuses to mail you that information.

just got called again saying they are sending my file to the distrct attorneys office

Please read the previous responses.

Otherwise, keep reading the following:
A phone call, email or text message from a supposed debt collector is not legally sufficient evidence of debt.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) includes statements such as this:

* 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.   ["Written" means snailmailed - US Mail ... not emailed or texted]

Source:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

Therefore, if that caller wants you to pay immediately, before you get the written validation notice via snailmail, or if the caller wants payment via green dot, Western Union, or other untraceable means, then the call is definitely not legitimate.

IF you wish to communicate with the supposed collector / creditor, visit  the following page, for example "Action Letters" to snailmail:
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/debtcollection/

If you KNOW you owe no money, or believe the call was from a fake debt collector, please take the time to read this:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

They were rude and hung up on me. I should've known it was fake because they refused to discuss the debt and give me details. They threatened to come to my job and serve me court papers to appear in court. Heres the number folks (855) 464-6490 I will pray for that individual. Hopefully God can reach them before the law does because the law won't just pray...

the same thing happened to me today and i tell u what they made me feel like a posand said they was going to prosecute me to the fullest when i said i wouldnt have the money till my pay check came friday....said i owed 16000 over a 842.00 closed account from 5yrs ago

Zombie Debt Collector.

They called and left a message (process server, etc.) I called back and the rude "lady" said I owed $84K on a Chase debt but could settle for $9K. She told me they would issue a 1099C for the debt if I did not pay which could lead to a lien, etc.
I told her to contact my attorney and she basically told me to F off.

A 1099 C would be counter productive for them.  First, they would have no recourse to collect the debt if they issued it.  Second, the only thing it would do would be to require you to pay the tax to the IRS.  No liens would be involved unless you shirked the tax, and those would be issued by the IRS.
Now, since she talked to you, they are required to do the following, and if they fail to do so, that means they are criminals.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) 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 receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site:  http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:  http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php

Very Rude Lady that kept telling me should WOULD get her money and talking over me and i would be summoned in the morning. Total [***].

I received a call from an unknown number with a man telling me they will be serving me papers this upcoming Monday from a debt I owed from 2011. I asked what this is for and he gave me the number and a name of a company called Burk & Partners. So I called the them and gave the lady the reference number the guy gave me and she went on to explain about the debt which was $237 and now with interest and collection fees $1300. I tried to question her as to why it was so high and she said look lady you know you owe the debt and you need to pay it now because were taking legal actions against you and you need to pay for being a bad girl. At this time Im pissed because she wouldnt let me talk and THEN she hung up on me. I called the number back and asked for a supervisor and another lady yelled at me saying I am the supervisor and I was listening to the call. I advised her that the debt collections practice they are using is not the right way and she asked me what did I know, I dont even pay my bill. She went on to say that today is good friday and she dont have time to argue with me and hung up again. I call back and she picks up and says this is not a collections company and hung up on me again.

Rude, aggressive, liars...
Told me I had a summons and I told them where I worked and lived and no one showed up... 5 weeks later called to try to resolve issue and was told it was beyond being resolved she told me that They had offered me a settlement on the first call which they never did and then told me I owed them $1600 plus due immediately.. When I asked for a written proof they told me no and I had to pay it immediately or else id be sued... When I asked them about the summons that they said they had against me they said it was a day 29 and I Had one day to pay it... When my lawyer checked the county and state records there was absolutely no proof of any sort of summons for court involved with my name by the way they had my name long and some of the account information wrong.. When I tried to ask them their name license number or address I kept being told corporate office and we don't have to give me that information... The item in question is over six years old and not on my credit report... Filed a complaint with the consumer protection group and they told me that this company has had numerous in their words tons of complaints against for the same scare tactics.....
Google their number and found numerous complaints and scams related to this... Everything they do violates my states rules and laws for debt collection... Sad to think people fall for this crap and they get away with it...

Returned a phone call them now some very rude female is calling my number from a blocked number.  She's cursing and doing blah blah blahh

Very rude from the monet I received  the call. I was spoken to as if I where less  then a person. She called me ghetto.  I called from a different number and she started speaking  to my mama I'm an even more rude manner told me that someone  will be at my house at ten in the morning and began to read my rights. I called back got no answer.

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

And see:
http://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/alerts/nationwide-debt-association.htm
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http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety
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http://www.ic3.gov/media/2014/140627.aspx
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https://800notes.com/forum/ta-944ec1426a8bcbb ... service-attacks
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http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/ ... r-phones/ndF4c/
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http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=1828
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https://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-b95e185ca7ca356 ... debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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http://www.fdcpa.me/fake-process-server-injunction/
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https://800notes.com/forum/ta-9413b3202bc8b6c ... net%27s-tactics
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http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/alerts/cashnet-payday.htm
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http://www.cashnetusa.com/consumer-notices
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Extortion Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans

Washington, D.C.
December 07, 2010  FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

— filed under: Press Release

The Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. Callers claim the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other Internet check-cashing services.

According to complaints received from the public, the callers have accurate data about victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and the names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. How the fraudsters obtained the personal information varies, but in some cases victims have reported they completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls started.

The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim’s home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide any details about the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers have threatened victims with legal actions, arrests, and, in some cases, physical violence if they do not pay. In many cases, the callers harass victims’ relatives, friends, and employers.
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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.
http://www.insideedition.com/investigative/93 ... debt-collectors

For Extortion Scam Operations,  File reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,CFB,FTC & FCC..  Emails can be attached to complaints filed with IC3, the cyber crimes division of the FBI.

http://www.nw3c.org/
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.fraud.org/
http://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
Tip off FBI about this extortion attempt by filing form at: stips.fbi.gov/
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/haunted-phantom-debt

Also see here:
https://800notes.com/arts/I2neMkbUAAo/where-to-report-phone-crime
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/fraudaware ... and-answer.html