866-201-0940

kept calling back and was rude and would not release the line .

Keeps calling, leaves message:  "This is Christina Barbow (Barbeaux? whatever). I have an important message.  Please call 1-866-201-0940"...  Doesn't say company or reference or what. I refuse to return calls like this and get embroiled with pushy or rude people!

caller keeps calling and hanging up.

She left message saying she was Patricia and she had an "important message"

I had this message from some guy named Scott Dano from Stephens and Michaels firm regarding my case #?? Said it was important for me to call him back asap, for this matter pertains directly to me. He made it sound like I was in trouble.  Who are these people???? Do i call them back?

This is a collection agency. From their website:

If you have received notice or have a question about your account, please call our consumer helpline at 866.679.9649.  

Stephens & Michaels Associates, Inc.
63 Range Road
Windham, NH 03087
Toll Free: 888.340.1740
Fax: 866.755.9713     Toll Free: 888.340.1740 x2845
Direct: 603.824.9045
Fax: 603.824.9145
Email: service@smacollects.com  

SALES DEPARTMENT   CONSUMER INFORMATION
Jeff Rocheleau - VP, Sales/Business Development
Email: jeff.rocheleau@smacollects.com
Toll Free: 888.340.1740 ext. 2888
Direct: 603.328.2888/ 603.824.9088
Fax: 603.824.9188    

http://www.collateralcollections.com/

Received from same #, Person stating to be "Christina" , these are either zombie debt collectors or some scam artists; I have great credit with no outstanding debt, just with the message they are leaving they are in violation of California Civil Code 1788 (re: Fair Debt Practices), not identifying themselves as a collections agency. Confirmed post from Alfalfa.

I got a call from this number on my cell phone last night.  The person didn't leave a message.  Does anyone know who they collect for?  The only 2 unpaid debts I have are Comcast and Providian.  I've been told not to pay them because the statute of limitations is almost up and if I pay them it will reduce my FICO score by showing it as recent instead of past negative credit.  At least that's how my financial planner explained it. He also told me to not even attempt to talk to them because that could re-start the 5 year statute of limitations.

I had the same experience as Spaz...Patricia with an important message, calling on 2 consecutive nights.

I got a call from these people as well.  I am behind 3 weeks on a car payment which will be paid on Monday.  When I called the person with whom I am dealing with at my bank (the lender), they told me that Stephens and Michaels was not supposed to be working on this case (whatever that means) and that he would call them and take care of it.
    The Stephens and Michaels collector was ABUSIVE;  he told me that they are attorneys - false.  He lied to me about the amount owed, called me names, tried to intimidate me, and told me to call my mortgage holder and tell them that my mortgage would be 2 weeks late so that I could Western Union my payment to him, adding on of course, his 25% take.  I feel that he tried to scare me into sending my payment to him instead of my lender so that he could make money on me, which of course is ridiculous for a payment that isn't even 30 days late. He asked me where I kept the car as he would order the repo that day (which my lender informed me that they cannot order a repo, only the lender has that ability).

  I will file a complaint with the Attorney General as I feel that his "collection strategy" was in direct violation of the "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act" (FDCPA) which states:

“The FDCPA broadly prohibits a debt collector from using ‘any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.’ 15 U.S.C. § 1692e.”

http://64.233.169.132/search?q=cache:cSgH5CQ0 ... clnk&cd=3&gl=us

From the "Stephens and Michaels Associates" website:

"Collection Strategy"

"Our collection strategy is about tracking the best practices, so we record all of our incoming and outgoing calls. This ensures that communication with your customers is conducted with professionalism and dignity while helping us build a smarter collection program. We meet weekly to overcome bottlenecks and produce solutions for the following week's strategy. A team works on your accounts; the collection structure consists of Account Managers, Supervisors, and Collectors. This ensures everyone is held accountable to improve the collections process and resolve accounts with the best possible recovery rate".

http://www.collateralcollections.com/index.php/site/pages/C7/

Professionalism and Dignity? Yeah, Right!

Wow, KMC! They sound brutal.  And I guess with the current economic situation they are stopping at nothing (not even the law!) to collect their money.  I continue to get calls on my cell phone and it is some recording that only records what seems to be an extension number.  I won't call them. And I think they are the same outfit that called my house about my Providian card.  They spoke with my boyfriend who identified himself as my "fiance" (which is illegal for her to do) and told him about the debt and gave him a number that she called a "docket number" and said she was on her way to court about this (also illegal). You cannot say you are going to do something which in fact you cannot do.  She was calling from out of state therefore she has to file a warrant in debt in my state and have me served.  Neither of which is happening.  I've been a paralegal for 20 years and used to do medial collections.  I know what they can and cannot do.  I would love to tell them that but I don't want to do anything to re-start the statute of limitations, and any attempt to make payment arrangements would do that.  Who knows how they would construe that call to make it look like I was attempting to pay.  If I could I would hook up my telephone recording device (legal in my state) and record our conversations for my complaint against them.

FYI ...

Stephens & Michaels is a corporate welfare queen. If they call again, ask them if they've paid back their $708,000 "loan" that they mooched from you and other taxpayers -- http://www.fedspending.org/faads/faads.php?re ... type=T&sortby=i

Here's another 800Notes thread concerning complaints about this same company -- https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-679-9649

Got a call from them today looking for a deadbeat brother-in-law we haven't heard from in years. I don't usually answer but was curious. Guy on line was not overtly impolite but was sarcatically evasive when I asked who they were and what they were. Thanks for info here.

yeah...because you guys are smart and know what you're talking about.  That why you have creditors calling you.

You don't pay your debts, activley seek ways to excape your creditors and then behave as if the collectors are the bad guys.

Do yourself a favor, return the phone calls.  Yes, some collectors will be rather rude and pushy, even if you are nice.  On the other hand, most collectors will give what they get.  

Make no mistake however, if you owe the balance, YOU owe the balance.  You are not entitled to pretend that you dont owe the money.  You are morally obligated to repay the balances you owe.  If you're unhappy with interest or other charges, youll find that most of the time creditors are willing to remove those charges.  But YOU have to talk to them.  They are not in the wrong for calling you.  You are in the wrong for ignoring them.

What irritates me most is the sense of entitlement people have.  Prideful ignorance being a close second.  You rip off people that gave you money in good faith and then consider it wrong for the creditors you stole from to try to get thier money back.  You rediculous people should be ashamed of yourselves.  At least have the level of self perception to realize that whatever your circumstances, you are in the wrong.

So stop going on your websites, stop thinking you're so smart sending out cease and desist letters, remove your mouth from the nipple of congress and confront your problems.  The FDCPA doesnt help you, it enables you, like a wife forgiving an alcoholic of yet another outburst.

It's time to grow up children.

Your post is funny You know who.  Thank you for responding.

I got three calls like this in this past week and they didn't say who they were.

Same as others.  Caller "Evan Roderick" states that he has important "personal" information...the only thing is - and I realize I must be a special kind of "[***]" for saying this - I owe not a single penny of debt.  I take great pride in the fact that I don't have a mortgage nor a single credit card nor debt of any kind, along with a very high credit rating.  I believe my "[***]" status comes simply from having a listed phone number in order to become a target of these privacy invading companies fishing for victims....thanks to everyone for the info, gave me a good jump start on my own research.

I don't owe any debts at all, but have received a call from this number looking for who I assume is the person that had my phone number last (I've had my number for a year, though.)

I spoke to these people and they said they did not have me in their system, but they wanted a lot of info from me (ssn, etc...) and I was only willing to give them my name and my phone number.

Returned call and was told person in a conference. The person who answered the phone would not tell me what kind of company he was working for.  Sure sounds phoney.

Well, I just got this call.   I have no outstanding bills of any kind, any relatives.   I guess I am a priviledged person, but how did this guy get ahold of me.   I wrote down his number and am not about to call back.

I will simply turn his number over to the authorities, since my husband is a very good attorney.