866-300-7907

Just received a voice message at work regarding my daughter. They were calling about a serious collection matter.
I want to thank everyone who has posted to this site so we all can ignore these calls.

They called to my grandmothers house today stating that I owe $8000. Threatening to sue me as well. I am so glad I googled this. We do need tp get together and sue them for lying!

Not only are they lying, but they are breaking the law by discussing an alledged debt with a third party and threatening to take legal action which is unintended or cannot be taken.

Go to the NY AG's website and file a complaint: www.NYdebthelp.com

I received a voice mail on my cell phone from a Joseph Taylor calling from "a prelegal verifications department" regarding another person's (whom I will refer to here as X) alleged debt for which he says I am a primary contact person. He referred to
The Firm of Karen Jenson and Steven Klien and instructed me to inform X to contact Karen and Steven at this number:
1 866 300 7907
and refer to a case #
He said: "X needs to contact Karen and Steven as soon as possible by the end of  today to prevent any paperwork from being sent out to the adverse on file and to prevent any further actions from being taken at this point in time."

The language of these phone calls is very carefully selected to plant seeds of fear in the mind. For example, the term "Pre-legal". It almost sounds like the term "legal" which is a very scary word to most people.
And the term "Firm" sounds almost like "Law Firm" (OMG).

I immediately googled the "Firm" and, of course, there is no mention of it anywhere on the net. A reverse phone search of 1-866 300 -7907 brought up no results (of course) because the main weapon these people have in their favor is anonymity. Legitimate businesses do not operate in this fashion.

Caller ID: 800-837-6464
Caller: The Firm of Karen Jenson & Steven Klien
Caller Type: Collection Agency

I have a voice mail recording of Joseph Taylor and would love to join a class action!
I believe there are enough violations described on this site to give these people some of their own medicine.

Of course we'll have to find them first.

You can contact me at chld_unvrs@yahoo.com

My mom in Florida received a call on her home phone number asking for me. I live in Illinois! The lady that called said that I must return the call by 6pm today regarding a legal matter. She wouldn't give my mom the name of the company or any other information except Steve Klein's name. She got my mom all upset. They also indicated that I was the one that had given them my mom's phone number. Since I have never lived in Florida and my mom lives in my grandmother's home. How do they get these phone numbers? She called the number back and they asked what county do I live in so they can serve me papers! My mom was very relieved after I googled the phone number and found out all the negative posts on this website. I won't be returning the phone calls. Hopefully they won't call my mom back. How does that work since her phone number is on the do not call list? Do they get around this by star blocking the number?

Joseph Taylor from the pre-legal vertifications Dept. left a message on my answering machine stating they have important information for my son and to contact them immediately. Case# 151771 - phone# 866-300-7907. I never returned the phone call, as I dont have children, so I knew something was up.  I googled the phone number today and found a few websites with this scam on it. Thanks everyone.

I received a call from a Joseph Taylor looking for my husband regarding "a pre-legal matter" that he could not inform me anything about it, he said it is against the law. He instructed me to call Karen Jensen and Steven Klein at 1 877 614 9151 and refer to a case # before 3 PM, or it will be a filed legal matter to X county, which we have not been a resident for the last couple of years. Luckily by googling their names lead me to this website and I know this is a SCAM!

I recieved a call this morning on my cell phone and the caller id number said New York so I didn't answer it because I don't know anyone there.  A voice message was left and they said my name and that it was regarding the stimulis program I was approved for that they send me a letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago but have not heard from me. He told me to call back at 1877-230-1901. My first thought was maybe it was for some type of govt. program but i know I did not get anything in the mail. Then I was wondering how did they get my cell number if its not even under my name (does anyone know?). So I looked up the caller id number online and read all the comments from people. Thanks! this service really helps. I won't be calling that number back.

So the same thing everyone is saying below and above [***] THESE PEOPLE dont belive them just hang kick back and relax your feet.They said the same stuff to me. GOD BLESS !

Hey the same person has called me and i gave in and gave them 50.00 towards and OLD debt.  i have since cancleled payment after researcing the number.  but can i get in trouble for that

Same thing happened to me.  I gave in and gave 50.00 over the phone to secure my terms with them.  but i then researched thenumber to find out all this!  i canceled payment on the item and have closed my account.  can i get in trouble for that?

273 Walt Whitman Rd., 356

City : Huntington Station
State : New York
Zip : 11746

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  877-230-1901 631-755-3075 631-421-2057 631-421-1307 888-333-0904 631-547-4879 800-344-1588 631-421-1840  
Fax 888-755-5312 631-421-1397  

  http://www.credsmart.org/id4.html 
nfo@unitedabstractgroup.com
 
 

Notes
Same scam, new name. Boittom feeders, collectors offering scam of "Stimulus Program" (don't think they drug test.) From website: "Stimulus Program" Your credit score will start to rise immediately after payment We will also report this matter as paid in full account to the credit bureau (it will look like full balance was paid). We will also remove any negative marking on you credit file regarding this account. Lies, just like all their other phony organizations (see below.) Collecting on time barred debts. NO LICENSE OR BOND FOUND ANYWHERE! SUPER  



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

Paystar AKA Weber and Stevens & Porter and Martin

They use various phone numbers 866-299-8558 & 866-755-1050 and 800-300-7909

The people that call use fake names: Joseph Taylor, Lisa Taylor, Lisa Jackson, Lisa Weber, Susan Carter

If you got worried when they called you can quit worrying. They aren't the law. They won't sue. But, save every message EVER from this company.

If you talk to them, let them know the conversation is being recorded. And record. Ask to talk to a supervisor, ask for the name of the company and the company address and tell them they are not to call your phone number again EVER.

Under NO circumstances should you identify yourself, give out or acknowledge your birthdate or social security number over the phone. NEVER,EVER give out any information about any debts or any other private information.

If you tell this company to NEVER CALL YOU AGAIN and they persist on calling (under various names), contact your state attorney general.

A year or so after you've done that, they'll probably call again under another name and a new phone numbers. SO KEEP YOUR RECORDED MESSAGES AND CALLS. You will need them to file another complaint.

C. Barry  & Associates, LLC
CONSUMER SCAM
(Barry Calvagna)
aka/ United Abstract Group, Inc.
aka/ American Consolidebt, Inc.
aka USR Group, Inc.
Paystar International aka Conway and Phillips
The associates group
2387 New York Ave., #8
Huntington Station, NY 11746
Phone: (800) 344-1588
(631) 421-1397
Fax: (631) 421-1397  

918 Jericho Turnpike
Huntington Station, NY 11746
Phone: 631-421-1533
888-380-3516
866-509-3202
Fax:  631-421-1890
Fax: 631-755-3069

Florida:
United Abstract Group, Inc.
PO BOX 6812
Spring Hill, FL 34611
(352) 684-8693
(352) 666-0466 fax
(866) 684-8693

USR Group, Inc.  
33 Walt Whitman Rd, Ste 209
Huntington Station, NY 11746-4281

Web Address: www.unitedabstractgroup.com
www.consolidebt.us

Head Debt Collectors:
Anthony Picone
Barry Calvagna
Huntington Station, NY

We thought this scam died back in the nineties, but it is alive and well, operating from Huntington Station, from New York. Debt buyers United Abstract Group, Inc., are bottom feeders who use their entity of C. Barry & Associates, LLC, who operate out of the same address to lie, intimidate and totally misrepresent their illegal debt collection practices.

Owners Barry Calvagna and Anthony Picone are about to feel the wrath of the legal system for their blatant disregard for the law and consumer rights. Not to mention the fact that we could NOT locate one state where they are licensed or bonded in.

Calls to their office result in debt collectors who don’t have any answer (they are all operators and not sure if the phones they answer are a law office) to one brazen gutter tramp who insisted they are the law office of Michael Greenberg who files suits on debts. Their notices violate a host of federal and state laws; their accounts are out of statutes, which show how desperate these fools really are.

Take a look below at the incredibly stupid notice they are sending out, see if you can count how many FDCPA violations it has. To say these sewer rats are dumb is an understatement. These folks have NOT a clue of what they are doing; here is what we found on their website:

“These are some of the services that we offer:

Title Search and Retrieval
Real Estate Closings
Debt Sales And Acquisitions
Charge-off Credit Card Debt Recovery
Medical Self Pay/Insurance Claims Recovery
Education/Tuition Recovery”

“We offer investment opportunities for the serious investor.”

If you cannot even send out a letter that is in compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, how in the world can you make money doing what they claim, above? … (I had to keep asking myself…”How could anyone be this dumb?)

A SERIOUS INVESTOR would need a LOT of money to pay their legal fees because our impression of these dummies is they can’t do anything right, they have unprofessional and under-trained collectors working for them and who uses this scam anymore?

Take a look at what they are sending out from the old, worthless, out of statute portfolios they are desperately trying to collect on because it’s hard to believe that any debt collector is really this STUPID!              

CONSUMER WARNING: DO NOT to fall for this scam! These liars and assorted idiots are incapable of taking any actions.  Contact us if you need assistance and referral to REAL lawyers in dealing with this trash.

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/c_barry_associates.htm

http://www.budhibbs.com/finalnotice.gif

I have no idea how this "company" is still in business -- how has the FTC not shut them down yet?  My mother received a call today from these people (some "Robert Mason," which I found out was an alias...I'm sure "Steve Klien" is too)...saying they were going to place a lein on my wife's car due to an old CC debt which the SOL is LONG expired.  I truly want to ask some people: "What's it feel like to be a f***ing idiot?"  

I'm close to becoming a CPA, so I like to think I'm somewhat familiar with the way law works...or at least, I've got a ton of experience looking up the things I'm unsure of.  I cannot even begin to count the number of FDCPA violations just today alone -- the thought in the back of my head was that I should just allow these idiots to follow through with their little scam, and then come back with a nice lawsuit of my own to collect the $1000 "per incident" of their violations!  Hell, I could retire off this one!

Bottom line -- there are a lot of truly good, good people out there that I'm sure are falling for this trap.  If they refuse to validate the debt IN WRITING -- which they are required to do (and the witch I spoke with today tried to tell me "they would validate it to me through documents in court"...haha, mkay then!) -- then DO NOT pay them a dime.  The minute you pay ANYTHING restarts the "clock" on the SOL...it is a blatant attempt to trap you!  

Furthermore -- majority of credit card debt is unsecured - to the best of my knowledge meaning they CANNOT tie this debt to ANY of your assets (home, car, etc).  

Some people are truly a waste of valuable oxygen (refraining from the other thoughts about these clowns).

Do not pay!

I did some research on these scammers and found that the actual place they operate out of is a Emblem Health building in Melville,New York. They operate on the 4th floor of the building and are located next to Ernst and Young operating under the title on their door "FINANCIAL". They are not financial they are scammers! They lie and cheat to pressure people into paying their past debts. They threaten lawsuits, liens, and repossessions. If you look up information on these people Barry Calvagna it says he's a musician. I couldn't find anything on Anthony Picone however, if you search these people on facebook you can see what these losers look like. I already have been contacting the New York Attorney General's office, you must continue to do this if they call from any made up name or Paystar or whatever nonsense they say on the phone. Also half these people don't speak English well!