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Threats from debt collectors

lawsuit threat for CC debt over 9 yrs old

Someone called about summoning my mother. Apparently, they threatened that my mother did not process "documentation" regarding my fathers car. I knew it was a scam because my fathers call has been paid off 6+ years ago.

This has happened to my family before. Don't be fooled! Ironically, my parents are attorneys who summon people all of the time. They sound legit but they are total scammers.

This so called Law firm not only called me but called my HR department at work.  Therefore got work involved with a matter was was non existent.  stated I owed debt on a credit card that was closed in 2016.  I went as far to call the credit card company to verify the account was not in collection.  They sound legit but they are scammers looking to make money off of anyone that falls for their deception.  scum bags!

One of the tricks they use is to call your family, friends, neighbors and/or places of employment (past or present or both) to create panic and embarrassment so that their intended victim calls them so that they can scare that person into paying extortion money.  They will usually also state information that would be illegal for a real debt collector to state to a third party such as that you are being sued, that you owe money to someone, etc. They threaten that if you do not call them back, they will contact your HR department and tell them that you are a deadbeat who does not pay their bills.  They often call people that have never even been associated with you because they get erroneous information off the internet.

It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and (this is the important part) that they have the legal right to collect it.  You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.  

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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 of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.  If and when you get that letter you should immediately send that debt validation letter by certified, return receipt mail.

First, you should make a complaint at this Federal Agency, and while there you should also read up on how debt collection is supposed to work as well as what your rights in this matter are: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Also file complaints with the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:   https://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general