8666642512

Have received dozens of calls at my parents' house from this company and one other company, both stating to be owners of a debt that I have with Chrysler for my mileage overage on a lease.  I haven't heard anything at all from Chrysler on the debt.  Focus is now calling my office and trying to secure a settlement with me.  I told the other company already, and I will send a letter to Focus today (per one of the other posts) stating that I have requested verification of the debt several times and have not received anything in writing (email, fax, or snail mail).

We have received numerous "urgent" phone calls from Chrysler Financial
with messages for a former neighbor to call back "immediately".  At first we told them we wouldn't pass the message on and asked them to please
stop calling us.  We reminded them we are on the Do Not Call Registry,
but the calls continue.   Now we just ignore the calls after seeing the
number, name of the organization or "unavailable" on our caller I.D.
The calls are annoying and embarrassing, especially when they come while we're entertaining friends in our home.  How do we stop this intrusion on our privacy?

They are looking for Joe and Melissa Peres or Perez. We have the number for last 5 years from SBC/AT&T with restriction to call our number by ANY agency. We don't know anybody with the last name though we are being harrased by companies like Focus Receivable Management. They are to cheap to purchase current database of phone numbers and they are to lazy to verify ownership of number they are calling. FCC, Government or Courts need to stop this practices and penalize intruders of our private lifes.

here is more on these guys: http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/128/128068.html

here is more on these guys: http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/128/128068.html

I just received a call from 866-664-2512, I didn't recognize the number so I let the answering machine pick up.

There was indistinct background noise for a few seconds, then a male voice mumbled a bit and then very clearly said "you smell like pi$$" and hung up.

Exact same scenario - Chrysler - traded in car and bought new one - told everything was "0" balance but now this company calls night and day saying there was a balance from the original lease.  Dealership says it was their error but can't correct!

Have has several calls from Mr. Fox, wanting me to call him back. ain't gonna happen. Tired of him calling my cell phone in the middle of the night.

This company constantly harrassing me at work and could care less if it jepordized my job.  I have talked to an attorney and they has advised me to sent them a cease and decease letter (which can be found on the internet.  Once this is sent they are legally required to stop all calls because the letter clearly states that you want to handle this debt with the original owner.  If they continue to call the file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and your state's Attorney General's office

I keep recieving harrasing calls from this number day and night. I tried to settle with them but they will not accept a payment plan that works for me. They do nothing but threaten me and bully me around. I have sent registered letters and not heard anything back except for the harrasing phone calls. When I do talk to them they do nothing but degrade me and make me feel like Im the scum of the earth. How do I make this stop???

they keep looking for someone named earl gray. dont these idiots realize he gave them the name of a tea?

YOU SUE THEM


THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS
HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND THEY WILL END UP PAYING YOU

READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE
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

I have no debt, but these debt collectors are all the same when it comes to harassing calls. They have no idea who I am, but will keep asking for the wrong person. It doesn't matter if you tell them they have the wrong person, they will still keep calling.

They say they are from Card Services which I do not know what that is. They usually call the same
Time daily. It's harrassment.

Yup! I got the calls too! I answered one a while back and it wasn't a name I even knew! I told them that the person doesn't live here and she proceeded to ask for my mothers maiden name and other weird questions that I didn't answer. I told her it was none of her business and that I was going to call the police! They eased up calling for a few months and now they're calling again! So now, I'm thinking of playing a little game with them. Hey, you tease the cat, you get scratched!  LOL!

Hey...... these people calling from INDIA, CHINA and other countries. where hundred of call centers are running for getting money by fraud from USA and UK citizens... ITS ALL SCAM...

How it runs..........(for debt collection)

It starts when people tries to get loan online, they fill all their personal detail on that sites and problem starts from this point. all your information is sold to collection agencies (call centers) at $4 to $6 / Person, whether you got that loan or not.

SO what actually they (Call Centers) do...

1. They have all of your information includes: your name, social security number, address, employment detail, 2 references and a detail of amount.( which you didn't get)

2. For dialing purpose call center gets USA or UK numbers. they calls through various softwares (like: ICALL). And have various phone numbers.

3.They hire college students or some people and prepare them to communicate with you. (training classes for getting a bit of American accent) and gives them fake names (American).

4. They makes a write up for leaving message to threaten you. like:-

"This message is intended for Mr. john (your name).  john the very second you receive this msg i need you or your retained attorney to call me back. the issue at hand is extremely time sensitive. my name is ..........., and i am calling from financial accountability association, my call back no. is 123456789, i am repeating this for you john 123456789, john don't disregard this msg and call me on my number back as soon as possible. if i don't get any call from you or from your attorney........ wish you good luck, bye"

5. If you pick up phones ...they will threaten you by saying... that federal govt or federal legislation  is going to pressing lawsuit against you and your social security number. and try to make you remember that you took a pay day loan and never paid it back... so it is very easy to threaten you by saying that "such company falling lawsuit against you for your unpaid loan".
( you don't know for which loan he/she talking about and try to remember your last 2- 3 loans (which you actually got and never paid)).  At this time you stuck in the situation.

(according to my perception you never know "how many loan you took in last 1 or 2 year"- sorry-- joking)

6. They will tell that you are charged against these allegations:-  1. Theft by deception 2. collateral cheque fraud

7. They will tell u that they have sent various mails to inform you but u never replied and that was the only way to communicate you.

8.They will ask u to write a Apologizing letter that “your intention was not bad and you never wanted to run away with that money & you want to fix that issue by paying ..... amount.”


how to avoid them...

1. By telling that you have an attorney (Both criminal and bankruptcy). give any number by saying "call to my attorney"... they won't call.
2. By telling that u know : Its ALL SCAM .......... they will hung up.
3. By telling that its not my social security number....... they will never call.
4.By asking for the date of loan taken (online)........ they can't help you in this matter (by which u can come to know about scam)

Don't be afraid.........They won't sue........

If this detail is helpful for you please copy paste this into other pages... don't be selfish.... and save other people from being fool.


My English is not so good.
I am an Indian........ all Indians are not same... you can send me mail for more detail:- jasusviju@gmail.com

IF YOU REALLY TOOK LOAN AND WANT TO PAY IT BACK THEN PLEASE VERIFY ALL DETAIL BEFORE PAYING ANYONE.........

Thanks and help people

They keep calling my Firms fax number. Doubt they will ever get that person in the 812 area. Seriously people: Take action. They do not have a right to harass anyone and in this economic climate: I have no respect for someone who would do this.

I have been harrassed for an entire month from Focus. The sad part is I am not the person that they are looking for. It is for someone else, but they continue to call my home over and over again 2 times a day, even after they have been told that person does not live here. I have been told 3 times now that they will remove my phone number, but it has not happened. I am so upset with this company, they should be shut down for unethical practices. I have never had people be so rude to me and I'm not the person that has a debt with them.  Any suggestions on any leagal actions that can be taken

Yep. Tell them the next time they call you will be contacting an attorney and suing them for harassing a non-debtor:

Under the TCPA, a consumer has a right to file a lawsuit and recover $500 for each call that violates the TCPA. The TCPA can also be used in conjunction with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in some situations.  

Generally, the TCPA does not apply to debt collectors making collection calls to debtors. However, if you are subjected to calls from a debt collector and you are not the debtor, you may file a lawsuit against the debt collector under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the TCPA.

This right was recently recognized by Judge Legrome D. Davis in a case called Watson v. NCO Group, Inc.  NCO Group is a debt collector that uses automated prerecorded collection calls.  In this case, Mr. Watson alleged he was getting hundreds of calls from NCO Group after he got a new phone number. Mr. Watson claimed he owed no debt to NCO Group, Inc.  Mr. Watson filed suit under both the FDCPA and TCPA.

David Israel, defense lawyer for NCO, argued that the TCPA should not apply to debt collectors.  Judge Davis rejected the argument made by David Israel. The judge ruled that Mr. Watson had a right to sue NCO Group Inc under the TCPA for $500 for each call.  Judge Davis wrote;

[The] Court is convinced that a non-debtor's rights are in fact violated when he is subjected to repeated annoying and abusive debt collection calls that he remains powerless to stop.

Judge Davis' ruling was based upon his interpretation that collection calls to non-debtors violate the privacy rights provided by the TCPA.  

So what can you do if you receive "wrong number" calls from debt collectors?

1. Sign up for the Do-Not-Call registry.
2. Save the calls captured by your voice mail or answering machine.
3. Contact a consumer lawyer.

http://consumerlawyer.typepad.com/blog/2008/02/the-do-not-call.html

Collections
TCPA: What Is It & How Does It Affect You?

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) does many things - including prohibiting debt collectors from calling your cell phone without your permission. Each unauthorized call could result in the debt collector paying you up to $1,500. Here's some helpful information on the Act and how it might affect you.
What is the TCPA?

The TCPA, which was signed into law in 1991 under the first Bush Administration and codified under 47 U.S.C. 227, prohibits calls using any automatic telephone dialing system or artificial or prerecorded voices to:

•Emergency telephone lines
•Telephone lines of any guest room or patient room at a hospital, health care facility, elderly home or similar establishment
•Telephone numbers assigned to paging services, cellular telephone services, specialized mobile radio services, other radio common carrier services or any service for which the called party is charged for the call
•Any telephone call to a residential telephone line
•Send unauthorized faxes
The only way that a caller won't violate the statute is if express consent has been given - and violations of the TCPA are steep. An unintentional call carries a damage amount of $500; an intentional call carries a damage amount of $1,500. That's per call and regardless of the purpose of the call. In other words, if they call you using an automated dialing system without your consent, they've violated the Act and you are entitled to damages.

How does it affect you?

Most debt collectors use automatic telephone dialing systems to contact debtors. You'll recognize this when you go to pick up the phone and there is a slight hesitation on the other end. In fact, most debt collectors are calling nearly 100 people at a time just waiting for someone to answer. Although many have stopped calling landlines, cell phones are another story. Since more and more people are using cell phones either instead of, or in addition to, traditional landlines, debt collectors are finding their cell phone numbers using skip tracers, calling them and hoping that they don't realize that the TCPA has been violated.

http://bankruptcy-law.freeadvice.com/collections/tcpa_how_it_works.html

I

Great info Alfalfa.
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