866-697-7141

Caller said he's from Commercial Investigations Inc.  Aggressive Collection Service. This is the number listed on the fax they sent me. I am currently trying to find out if they are for real.

Here is their website:

http://commercialinvestigation.com/ci-web-v4/index.htm

The previous information and web site given is incorrect.  That was for Commercial Investigation, Inc.  You received a call from Commercial InvestigationS, Inc.  I know because I'm looking at a letter from them.  They're web site is http://commercialinvestigations.net.  It is a poor web site.  Their address is 6311 Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys, CA.  A search on the California business web site shows that their corporation is suspended and they were incorporated through legalzoom.com.  All in all it looks like a fly by night "collection agency".  Searching on Google will give you various complaints from people about this company.  It seems like they aren't concerned with frivolous claims and with giving the claiment their funds when it is collected.

If you are thinking of doing business with this company, please seek legal advice first.  We were almost taken in by this collection agency, who would be collecting outstanding debt from a client of ours.  They wanted "good faith" money faxed to them for lawyers fees.  As my attorney told me, "an attorney will take his money after a judgement has been reached, not before"  Do your homework, and sometimes, you just can't do some things on your own, so get a lawyer that you know and trust.

My experience was similar.  CII called saying they had a one-day-only special.  (High Pressure for sure.) Sign and fax back today and they would collect one of our past due receivable accounts for a flat 15% collection fee. Just one day later they asked we fax $1800, above and beyond the agreed 15%. They say it is to cover "litigation expenses".  Yes, CII a high-pressure scam for sure.  Also, they utilize what I call "car-dealer" tactics, with one high-pressure phone call after another. Each caller supposedly a higher-up who utilized more "legal" terminology than the previous pitcher. Fortunately I understand the collections process enough to recognize what CII was promising, they could not deliver because much of it was downright illegal. They are BIG on promises in an effort to get your money.  Be very careful if they come calling.

Thank you "research" for correctly identifying the offending company as Commercial InvestigationS out of California.  My company, Commercial Investigation, Inc., is a licensed private investigation company in New Jersey, and has no connection with the California company.  Over the past month or so, we have received dozens of calls from people who have been swindled or repeatedly harassed by this company.  The correct website for the California company is www.commercialinvestigations.net.  Many of the callers to our office have advised they would be contacting the California Attorney General's Office to file a complaint.  That number is 916-697-7141.  You can also file a complaint against them with the FTC (which handles collection agencies) at https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01.  I am doing additional research on this company and will post my findings.

Again, Commercial Investigation, Inc. in New Jersey has no connection to the California company.

FOR THIS PAST WEEK I HAVE RECEIVED MANY MESSAGES FROM #866-697-7141 (COMMERCIAL INVESTIGATIONS INC)LEFT AT A FAMILY BUSINESS. THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WAS A BUSINESS AND NO LONGER CONTACT THAT NUMBER FOR ME. (PON=PUT ON NOTICE)THEY WERE ALSO INFORMED I AM VERY EDUCATED ON THE FDCPA (FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT) AS I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR OVER 10YRS NOW AND CURRENTLY A QUALITY/COMPLIANCE MANAGER FOR AN AGENCY. I DEAL WITH ATTORNEYS ON A DAILY BASIS AND HIGHLY EDUCATED ON WHAT COLLECTION TACTICS MAY BE USED. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THIS NUMBER TWICE YESTERDAY AND THE FEMALE RECEPTIONIST PLACED ME ON HOLD TWICE AFTER IDENTIFYING THE COMPANY AS THE ABOVE NAME. I AM CURRENTLY DOING MY OWN RESEARCH TO ASSIST THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN CALIFORNIA AND HAVE DOCUMENTS ON TIMES, PERSONS AND CONVERSATIONS. THE ONLY ADVICE AS THERE IS SOMEONE AT THAT LOCATION WHO READS THESE FORUMS THAT I MAY GIVE IS TO BE PREPARED FOR WAR.

"IN LIFE, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU GET HIT BUT HOW HARD YOU GET HIT AND MOVE FORWARD"

We just recieved a series (10 or more)of abusive phone calls from this company and I am looking for a way to nail them to the wall.  They claimed they were doing a "financial investigation."  They screamed profanities at my receptionist and myself when we couldn't produce the owner of our business on demand.  Anyone know who and where to report this incident to?

Their fax line that they list on their website is no good.  I called them, much to their surprise, and after some finegaling got their representative named "Mark Stone" on the line.  I asked him for a fax number, and then he asked "what for?"  I replied, "didn't you request a financial statement?"  He then got all excited and friendly, had to put the phone down while he asked one of the several girls standing behind him for a fax number.  Needless to say, I got a written request for them to stop calling "or else..." through their "secret" fax line.  If you need that fax number, it is 805-498-1234.  They have not called since. I did file complaints with the FTC and the BBC before I took this action.

Yes call Denis Branco (916)575-7011. She is with a fraud Dept that is opening up an investigation on this Company.

Denise Branco is unable to do anything because her department only handles matters regarding investigations.  She asked that anyone who has a complaint against the company go to the California Department of Consumer Affairs website: www.dca.ca.gov.  Complaints filed on that website will be directed to the correct department.

Called me today.
Promising to collect any debt from our deadbeats...
Danger they are liars!

Trying to get money from me. Also sent me a letter saying the same. Do the address 6311 van nuys blvd, suite 441, van nuys, ca 91401 even exist?
This scam needs to be put a stop too.
People call themselves Commericial Investigations, Inc.
Person calling said his name was Steve Hunter.

Got a call from Jiim Rifle at Commercial Investigations today promising to collect all my outstanding debts. I checked the web site AND the CIAA they say certifies them. Not impressed. There's no way to really contact them which any responsible company would post. Also, check the Sec of State for Ca and suspended license. Also, did a city search for the address in Van Nuys, doesn't exist. Thanks for posting your experiences. This was very helpful to me!

Commercial Investigations offered to collect a debt for us. I called the BBB in CA and was told they have 23 complaints since August of 07 none of which have been answered as of 2/11/08. The CI number is 818-477-0102.

Inarticulate man calls, identifies himself as David THorn (sp) then makes all kinds of threats.  Threats seem unsubstantiated but are disturbing nonetheless.  Our attorney says not to worry about them;  I'd like to see them put out of business.

Any complaints against this company should be directed to the Federal Trade Commission, which regulates collection agencies.  The number for the FTC in San Francisco is 1-877-382-4357.

Was approached by Phone by a Randy Sharp from CII, this was yesterday.  Today, 2/29/08, different gentleman calls stating he is the Supervisor for Randy and that our claim needs to be immediatly sent to LEGAL DEPT. for collection.  They would only charge us $ 700 for this service, UP FRONT.  Notified this Gentleman that I had allready investigated them myself and that I had filed a complaint with the BBB, he hung up.  DO NOT DO!!!  YOU never pay for legal from legitamite companies, EVER !!

I too was approached and unfortunaetly fell for the scam . I cant contact them at all . anyone knows what i can do ? any help would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks

A homeless guy worked for one of our subcontractors and was paid in full for his work.  But he thought he should have received more.  He managed to get the cell phone numbers of our company president, the owner and the billing office.  He harassed us personally for awhile until he apparently got ahold of Commercial Investigations' phone number.

Now we are receiving collections calls several times a day from these people, and we have never hired or done business directly with this individual.  We do not owe him anything.

When I told the collector to put his claim in writing and fax it to me, he hung up before I had even finished giving him our fax number.

I don't know that there is much more that can be done, other than telling them to put it in writing, refusing to accept their calls and filing a complaint with the California Attorney General and your own state's Attorney General.  We have already wasted too much time dealing with them.

The receptionist did confirm that the owners of this company are William and Jane Boyd.  Their address is listed as Newbury Park, CA.  (I can "investigate" right along with them!)