866-878-5796

correction I meant to say *AS if you are a bad person.

I just made a complaint to the local New York police department.

I was given another phone number for "mr cignarale"  866-876-7234 ext. 300.

They are going to do a little more checking, too.

Good luck.

At the very least, this person violated the Federal Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA).  The FDCPA forbids debt collectors from disclosing anything about a consumer to a third-party. That the third-party in this case was family is of no relevance. My guess is, they also violated your state's privacy laws and probably other federal privacy laws.

I suggest you do all of the following:

1) Report this incident to the Federal Trade Commission. You can file a complaint online at https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

2) File a complaint with your state's attorney general. The contact information for each state's attorney general is at www.naag.org  Just scroll down to the national map graphic and click on your state.

3) There's an identity theft concern here as well, so you may want to file a complaint with your local police. Just be sure to tell them that this company is calling other people and disclosing your social security number.

4) Send this debt collector thug a letter directing him to cease all communication with you and your acquaintances, and warn him that you will pursue legal sanctions against him under the provisions of the FDCPA if he fails to comply. Be sure to send the letter via certified US Mail with a return receipt request, and save a copy of your letter. If this vermin contacts you more than once after receiving your letter, then he's in violation of the law (again) and you can lower the boom on him in court for fun and profit.

5) Sue him. What this rat has done to you already is actionable; you have ample grounds to sue him for violating your rights under the FDCPA.  Check out these websites for more information on protecting yourself from outlaw debt collectors and suing them:

Consumer Credit Advocate Bud Hibbs - http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
National Association of Consumer Advocates - http://www.naca.net/debt-collection-abuse/
Fair Debt Collection - http://fair-debt-collection.com/
Warren & Vullings, LLP - http://www.fairdebtlawyers.com/
My Fair Debt - http://www.myfairdebt.com/
Consumer Counsel Group - http://www.consumercounselgroup.com

Good luck!

By the way, you should also file a complaint against Cignarale with New York's attorney grievance committee for the 8th Judicial District:

Attorney Grievance Committee
Eighth Judicial District
438 Main Street, Suite 800
Buffalo, NY  14202-3212
Phone: 716/845-3630
Fax: 716/856-2701

And here's the mailing address and other contact info for Cignarale:

Vincent Cignarale, P.C.
5100 Transit Rd.
Depew, NY  14043-4465
Phone 716-651-0102
Fax 716-651-0397
Toll free 866-876-7234
NY State Bar # 4459392  (This should come in handy for any future disbarment proceedings.)

And more eye-opening information about this shyster: http://www.giovelawofficeexposed.com/brenda.html

my relatives and i keep getting phone calls from this number claiming to be the law office of vincent p cignorelli in reference to a debt which i may or may not owe either way i have no desire to speak with this lying sack of [***] his office claimed they would like to take care of this matter as "it was going to court soon" that was around thanksgiving this guy is a crackpot-the only debts i have outstanding were with extremely sleezy criminal type people who would have gotten their money if they had been able to furnish me an address to MAIL them a money order one guy went as far as to tell me he had no adress and the only way he could accept payment was via a western union moneygram sent a gas station's name and if that is the debt mr. cignorelli's office is refering to...

Hi ____ (my name), um, this call is actually for ____ (my friend).  We're looking to speak with her about a legal matter.  We need to talk to her about.  I have a file on my desk that definitely, um, regards her, um.  If you'd like to give me a call back.  If you have any information that can help her or give her the information.  Ah, my number is 1(866)878-5796, at extension 358.  Okay?  And her file number with us is ______ (the number).  Thank you very much.  Have a good day."

And a similar one at work to my manager and several at home, UGLY and repeated messages

got a letter per request, bogus, had an alleged date when this account was "purchased" from blah blah blah-all bogus, info had only my name and address and nothing more, I sent the letter back torn up, with a not too kind letter enclosed no return address and a promise of contact by MY attorney

Rec'd a voicemail stating to call the number back in order to avoid legal fees. I spoke to some Mr. Falk who told me about some payday loan I had back in 2004. The total b/c of fees, etc was $740 but if I made out a payment plan, he can knock off $240 bringing it down to $500. He asked for my checking account #. Just as I was about to give him the account #, I realized that I should probably ask for documentation prior to giving out my account #. He then put me on hold...for like two minutes before I hung up. I called again and spoke to another Mr. somebody who said they'd mail me documentation within 3-5 business days. He even had my current address which is scary because I just moved a few weeks ago to a new city. I am eagerly anticipating getting this bogus letter in the mail.

You do not have to go into any big detail when you write them. All you have to say is that you are not allowed to personal calls at work and that it is inconvenient to take calls at anytime. Tell them you will correspond through the US postal service only. Send you letter certified/return receipt. That way you have proof they got it so if/when they should call you again, you have proof of their blatant disregard for the law and they can be fined up to $1,000 should you pursue a case against them. They can huff and puff and threaten to blow your house down but they can't do jack squat without a judgment and they have to sue and win to get that. Don't take what these people say at their word, do not release any personal or bank info, do not agree to anything and do not talk to them on the phone unless you can record yours and their every word. Still your best bet is not to talk at all, do all your correspondence through the mail so you have proof of everything, make copies of all letters you send and send them certified/return receipt. Do not make any arrangments to pay, whether you owe it or not, doing that will restart the statute of limitations, which every state has. You need to see what your state's SOL is, a lot of these attorneys and collection agencies buy old debt and then try to collect on it. Become involved and don't hide your heads in the sand. Don't be intimidated by these [***]. If they threaten to do something, file a complaint with their state and your state's Attorney General. File a complaint with the FTC using the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. Read up on that and become informed. I hope this helps someone.

The people calling maybe rude and in violation of the fdcpa but they will sue you if you do not work with them. I neglected to pay a credit card bill for years. Mr Hapka at ext 272 was very helpful told me me what could happen but i ignored them as empty threats after reading web sites like these.My wages are now being garnished 15% on a judgement that does not only include the amount i owed for the debt but court fee;s and attorney costs were included too. You need to get an attorney and have them work with these people.  Janice from Utica

Janice from Utica: Do you work for these folks?

Janice,
You are so full of it. Sure they can sue and do. They will sue you if you work with them.The thing is you have to know how to handle these situations. You are the one that chose to ignore, you have no one to blame but yourself. Would you listen to me if I told you I want you to send me $5,000 and then jump into a swamp? If you neglected to pay a credit card, then that was your problem, for whatever reason you chose not to pay. If Mr. Hapka at ext 272 was so helpful why didn't you just listen to him instead of coming to a website and reading what people had experienced with various collection agencies. Could it be you work with the helpful Mr Hapka?
And for your information, an attorney is not needed, although it is wise to consult with one.

I'm glad I found this page.  I also found out that they are not really lawyers, but the name is rented by an attorney who might soon loose his license. I'm copying this information from a website I found in regards to this agency:  

You do NOT want to send any money to debt collector

Vincent Cignarale for the following reasons:

1) These debts are mostly bogus, bought for pennies, many out of statute.
2) Harvey Denis & Jack Sortino have never legally proven one debt in a legal setting, they have manufactured thousands of phony documents that are loaded with perjury.
3) There is a high probability that Vincent Peter Cignarale will not survive for very long, that he will suffer the same fate as his predecessors in a sea of lawsuits and financial ruin.
4) The New York State Bar is now aggressively going after lawyers like Vincent who ‘rent’ their law licenses for a commission on collected debts, from a phony law office in a satellite location.
5) Buffalo, NY has such a high profile as the worst, most sleazy, liars, thieves, conmen, drug addicted, convicted felons and other criminal debt collectors that consumers have stopped paying debt collectors up there by the millions.
6) Finally, it’s just WRONG! These are criminals, who extort monies they are NOT entitled to. Most of them belong in jail; not sending them money will hasten their demise.

I have gotten calls from this place too, at home, at work, my parents home, and even my cell phone.  I called them back about a month ago and the debt is ligit, I had a pay day loan like two years ago that I did not pay off. However, last month when they called I said I would try to pay it off in a month and they gave me an address to mail the money order.  I looked up the address on the net and found that this company buys bad debts off people and try to collect.  It stated that I have no obligation to them and that they are a scam.  However, I did incure the debt though, so I do not know what to do.  I do not want to go to jail over this issue and these people are REALLY rude.  Please help and fast!!!!

They won't send you any either, from what I read they have bought bad debts from other companies so the debt is now there's and they do not have any information on your account.  I am not going to pay without any information.

Then why can't your company provide any information on the debt.  I went through a rough time in my life and got two payday loans I paid one off and the other one went into collection process.  I have no paper work for this debt since it was 2 years ago, I said that I would pay tbe debt once I received totals of the bill and my account information so that I could have them for my records and make sure that this was my debt.  That is all I asked for and have no problem paying the bebt that I am sure is mine...so why once I asked for that information (I even said to fax it to my work) I was told I was not cooperating and they hung up on me!!  I have a VERY common name and had been mixed up for another person with my name, I was being forced to pay a credit card, we easily resolved it by faxing me the information on the account, and I faxed them back copies of my license and SS card, no biggy!  Why couldn't your office simply do the same?

The people keep calling my phone as an old bill. They leave automated messages.

I have recieved at least 4 phones calls from these idiots. I wish I had looked them up before now. These folks need to be put away for a very long time and be with the biggest, baddest bubba in the prison system so they can be screwed just like they are trying to screw the public. Most people when they hear lawyers office think that there is something bad happening. So these jerks need to get a life and do something legel to make a living. This is harassment in the most bladent form.

I don't believe you can go to jail over a debt, whether or not you owe it. They can't arrest you. This next spot was taken from "wikianswers.com"

"You cannot be arrested for owing money. If a collection rep. even hints at such an action being taken against you. She/he is in violation of Federal/State laws, and can be in serious trouble. An agency that has "bought" your account from the original creditor can take legal action such as a lawsuit. If they win they can garnish wages, bank accounts and take other legal actions to recover money that is owed. The amount of garnishment that can be ordered or other property seized is governed by state laws (in some cases Federal and State laws apply).You have many rights that afford you protection from actions of collection agencies/creditors."

This office called MY parents too, and my father sent me a link to an interesting article about this office. Scroll down to the green "poison" bottle.
http://www.giovelawofficeexposed.com/brenda.html

Until they send you actual proof that you owe this money, whether or not you feel that you do, you are not obligated to pay them. You may also send in writing a dispute instead of a payment. They are required to do several things:
1. Any phone calls they make that are recorded should be noted before speaking with you regarding any debt matter. ie, "This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information on this phone call will be recorded"
2. If you are disputing the debt, you have a right to receive any information prior to making any payments.
3. They cannot threaten to arrest you.
4. If you do owe the debt, and don't want to deal with them over the phone, you can request that they do all future correspondence with you in writing. Also, if you, or your family members do not want them calling their phones, you can ask them to stop calling. By law, they will have to. If not, report them immediately!

I hope some of this helps. I've been through one tough collection agency recently that did get my parents involved. Fortunately, my father knew better. (Thanks, Dad!)
Good luck!

PS - This same company contacted me two nights ago. I'm waiting on proof of a debt form 2006.......can't wait to see what they come up with!

Judging by your oh-so-intelligent posting, Mike, it's obvious they've hired a bunch of friggin geniuses at this "law firm"! And I really don't think your company bought the debt...you bought a list of the debt.

I got a call from you guys two nights ago, after you called my parents. Not sure how you got their information, since I would NEVER give it out, so after you come up with proof of the supposed debt I owe, not just an ignorant posting of "U O" (...I mean what's up with that), then we'll talk. But until you and your lack of proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling can come up with proof (I even told you to e-mail it to me, and i'm still waiting), then you can take your posting and shove it!

Folks, a posting like "money mike's" shows you the kind of intellect they hire at this company. Do you really want to give your money to someone like that? I don't think so!