866-884-1000

Collections... Called about medical bills.

"This is an important call from Durham & Durham law offices"

They have called me several times. I tried to call back but that wanted a case code... Which I didnt have.

It's the Durham and Durham people.

They were looking for someone who doesn't live at my house, and posted my number as their own.

Be prepared to spend some time getting off their autodialers... the automated system requires your case number or your SSN, or you can't get to an operator.  I put in a bogus SSN, and then explained to the human that they had the wrong place.  After a couple of days, the calls stopped.  But it took me 45 minutes of navigate and wait.

All that said, they were polite about it when I explained everything.

I have been traying to call back to your number no one answer its ocopaide all time   787 435 - 0130

This it is a trap  becarefull with your info or what they ask you?????????

this number called my house this morning
i didnt answer cause i didnt have any reason to answer so i was going to let the answer machine take it just before it started they hung up and didnt even leave a message

This Company, Durham & Durham Law Offices continue to call my cell phone.  I have not answered as I did not recognize the number. I'm listed on the National do not call listing.  I tried many times (unsucessfully) to contact them back at the 866 number. However, it appears they do not take incoming calls.  I do not think this is a legitimate organization.

Please do not call here again.

They kept calling someone at our number.  Tried to explain that we are not the people they were looking for.  We couldn't stand their calls anymore. We found a very simple solution for all annoyance calls. We did some research on telephones and went to Best Buy and purchased a Panasonic phone Model KX-TG9333 DECT 6.0. This model has three handsets but you can get the same model with one, two or three. It allows you to block up to 20 phone numbers as long as you have Caller ID. It rings once or twice then disconnects the call. The caller never hears anything. The readout on the phone and the "missed call" list shows "Call Blocked". Just make sure you let the phone ring once or twice to see if it's a blocked call or someone you want to talk to. WE LOVE IT!!!!

"This is an important call from Durham & Durham law offices"
Caller ID: 866-884-1000
Caller: Durham & Durham law offices
Caller Type: Collection Agency

Durham & Durham Law Firm is connected to the following phone number 410-312-8222, who claim to be Arbitron, a survey group.  The calls come in tandem.  The sham survey is only to get your information for the law firm.  Don't fall for it, don't answer their calls, don't give them any information for your free $1.00, get a phone or software that will allow you to block annoyance calls.

Trying  to collect an imaginary medical bill.

"This is an important call from Durham & Durham law offices regarding a personal business matter."

Actually, it's a taped message. Probably a scam.

didn't answer or picked up and hung up

These people are nothing but scumbags. I actually got to a person, who has no professional manners or phone skills - no help whatsoever, I may as well had only got the recording. They call my number all the time looking for someone that I have never even heard of. They are in GA, and I live in WI. That should be a clue right there that they've got the wrong number.

I pulled up their website - "disciplined business practices", "efficient & legal business solutions". BS! I am on the Do Not Call list and they have no reason to legally contact me. I filed a complaint on the donotcall.gov. If I get another phone call from these morons, they will regret it!!

This automated system keeps calling me for the Law Office once a week and it not going to stop.

I don't know who they are, and second, i'm Canadian, why would an American Law Attorney call me. Also they called at 9pm and in there message it says that there open until 5:30 pm... Something is not too normal here...

"This is an important call from Durham & Durham law offices regarding a personal business matter."  Same schpeel.  If they were a debt collector, they wouldn't be shy about calling in person.  Just another robo-call scam.  Returning the call is a bad idea as it only confirms your number as a target and will probably result in more calls.  No good can come.  Best advice in either case - play dead.

They Dont STop Calling What So Ever! They left Voicemails On my voicemail at Home and my mom heard it! Guess What? I SUED THEM!!! Do any of you know about the FDCPA? You can search for it on google. It tells you what collectors can and can't do when they are trying to get money. They are not allowed to talk to anyone about the debt besides you or your spouse. Collectors can't even call the police or file charges about it or even put it on your credit report.  If they even swear at you, they are breaking the FDCPA. Attorneys can help if they are bothering you about debt 877-909-MARK for Mark Carey Law Office I didn’t Pay anything really He’s a good guy. Keep good records - every time they call, write it down. Write down what they say or even better, record the collector! It will help you if you have to sue!! I sued them twice and won both times. He’ll Probably give better advice then me!

TROLL ALERT - THEY HARRASS I SUE IS A TROLL


MARK CAREY LAW FIRM IS AN ILLEGAL  DEBT COLLECTOR

REPORT ALL CONTACTS TO THE NY ATTORNEY GENERAL ASAP
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!



http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=7480
Carey, Mark, A., Law Office  
338 Harris Hill, #100
Williamsville, New York, 14221

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  716-929-8373 716-748-6073 800-649-8440 716-748-6042 716-748-6057 716-803-8336 866-571-7616  
Fax 716-748-6054  

Mark Anthony Carey, Attorney Andrew Palumbo, Owner 'Cosmo'-Co-Owner


Junk debt collectors, calling consumers with threats of litigation by debt collectors posing as paralegals.

No license or bond found anywhere we checked.

Using 'Buffalo Style' collection tactics.

We urge you to report him to the NYS Attorney Grievance and the FTC.Very bad agency, lots of complaints, suits and illegal behavior. Serial DCPA violators.  

Aliases Other Locations  


Integrity Investigative Services
34 North Park Ave Buffalo, NY 14216  



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

You can also post your questions here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum/   NEW URL!    

These links are to attorneys for those being scammed www.naca.net or http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/searchattorneys.aspx

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