866-917-1327

calling to a collect a debt from a person not at my number

Thank you axis! Probably a bottom-feeder collection agency. They buy up old stuff even if it is out-of-date (most states have a statute of limitations). Anything I had was before my husband died in 2004. I keep my machine off when I am home. They eventually give up, but some sell to another agency. Just have "patience."

This is Brachfeld Law a.k.a Erica Brachfeld a.k.a LVNV funding.. junk collectors who will go so low as making a payment on the account themselves just to re-new the debt or collect on paid or unknown debts. STAY AWAY from these people..if you end up having to,  fight them in court to prove the debt. These people are a joke. If you don't want to listen to me.. listen to every one else & google it for yourself

they are bullies!!!!!!

Our Mission
Brachfeld & Associates is a Creditor's Rights Law Firm founded in 1981. The Firm's mission is to "Recover Revenue Rapidly". The Firm specializes in subrogation, commercial and consumer collections.

Our Process
When B&A calls, the debtor listens! When a debtor receives a call from our Law Office giving them the legal alternatives should they not pay their debt, they have no alternative but to pay up, or expend their own time and money to defend themselves. Our legal staff will remind the debtor of the ramifications a lawsuit may involve, such as, depositions, liens, writs of execution and the waste of time and money spent on their attorney's hourly billings. They are better off to pay you what is owed.

Our Staff
Legal Collections is our primary business, therefore our only interest is to recover payment in an expeditious and amicable manner. To achieve this result, we are equipped with a legal staff who get results through personal contact with the debtor, and through state-of-the-art computerized systems. Our fee is based solely on results, not on the amount of time spent working on your account, nor on prolonged negotiations and mediation.

Our legal staff has the experience and knowledge to determine which procedure will facilitate the best results. Moreover, our experience serves to avoid situations that will increase debtor resistance.

Our Legal Staff has practical experience in the following areas:

Subrogation  
Consumer Finance/NSF Checks/DDA Accounts  
Credit Card Portfolios
Commercial and Industrial Collections
Media/Advertising  
Medical Collections for Facilities and Providers
Commercial and Home/Auto Insurance  
Consumer/Retail industries


Meet Erica L. Brachfeld, ESQ.
Mrs. Brachfeld, Principal of B&A, has over ten years of experience in the areas of Creditor's Rights and Debt Collections. She has extensive experience in negotiations and litigation enabling her to achieve optimal results for her clients.

Mrs. Brachfeld received her J.D. degree, with Distinction, from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1995. She is admitted to the State Bar of California, and the Eastern District, Central District, Southern and Northern District of Federal Court and the 9th Circuit. She received her BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Contact Mrs. Brachfeld at ebrachfeld@brachfeldcollections.com.

Horrible horrible company.
Do not make a payment to them

DEBT COLLECTOR SCAM - 100% NOT LEGITIMATE

http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=5042
Brachfeld Associates  
8800 Appollo St., #155
El Segundo, California, 90245

ebrachfeld@brachfeldcollections.com
www.brachfeldcollections.com ebrachfeld@brachfeldcollections.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  310-273-7867 866-834-6218 866-354-3556 713-579-7000 866-834-3556  
Fax 310-273-9867  

  Erica Lynn Shubin-Brachfeld Martin Brachfeld, Co-Owner


These are VERY bad people. The TX office has trouble keeping a lawyer employed, but they still misrepresent that they are a law office.

They lose cases when consumers hire an attorney because they almost never have valid documents. Martin Brachfeld is a former-disbarred, disgraced attorney with a Texas sized ego.

These are NOT very smart people, just very tenacious. They can be defeated easily so do not fall prey to these con artists.  
Aliases Other Locations


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

I got several calls from a lady named Sally Davis. She was insisting that I had a debt that I have not taken care of. I tried to tell he several time but she would not listen. She has called my work twice in one day and my cell the same day. She called me at home. The hurasment of this lady and this company is crazy

There is a Man named "Michael Flores" calling my employee and harassing him. He has called multiple time and interrupting my work place and business. Please make him stop.



Robert Marcelllo, President
SVS Automotive Corporation

I keep getting messages left for people who are not at my number.

As others say, Also person not at this number and they have been told that over and over.  

Brachfeld Law Group has several telephone numbers it places debt collection calls from. Brachfeld Law Group may be calling you from the following telephone numbers: 713-579-7000, 614-468-2204 , 310-273-7867, 310-658-5997, 614-389-3316, 713-579-7020, 866-837-4402, 866-354-3556, 866-917-1298, 614-389-3316, 866-598-9371, 866-737-3695, 805-754-3206, 866-787-1618, 614-389-2600, 866-837-4408, 866-837-4406, 866-598-9375, 866-835-1915, 866-834-3940, 859-559-4699, 866-598-9391, 877-290-2697, 866-917-1328, 866-836-8907, 866-834-3556, 702-628-5344, 971-313-8272, 877-545-1461, 866-837-6262, 877-375-6990, 866-834-6218, and 760-957-0024.

and I keep adding more:

866-834-6218    866-737-3699    866-917-1327

Brachfeld Law Group

and also:

"YOU ARE A TELEMARKETER, AND I DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH ANY COMPANY THAT USES TELEMARKETING AS A FORM OF ADVERTISING" (stolen from a comment on this web site -- I love it).  And do not answer name unavailable ever as calls are now starting to say that often.  Another comment from this web site says: When you press the number to have your number removed, all you do is confirm that your number is a working one.  Now I either block the numbers or I don't answer the phone at all.  Another comment was:  They sold your known active number to another scammer!!!  That is what they do when you call them back to opt out.  SO DON’T HAVE YOUR NUMBER REMOVED!

Let me explain my idea of ROBO CALLS. Each area code has 9,999,999 numbers fyi (7 digits). The program starts calling every number that it can in succession.  So they don't need to buy or obtain lists from anyone.  I am going to copy and paste and post this info for each number that calls me for this web site (9,999,98 numbers more to copy and paste to)

NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP THESE SCAMMERS AND LAZY COLLECTION AGENCIES (statute of limitations on debt:  http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/statuteLimitations.shtml)  who call everyone with the same name instead of looking up the right one and all we can do is block them or use call forward selective..  DNC does not work when they are robo dialing all possible random numbers. The authorities can not or will not help either.

So, just block them, DON'T ANSWER UNKNOWN CALLS, and continue using this great site for information to be in control of your own home and cell phone calls.  If it turns out that you did not answer a call from someone you know (number not on this site), just call them back.  No problem.  It’s a lot of work that I do (checking the number on this web site, blocking the caller,  but at least I FEEL like I have a little control of the situation. Maybe I'm delusional.  Another smart person on this web site said to save it to your contacts as spam 1, then spam 2, etc. so you can just ignore the call.

ITS OUR LIFE AND WE NEED TO TAKE IT BACK.
One person said to call forward selective to the FCC whose number is 1-717-338-2533

The Center for Investigative Reporting joined two news organizations in an investigation of groups that use telemarketers to raise money and what they found is that most of the money is paid to telemarketers, leaving the charities with little, if anything. (3%)

Not only that but reputable charitable organizations don't solicit donations by phone.

So it's good advice to remember to just say no to anyone who solicits over the phone unless you actually know the person calling.

                                                                                        DEBT COLLECTORS
This was posted on this web site:

The Fair Debt Collection Act (FDCPA) was put into place To give people legal rights when it comes to collection agencies and collection attorneys.  If this collection agency is calling you for a debt you owe or a debt that is not yours, they could be violating your rights.

IF YOU ARE BEING CONTACTED BY ANY COLLECTION AGENCY,  get in contact with         http://www.fdcpacompliance.com/           asap so they can determine what rights these bottom feeders have violated and take action.   More and more American’s find themselves being hounded by debt collectors as a result of our country’s recent economic downturn.  The good news is that harassment is an illegal act according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).  The great news is that each infraction is PUNISHABLE UP TO $1,000.00 TO THE CONSUMER for statutory damages, and possibly more for actual damages!  The offending agency also has to pay your attorney’s fees.  The only thing that the consumer generally has to do is help to gather and provide information.

I called back the first number and got a human, real nice fellow, who said that several times when I said that they had the wrong number my number was taken out of the system but each time it was put back in the system.  He didn't know why and neither do I.  But I suspect this is not the end of it.

These guys are idiots.  They got mad when I told them the person they were looking for was unavailable.  Wanted to know what that meant so I gave them the definition I had in my dictionary and they got even more angry.  Told me theses were not answers were looking for. I told this moron that if he wanted answers to talk to a pastor or buy a magic 8 ball.  End of call