866-938-8060

Got a call same circumstances. I told them to remove me from there call list and he said it would cost me 1200 dollars. I just scream every racial slur I think of when they call. The calls are getting less frequent lol.

Well they called me to collect on my AT&T cell which I still have and I  never have been behind on my bill. The rude guy tells me that it doesn't matter that I have to pay him right now!

Your 100% wrong. The SOL is binding and that's that...In Nc where i live there is no way they can collect a debt after 3 years, unless it is the origanal creditor and they take you to court...So for all of you out there find out what your states SOL is and if the debt is past the SOL send them a validation letter top prove the debt tell them to include a copy of the origanal signed contract,date it went into effect,account history as well as the date the so called debt went into default, they have 30 days to do so, if they don't send you the validation then the debt is no longer valid, also include in the validation letter a cease and desist statement, saying that they are not to contact you by phone,mail or any other means untill they validate the debt, and include that if you do not validate this debt with in 30 days the debt is not valid and that they are to NEVER to contact you again.

To all. The SOL is binding and that's that...In Nc where I live there is no way they can collect a debt after 3 years, unless it is the origanal creditor and they take you to court...So for all of you out there find out what your states SOL is and if the debt is past the SOL send them a validation letter top prove the debt tell them to include a copy of the origanal signed contract,date it went into effect,account history as well as the date the so called debt went into default, they have 30 days to do so, if they don't send you the validation then the debt is no longer valid, also include in the validation letter a cease and desist statement, saying that they are not to contact you by phone,mail or any other means untill they validate the debt, and include that if you do not validate this debt with in 30 days the debt is not valid and that they are to NEVER to contact you again.I have done this many times for debts that I can prove have been paid as well as some I completly forgot about seeing as they were 9-10-11 years old. I also stoped getting credit cares 8 years ago and do not have any and have not for at least 7 years now...GLTA.

Your complaint has ZERO credibility...ZERO!!! At the time you wrote this, the company you are complaining about had been in business for 2 months.  Look it up!

Think about your last sentence.  How are they supposed to know they are calling a wrong number unless you tell them? They are simply calling a number given to them by a client or credit reporting agency.  You should check there to make sure your credit file demographics are not crossed up with someone else.  I say give them some props.  They stopped calling as soon as you told them it was a wrong number.

Deadbeat and THIEF!

Miss Muggwamp - If you are going to give out information because you used to work for an attorney you should know the importance of getting it right. Consumer collections matters are governed by the FDCPA. However, the FDCPA does not prohibit calls to a person's work.  By giving out incorrect legal advise, you are violating several statutes yourself since your advise could be considered "practicing law without a license".  

Collection companies get paid a percentage of what they collect.  It is a waste of time for them to call a wrong number. They have no desire to call a wrong number.  Here are a couple of simple rules to live by that is guaranteed to stop the calls.  1-IF YOU OWE A BILL, PAY IT!  2-IF YOU OWE A BILL & YOU CAN'T PAY IT, TELL THEM.  TELL THE TRUTH. WORK OUT SOME SORT OF LONG TERM PAYMENT PLAN.  And, do what you agree to do so they don't have to call you back. 3-IF YOU ARE GETTING CALLS AND YOU DON'T OWE THE BILL OR IT IS A WRONG NUMBER, TELL THEM SO. They don't get paid to talk to a wrong number.

By the way Miss Muggwamp, if you are going to pretend to be an attorney you should learn to spell or at least use spell check!

You can see the employees posting their drivel.  SURE SIGN THEY ARE A SCAM COMPANY - they would not be on this board at all if they had legitimate debts.    


WHEN YOU FILE YOUR COMPLAINTS AS OUTLINED BELOW - be sure to include this thread - so the AG's and FTC can see that they are harrassing people on this public forum!  



HOW TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL COLLECTION CALLS

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

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/start.html


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

So, I guess, noone has ever stolen your identity?  These people are scumbags.  The phone companies sell your info to these "debt collectors", many of which are under investigation by attorneys general in NY,CA and supposedly IL.  You don't have to stoop to their level of setting up PO Boxes to avoid having violent backlashes.  My credit is [***] because of [***] like these.
Make a believable comment next time... [***]!

You are completely wrong!  Debtors sell "their losses" to debt collectors who are only regulated by paper, the laws that are supposed to protect the consumers were not funded,(employers knowingly hiring illegals during the Reagan era, in this case, NO Employer has ever been charged with "not performing due diligence in acknowleging national status or other legal framework allowing work in the US.
They do come after you for fraud against you also.
Zombie collectors buy your telphone info and call all of your relatives and "most called numbers" to harrass your friends and family.
Just don't comment if your facts cannot be proven....

This number called my parents house And left this number and a reference number.   So I call back and talk to this guy And he actually clAimed he worked for nco .   So he starts telling ke about some alleged bill from when I was in college thirteen years ago .   I tell hum if that is the case and I owe money I want to rectify it but I need to see it on paper.  Dumbass goes off about how we are in the information age and why would I want to have them send it that way.   So I say fax or email it to his response of no we only work over the phone.  So I go off about how we are in the information age and how could a business function without faxes or computers.  He hung up on me. I anxiously await them calling back now that I've read this stuff.

FDCPA LAW REQUIRES THAT THEY SEND IT VIA US MAIL WITIN 5 DAYS OF FIRST CONTACT.

THEY CANNOT REFUSE TO SEND IT IN WRITING!  
And it must come with instructions on how you have the right to dispute it.  A 13 year old DEBT is beyond that Statute of Limations and is NOT COLLECTABLE. They cannot sue you - but some of the worst agencies will try and hope that you do not know they can't and dispute it.

They don't want you to know about that part.

Instructions below for dealing with this bottomfeeder - read dealing with debt collectors, statute of limitations by state and recording calls.

Record calls - it is important that you get their LIES on tape.  Hopefully you live in a state that does not require that you have to tell them you are recording at all.  IF you do have to tell them you are recording - they either consent or hang up. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TURN OF THE RECORDER.

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

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/start.html


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

they called from two different numbers 866-938-8060 and 513-297-0127 they said that they needed $238.00 for an old telephone bill owed back in 2000. I informed them that I was going to report them and he implied that they were acting on behalf of the telephone company. He wanted a credit card number and thats when I told him that I was going to report him.

I just had them call and leave a voice mail message - I never answer calls I don't know who they are.  The number they called from is a suspect land line number (it actually is a cell phone number) and they gave that same 866 number as a call back.  I will not return their call - I usually never call back any of these bottom feeder collection agencies as I know how they work (I had a friend who worked for a legit company and they always identified themseleves and she told me that any collection company that does not identify themselves is not legit).  As for paying them with a credit card over the phone - I've got a solution - I have a Visa gift card that has like $5.00 on it so I think if they call back again today I'll give them that - let them chew on my own form of a scam.  Screw all collection agencies - if people can't pay their damned bills they can't pay - bottom line.  And, for them to call people deadbeats or to threaten to come and take a child or whatever is 1,000% illegal.  We had that happen many many years ago - we couldn't pay a bill and the collection agency person actually said something like, "If you don't pay this bill we'll come and take your child away from you as you're not a fit mother."  I told them something like, "Go ahead, repossess my son and you'll meet the end of a double barrel shotgun @sshole."  Never got another call about that debt haha.

@hcl - You talk JUST like one of the people that is on the other end of the line when someone calls back to a collection company.  Your first post started out correct, in regards to the legal information regarding debt and statutes of limitations.  But then you had to get ignorant and make unnecessary comments and insults.  Obviously, you've never had to make the hard choice between paying the "phone bill" or feeding your children.  I'm happy that you've been so blessed.  But, here are some addition "Collection Facts" that you did not bother to mention:

1. Collections agencies purchase "bad debt" portfolios for mere pennies on the dollar from the orginal creditor, who sell off the bad debts to please shareholders and gain tax credit for the financial loss.  They even buy the same non-recoverable debt from other collection agencies, even when they know there is no LEGAL measures for collecting (that pesky little "statute of limitation thing).  Then they attempt to collect the full amount of the original debt.  Now, if all the legal collection options are already off the table, what does that leave?  Can anyone in the class tell me?  Why that's right, Johnny...ILLEGAL methods - persistent harrassing phone calls, verbal abuse and even threats of physical harm to yourself and those around you.  

2. Just because a debt is still legally owed does not make it legally collectable.  That is the whole reason for the "statute of limitations" that each state has.  It provides the original creditor or it's legal advocate the time to exercise all it's options in collecting outstanding debt and provides protection to consumers after the fact, when said creditors do not exercise their right within the permitted time.  Outside the specific window of time alloted, the debt comes legally unrecoverably by anyone, except by voluntary repayment by the debtor.  

3. Simply calling collection agency back about an old, unrecoverable debt is frequently sufficient to reset the statute of limitations so that the debt is once again legally recoverable.  Which is why "junk debt buyers" aka collection companies purchase the unrecoverable debts in the first place; and harrangue people into paying or even settling for a fraction of the orignal amount.  Anything they get is most likely a profit of 200% or more over what they actually paid to purchase the debt, even on a discounted settlement.

4. There are federal tax requirements regarding debt, charge-offs/write-offs, and cancellation of debt.  Any debt is still legally owed (even if legally unrecoverable) until the creditor forgives/cancels the debt.  The details and ramifactions of debt cancellation are too much to go into here but the gist is:

When a debt is forgiven/cancelled, the creditor is required by Federal law to report it to the IRS and send the debtor a IRS Form 1099-C to file with their tax return.  This because the amount of your cancelled debt is considered taxable income on your taxes, except in certain circumstances such as the forgiveness being granted as a "gift", was settled as part of a bankruptcy, or you were insolvent at the time the debt was cancelled.  Keep in mind that this applies to any type of debt where the settlement is less than the true value owed, such are remainder owed after the sell of a repossessed vehicle, settling a debt at a discounted rate, and even current mortgage assistance methods that reduce the principle owed so that someone can retain their home.  

Asset Credit Corp is one of the few collection agencies that I've heard of so far attempting to file "alleged fraudulent" Form 1099-Cs with the IRS; and, because of the amount of detailed information required, they were unable to support their claim when debtors have contested the 1099-C filings.  The end result is that the debt was considered invalid and the original debtor did not have to pay taxes on it.  For everyone, besides "hcl", reading this, just Google "1099C" and you will find a wealth of information about it and the associated IRS rules governing it.  

Since someone else has already kindly provided instruction regarding "how to deal with debt collectors"...Class dismissed and have a great weekend.

She isn't representing anyone so she isn't in violation of anything... Anyone can give any sort of advice they like, no one is paying this lady for her advice.

Look at Wikipedia for instance, that is just a bunch of peoples opinions and intertwined with some facts from some cited sources... Otherwise it is not a very legitimate place for actual facts.

Every now and again I get a call like those mentioned. Today I got one from 866.938.8060 when i called it back I went straight on to hold. I am sure this company  is a bunch of snakes just by the way the message was left and the way my call was routed. I did go through bad times 10 years ago I paid or setttled with all that was a legit company since then .I do know collectors will call you names, threaten in many ways to include come over and break my legs. I always tell them to come on over. and agree with them on whatever name they called me. I have always had the Styx and Stones approach and always had fun with it. They are traned to piss you off so you will pay them thats what they do. They are scum what else would you expect from scum. The minute you let them get to you they will go for blood. DON"T LET THEM GET TO YOU

I found them: Dead beat - horrible rude and unprofessional
    
Contact Information
Address
Source RM
P.O. Box 4068
Greensboro, NC 27404-4068
Phone
Tel: 8662663111
Fax: 3362863393

It is NOT a illegal to owe a debt. It IS illegal to violate the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act while trying to collect a debt. Bottom Feeder and CRIMINAL!