8669407640

While I have NO DEBT and NEVER HAVE these goons seem to think they can get info. on someone else by calling non-stop on and off for the past 6-8 mos.  Now going into the second day of non-stop calling from this group(s) of persistent nut-jobs.  Yesterday calls originated from the number 866-658-7508,  Today the number is 866-940-7640.  No doubt this is the same group. I'M SHOCKED THAT THEIR AREN'T LAWS TO STOP THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY.  WHY SHOULD THE BURDEN BE ON ALL US WHO RECEIVE CALLS FROM THESE NUTS TO MAKE THEM STOP??  IS ANYONE READING THIS WHO CAN AND WILL DO SOMETHING TO STOP THIS KIND OF INSANITY?? - - DON'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION IF YOU ARE A LAWYER WITH AN ACCOMPANYING FEE .... that's not good enough.

Just received a call from this number. Looking for a lady by the name of Alba. Please stop harassing me!!

Missouri AG Takes on Portfolio
Attorney General Koster takes action against fraudulent debt collectors

--Koster says businesses tried to collect debts people didn't owe--

St. Louis, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today filed suit against two debt collection companies that are operating scams to collect debts from citizens who do not owe the money.

Koster filed law suits in St. Louis against Portfolio Recovery Associates, a public company based in Virginia, and Professional Debt Management located in Kansas City.

Koster said Portfolio buys old and bankruptcy-discharged debt, often from another bad debt buyer, and then tries to collect, sometimes through court action. He said the company often is attempting to collect on accounts that are already paid or have been discharged in bankruptcy; sometimes they try to collect from the wrong consumer or for the wrong amounts. He said the company has threatened to garnish consumers' social security checks, which they have no authority to do, and has refused to provide consumers with proof that the debt is valid.

Koster said Professional Debt Management uses scare tactics, leaving messages on consumers' phones that there is an emergency. He said that like Portfolio, they attempt to collect on accounts already paid or from the wrong party.

"The Attorney General's office intends to take aggressive action to protect Missouri consumers," Koster said. "I am asking the court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting these companies from violating consumer protection laws and to order that they provide full restitution to the people they have harmed."

Koster also is asking that the court impose monetary penalties and require the companies to pay all court costs.

Missouri AG Takes on Portfolio
Attorney General Koster takes action against fraudulent debt collectors

--Koster says businesses tried to collect debts people didn't owe--

St. Louis, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today filed suit against two debt collection companies that are operating scams to collect debts from citizens who do not owe the money.

Koster filed law suits in St. Louis against Portfolio Recovery Associates, a public company based in Virginia, and Professional Debt Management located in Kansas City.

Koster said Portfolio buys old and bankruptcy-discharged debt, often from another bad debt buyer, and then tries to collect, sometimes through court action. He said the company often is attempting to collect on accounts that are already paid or have been discharged in bankruptcy; sometimes they try to collect from the wrong consumer or for the wrong amounts. He said the company has threatened to garnish consumers' social security checks, which they have no authority to do, and has refused to provide consumers with proof that the debt is valid.

Koster said Professional Debt Management uses scare tactics, leaving messages on consumers' phones that there is an emergency. He said that like Portfolio, they attempt to collect on accounts already paid or from the wrong party.

"The Attorney General's office intends to take aggressive action to protect Missouri consumers," Koster said. "I am asking the court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting these companies from violating consumer protection laws and to order that they provide full restitution to the people they have harmed."

Koster also is asking that the court impose monetary penalties and require the companies to pay all court costs.




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 call many times a day and it is a collection agency on a debbt that was back in the 90's . we want the calls stopped asap

I know what you mean they have been calling my priv and inlisted home and cell for a while now and still trying to get me to tell them about my Sister they are so kookoo it's aint funny.And they call me a few times a day.

ooppss it's the same company
Caller ID: 1-866-940-7640        
Caller:PORTFOLIO COLLECTIONS AGENCY
Caller:Type: Collection Agency

Started getting calls from them on 20 October, 2009.  I know for a fact that I don't have any outstanding debts because my husband and I had to file for bankruptcy, which cleared on 5 October, 2009.  Not only is it harassment but purely by attempting to contact me they are breaking the law.  I cannot be contacted about debt once bankruptcy is filed.  And it can't be about debt from the early 90's seeing that I was only born in 1986, I didn't get my first credit card until I was 18 (2004) and it had a $500 limit on it lol.  I didn't even have personal debt, I claimed bankruptcy so they couldn't hound me for my husbands debt.  I haven't taken any of their calls yet seeing that they call at 8 in the morning when I am already sitting in the lecture hall waiting for class to start.  I've learned a lot about debt collection and I can tell you, after the first time I got called and found out who it was my lawyer got the info, they can deal with him.  Apparently there are already lawsuits against these people for harassment and for inquiring on credit reports for charged off and out of SoL debts.  Just to be careful, record all of these calls for your records.  You can find a list of questions that these people have to answer and if they don't they are liable for fines payable to you.  These people make a big mistake in assuming that we are uneducated, prove them wrong guys, don't let these people bully consumers anymore.

Keep calling the "toll free" and hanging up, they get charged everytime it answers. They will more than likely block your #

please  they call my business all the time..i dont owe anyone anything..i need customers to call not a**holesCaller

I receive calls from this number several times a week, it is some sort of debit collector.  I have answered the call and requested a statement of the $'s owed, if indeed I do owe, and I have yet to receive a statement.  Some how this company was successful in obtaining my personal cell number - do be careful as to where you enter your cell number.

tape record it and send it to the Federal Trade commission

now

also report them to

DONOTCALL.GOV

only if you get a letter and do it within 30 days of getting their letter.

Always write seperate complain letters to your attorney general complaining about that collection agencies.

AG dont like collection agencies

never call back

never talk to them


if you call an 800 number, they got your telephone number, you cant block your number on 800  numbers

use the return key

space your words out, hard to read

everytime you call them at their toll free number, they get your real number

dont do it

STOP BITCHING ABOUT HERE , this site after 9 pages is the same thing over and over

STOP IT people

This is what you do.

1. Send them a FDCPA Debt validation letter via certified mail with return receipt. if they send you a letter.

2. WRITE letters to your attorney general via 44 cent stamp letter NOT EMAIL.

3. WRITE letter 44 cent stamp version to Federal Trade Commission, just print them out these 9 pages from here if you like.

4. NEVER TALK TO THEM OVER THE PHONE, any 3rd party bill collector, NEVER.

5. when you call their 800 number, they automatically get your real phone number, dont call their 800 numbers

6. Get a phone blocking system or get on something that does phone blocking.

7. REPORT every single call you get to   www.DONOTCALL.gov, every time. even if its multiples times

DONT BE LAZY, do it, they go off volume of complaints, so do it.


8. You cant be arrested for debts, so dont panic or get nervous.

9. They rely on fear tactics, dont be afraid.

10. Writing letters if your answer , you know the ones that require an envelope and 44 cent stamp.

They work the best with the government and attorney generals because they have to file it and respond to it for the most part.


In the end, there is no money in heaven, Dont let these debts ruin your life on this earth.

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND KEEP FIGHTING.

God Bless You.

Per Fair Debt Collection Practices Act third party collectors are supposed to identify themselves, their company and state the purpose of their call.  This is called mini Miranda rights.  Should the third party collector violate your rights, Google FDCPA and the website will provide you a list of agencies where you may report the abuse.

These people call me 5 or 6 times a day on my home and cell and they have so many numbers you can't keep up with them all i have no clue as to what they want i have no outstanding bills iam ready to change both my numbers and go unlisted again they need to get a life and stop calling people with no outstanding bills

I got tired of them calling for my son who by the way d0'soes not ever live with me anymore - it is a debt from over 10 yrs ago - I had to buy new phones so this time bought one with a call block option - now when they call my phone rings once and they hear a busy signal. With each new phone number they use I add that number to my call block on my phone - their machine can no longer leave messages to my machine since they can't get thru at all. Gotta love these new phones with call block