8778222677

Hi all,
I received a call from this company earlier today; please keep in mind that I have a non-listed, non-published home telephone number.  The gentleman named himself, Michael Hart from Vandenberg Chase & Associates.  Indeed he identified a valid debt which I owe, and even verified my name, and the last 4 digits of my social security number.  He proceeded to tell me that the owed company was planning on prosecuting me.  He also mentioned that he had evidence of me having an active checking account.  Being quite shook up with the idea of the threat, I foolishly told him how much I will be able to pay per month in order to demolish this debt.  He said that he was recording the conversation.  He pledged to call back on the specified date of the month that I committed to make my payments on; however, did not request any further information from me.  Boy, will I be waiting for his call!!!  I am simply appauled at the mere fact that this supposed organization obtained my private home telephone number.  I am extremely grateful for this site, and its valuable information which will assist me in dealing with them any further.

Got A call yesterday from this company threatening arrest if I did not come up with $320 dollars for a loan I co-signed on for my neice.  He had specifics but could not send me any info.  I gave him no information and did not call my neice to question her.  I did not co-sign anything for her. So as far as I am concerned matter closed.  Do not let this scam scare you...get in touch with your Attorney Ggeneral's Office and file a complaint.

called my brothers home phone and left message threatening my wife with fraud.

some guy named mr thomas called and left a msg for my mom and said his name is mr thomas and it was urgent he speak to my mother about legal matters and if he was not to speak tp her within 24 hours he would report her to the police. i told my dad adn he said call my mom and tell her. after i got off the fone with her and told her the guys information i googled the number [being nosy] and i got this page! i think it is ID fraud.

the exact msg he told me to write for my mother is::

Mr.Thomas
877.822.2677
EXT 1009
LEGAL MATTERS!
WILL BE REPORTED TO POLICE IN 24 HOURS IF NO RESPONSE!

YOU ALL KNOW THAT THESE THREATS ARE ILLEGAL?  Even if it was valid debt collection attempt - debt is a civil matter  - not a criminal matter.

YOU CANNOT BE ARRESTED FOR DEBT!  The whole point is to SCARE you into paying them money YOU DO NOT OWE in the first place. More than likely a junk debt buyer who cannot validate the debt to begin with.  Its probably too old, already paid, discharged in bankruptcy or NOT YOURS TO BEGIN WITH!  



COLLECTION AGENCIES DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!
FROM www.budhibbs.com  A CONSUMER ADVOCATE WEBSITE that specializes in Debt Collections and offers assistance to consumers.  THEY ALSO EXPOSE THE WORST FDCPA VIOLATOR IN THE COUNTRY
Dealing with debt collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html
Statute of limitations by state – always double check directly with your own State Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm
Recording calls from debt collectors – always double check with your own State Government website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm
From FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

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.


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.

These people didnt have my number and called my parents and said I  was being investigated for fraus. I didn owe them the 325.00, but theie collection methods are horrible..My parents havent spoken to me since this happened..

I got this call about 10 minutes ago from a Mr. Jackson.  He said that I needed to return his call in 48 hrs.  I did.  He wanted me to verify my SS# which I declined to do and he screamed at me.  He stated he was going to send a marshall out to see me.  When I tried to speak to him he wouldn't allow me to.  He continued to yell and tell me how this call would be handled.  When I wouldn't oblige he said he was terminating the call.  I have been trying to fax cease letter to them but it won't go through.  I will be sending one certified mail in the morning.

This week my parents (who live in TN) got a phone call from Michael Hart looking for my husband's ex-wife (who lives in Indiana and has been divorced for 10 years).  they told my dad, who has impeccable credit, that his name was associated with this person and this debt.  There is no way in the world that my parents are associated with my husband's ex-wife and her debts. They didn't even know her name. My dad called them back and supposedly they will not be harrassing my parents anymore.  The ex-wife and I have the same first initial, "C".  The people at this "business" said that must have been where the confusion came from.  RIDICULOUS!

They called me asking for my daughter this morning and told me this big story of check fraud. I called my daughter to tell her what they said & of course fussed at her for being irresponsible. I looked them up on the internet to find out where they were located & you know this didn't set well with me to be valid. Now I know so I have called & told my daughter not to worry. Good heavens, it hard enough to take of our debts without liars calling.

I received a voicemail on my cell phone this afternoon from a guy named Marty from 1-877-822-2677 x-3013 stating they were getting ready to sue me thru Maricopa County and for me to return his call right away.  He did not leave me any other details, such as what company he was with and what the lawsuit was pertaining to.  Some people's kids!

they called me but had my address but this under differnt name

I've received the same stupid threats from these bottom-feeders.  Just be advised that a check cashing place can't have a warrant issued to you.  The check loan is considered a civil agreement.  The most they can do is what they are doing...selling off the debts to these scamming bottom-feeders.  Report them and send them cease and desist letters.

Someone who identified herself as "Agent Johnson" left several messages for me on my mother's answering machine asking for me.  She stated that she needed to speak to me about an "urgent legal matter" and that she needed to hear from me by 3:00 PM that day.  She left a call-back number of 1-877-822-2677 ext. 3016, and provided a claim number.  I found this odd because I never use my mom's number for any type of business, only my cell phone.  So I called back and this "Agent Johnson" told me that she represents a law firm that is working on behalf of a pay day loan company.  She said she had record of a pay day loan that was taken out in 2006 and never repaid.  I let her know that the loan has been paid over 2 years ago and that I have written proof of this.  She proceeded to cut me off and insist that even though I had a payment on file of $240 (which was actually the full balance of the loan), I still owed another $315 in late fees and interest that accrued over the past 3 years.  Again, I asked for an email address or physical address so that I could show her the documented proof that the loan has been paid in full as of early 2007.  She then said that if I don't make payment arrangements by 3:00 PM that day I would be charged and taken to court and forced to pay much more.  

Finally, I asked her to provide something in writing explaining how I could possibly still owe $315 on a loan that was paid off over 2 years ago.  She again cut me off and insisted that the firm cannot provide any documentation until I give them my bank information and make payment arrangements.  I then told her I would call her back with the information, hung up and immediately contacted the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission.  She called again for 3 consecutive business days insisting that I call her back by 3:00 PM each day, but finally stopped when I refused to call her back again.

If you've ever taken out a pay day loan be very careful because there are companies who are using stolen information from these pay day loan companies to scam people.  I have taken out such loans in the past but I've paid them back in full and kept all documentation to prove this.

This will make you feel better:

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/collection-agencies/vandenbergchase-and-associates.html

My aunt Had recived a phone call from an "Agent Johnson" Saying someone may have stolen my idenity and need to speak with me right away. They also thought it was my dad they were looking for being my dad and I have the same name. When my aunt told them my dad has been dead since 2002 and mentioned my name They were like ok he must be the one we're looking for. So my grandmother call my ex girlfriend who called me. I called and "Agent Johnson" transfered my call to "John Andrews" They asked for my info and asked if I knew about a payday loan I had taken out when I was working for Steere Enterprise. He would not give me any info about it. Threatened to take me to court. I just looked up the address that is listed on thier letter they sent me and there are a lot of bussiness list but thiers.

We just got a call from the same "Steven Thompson" today - the call was for my husband about a "very urgent matter" in relation to "Crystal Lopez" (we don't know any Crystal Lopez). We're not calling him back!

I got a phone call from my mother in law saying her sister got a call and they were asking for me and left their name, phone number and a case number. This is the second time now. They said I needed to contact a Agent Landefer at 1877-822-2677 ext. 3020 case # 263901.

I got a message from a "Chris Bonapart" from these guys as I came in to work today. I dialed the number and it said Vandenberg Chase & Associates. So I then dialed my people who help me handle my finances, in which they are taking care of them right now.

I just got a call from A Juan Andress! I see someone else said John Andrews wich
is the same thing omg
first he called my parents home were I don't live there moved
and my dad gave me his # to call bak I did n he also said I would
get Sued n Id have to go to court n serve 180 days for this supposly
debt from long time ago from Ace Cash wich I did have that loan
but he might of just gotten ahold of that info some how N Now I read this
n confirms there not ledgit! If he were a Real Attrney he
shouldn't be threttning! Also I did Messsss UP n Give him my cc# But called
bank an Canceled imediately!!!!!! Right after !!! NO One Can Go
to Jail for Owing Someon MONeY! Last that happend was during civil war!!! There
is no u dint pay me jail!!!!! Omg I know this why N How the Hell
did I get sucked in!! Maybe my dad gettin after me threw me off!!
They cAn go to helll! How do they get this info!

Woman identified herself as Rachel Moore of Vandenburg, Chase, & Associates. Called for one of the employees at our company. Asked intrusive questions, "Do you know when he'll be back? What is his schedule?" Was vague and would not say why she was calling.  Gave the callback number 877-822-2677 x.1007. She would not say whhat she wanted, just "business matter" then "personal matter." Tried to call the other day, too.