888-279-1425

They also call from a restricted number, and left 888-240-2019 as a return number to call. Very rude and insulting and threatening.

I was called By the a Mr. Brooks from this company, he has called harassing me and my family members. He was rude, threatening that he could take all my assets, saying I was a horrible mom for not paying things. He hung up on me and has changed the dollar amount of my account three times. He also impersonated himself to be a lawyer and threatened that he was sewing me.He also gave my friend information about my case when she didnt even mention knowing me. I am also calling the FTC and BBB against this company.. no one should ever be treated this way..

This company likes to portray themselves as a Law firm, which they are not.  They use unethical and ILLEGAL methods to collect money for their clients, one of which is Alliance Realty in the Des Moines area.  They will stoop to outright threats and just overall verbal abuse, which is VERY illegal.  They also will not cease calling a number when asked, as they are required to do BY LAW.  A couple other little habits; they will use just about any number other than their own for Caller ID, in fact, they used my daughters recently disconnected cell phone number which raised a major red flag.  You may get a call from a "Mr. Armstrong" or "Mr. Brooks" (same voice-same person).  They are in the process of being reported not only to the Iowa Attorney Generals office, but also to the Better Business Bureau.

So its his fault that you cant pay your bills, he did not cause your cancer, while im sorry to hear that you do have cancer, surely you cant blame him and his family.  And unless you also have his recorded permission to record him, you are in violation of the law, for you recorded his voice without his permission, which is a crime, and if he cursed at you and you have it recorded, then why has noting been done about it.  Sounds like your dodging him cause you cant pay your bills, well again he did not incur them and he should not have to pay your bills, Im a nurse and you can work with having cancer treatments, maybe not a full time job but you could do something, and Im sure you could work something out with them.

Then pay your bills, if you have the money to be sue happy, you should have the money to pay your bills.

Holly,

You are sadly misinformed. If you live in a one-party state, you do not HAVE to have a debt collector's permission to record a phone conversation. I know, because I live in one of these states and was told this firsthand by a consumer attorney.

You are also presumptious. This collector was blatantly violating the law by yelling, cursing and refusing to identify himself when asked, and you are making an assumption in which you have NO facts to back it up with. How do you know that "nothing has been done?" Furthermore, did this poster at ANY time state that her unpaid bills were "HIS fault?" NO!

Here ARE the facts: RRI is a KNOWN violator of the FDCPA, and have been successfully sued by the FTC:

A federal court has entered a final order against a Florida debt collection agency, its principals, and its attorney, settling a Federal Trade Commission action that alleged that the defendants violated the FTC Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) while collecting consumers’ debts.

The FTC’s complaint alleged that the enterprise used misleading dunning letters and abusive telephone calls to falsely threaten that consumers would be sued, their property seized, and their wages garnished if they did not pay the money that the defendants said they owed. The complaint alleged that the collectors often shouted and used profanity and other abusive language to carry out their collections.

The stipulated final order, among other things, permanently bars the defendants from falsely representing the character, amount, or legal status of a consumer’s debt, that their collector is an attorney or represents an attorney, or that if the consumer does not pay, the defendants can or will file a lawsuit against the consumer. It also prohibits them from violating the FDCPA in any way, including by disclosing a consumer’s debts to any third parties, using profanity or other abusive language in collection calls, or by continuing to attempt to collect a debt before providing verification of the debt to consumers who properly request such verification. The settlement also requires the defendants to provide consumers with a toll-free number and mailing address to file complaints, promptly investigate each such complaint, and take steps to cease, resolve, and cure any violations of the court order or the FDCPA.

The defendants are Rawlins & Rivera, Inc. of Florida, Rawlins & Rivera, Inc. of Georgia, Ryan & Reed, Inc. of Florida, Ryan & Reed, Inc. of Georgia, RRI, Inc., the corporations’ officers, Janis Brust, Joe L. Hunt, Sr., Joe L. Hunt, Jr., and a Florida lawyer, Robert W. Bird, whose letterhead was used for many of their collection letters. The settlement contains a monetary judgment of $3.4 million, which represents the total amount the defendants took in through their allegedly improper debt collection activities. The settlement requires the defendants to sell property and transfer the proceeds of the sale to the FTC. The remainder of the $3.4 million will be suspended based upon the defendants’ inability to pay.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/01/debtcol.shtm

It is obvious by this poster's complaint that RRI is continuing to violate the FDCPA and the above court order barring their collectors from shouting and using profanity. She has EVERY right to complain and use every legal means at her disposal to bring them to task. Just because she is unable to pay her bills does NOT justify their abusive behavior...and REGARDLESS of the circumstances.

And, as for "working something out", that is purely at the discretion of her health care provider. If she does not have adequate insurance coverage or is uninsured, does not qualify for indigent care and does not have the resources to "work out" a payment plan with them, she is SOL.

I know someone who has been undergoing cancer treatment for the past two years whose medical bills have easily topped the one MILLION dollar mark....and climbing.

Ever try "working out" a repayment plan on that kind of debt?

holly...there is seven states where the person from his house must tell the other party there being recorded.so if this person dosent live within these seven states then your wrong

"Holly" obviously works for this bottom feeder - that is why she is posting her BS here.  - the fact that she put the PAY YOUR BILLS drivel here proves that..



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

Same as above...got the call and the dude was VERY rude and started making threats...just sent a complaint about them...hopefully if all of us do it it will put them out of a job

If you want to put them out of a job so bad, then just pay your bills, and they wont have a job, the only reason they have a job, is because of all the deadbeats that owe money.  Its not their fault, they are just doing their job.  Thats what everyone needs to do, get a job, and own up to your responsibilities!!!  And by the way, I do not work for them, I am a NURSE, and I infact cant stand debt collectors myself.  The difference is I dont have to deal with them, because I infact PAY MY BILLS, I just cant stand to see grown people crying and whining and blaming others for their misfortunes.  Just GROW UP

I'm really upset, I got a call also from "Brian Brooks" I live Charleston,SC area, was verbaly abused and threatened. Is it also illegal here to use these methods?

You must work there....are you Mr Brooks lying about your name again?

Holly do work for them and can bet my life you are no nurse. All nurses' have had college English and well we can all tell you don't....

These people are unbelieveable.  They have threatened my family and employees.  I have also reported them to the FTC and the BBB.  Beware!

this person from Russell Reynolds and Ingram calling himself Mr Clayton has been calling my home and cell leaving messages (never answered his call) saying they are a law firm and we need to answer or get a lawyer also calling continuiously my cancer ridden unclein florida dont know how they got that number havent seen them for ten years. Telling them its about my 11 year old daughter. also calls my home and leaves messages for my 11 yearold telling her we better call need to do something about this

I am sure you tell your patients to stay well, then they won't need medical care. Be as nasty as you like.

This caller calls repeatedly from a unavailable number then threatens to take marrital assets etc if i don't pay!!!  He also contacted my neighbor to get me to pay..very un ethical..

yeah these motherf@$#ers are a piece of sh$t calling me threatening me talking mad sh$t about my dead mom who do these ppl think they are they call hang up never speak w/ these ppl they are just straight up rude and they better hope no one finds out who they are treating ppl the way they do

holly you have no idea what the [***] your talking about you [***] snob

Also Chris Clayton