888-306-0431

numerous calls in the last days to call "steven brown" back...he asks for the person who must have had this phone number before me - I've had this phone number for two years. I am usually travelling internationally and these repeated  automated calls are just expensive to receive and to respond to! Yesterday answering the phone in Germany, the Live person kept asking where "k. s" was ( no doubt the previous number owner of the phone. I said repeatedly this is not his number anymore, and he questioned my bona fides! Today I have received another automated message. I've called the 188 number and spoken to someone who says she's part of an "information company" which is a similar number ( but not the same number) to the 1888 number and she says she has no idea how I reached her on the 1888. She says she cannot find my phone number in their system so cannot remove it! Now reading these messages here Im appalled!

Steven Braile not Brown called me, press one bla bla bla.... 1-8088-306-0431

Were calling my phone 4 times a day... I finally answered and they asked for James something.. I said no one was here by that name, he argued yes there is - he has called me from this number.  I said that is impossible I have had this number for 3 years and NO ONE is here by that name!!! He said James has my number as a contact number - I said - Your company is full of it! Stop calling my phone!!!

Does anyone know how they get the phone numbers? My home number is unlisted!

I recieve a call every day first on my home phone and a message is never left. If I answer no one says anything! Then I recieve a call on my cell phone......which I don't answer. I am not using my minutes for these apparent dummies. I pay my bills and don't own anyone. I went on the internet and researched this number is how I know who the calls are coming from. I pay for my phone service and it is not for recieving calls from these crooks. I don't have the time in my schedule to waste daily on this type of harrassment.

these folk call n call I was deployed in the IO last year some girl called my mothers House saying she met me and lost my cell phone number It worried my mother who at the time was passing away from cancer It pissed me off I filed a suet with the Federal Trade Commission this worked the company was fined and barred from calling and also they were placed with BBB for licit credit collection practices...If you stop and study your rights as a consumer any debt over five to tens years old is a  write off and a for the creditor in question after those years taken in your credit score goes back up.There is a time limitation to how much information is kept on your reports.Regardless of how many letters are sent to you.or how many phone calls you get on your caller ID just don't answer it I know it takes discipline to walk over and check your caller ID but if you don't answer they can't verify or implement the call on their end.Also a great thing is the Do Not CALL LIST get yourself on it,it works.These company buy your old accounts as junk bonds Hoping to collect,if they don't collect they are assed out of a job and a company to work for. good luck and stay cool just like the Fonzie you are.

If you have a credit report all your phone numbers are listed if you have referrals to the creditors they will call asking your friends or review anything in association to your name for the number to these folks privacy is not sacred.

these folk call n call I was deployed in the IO last year some girl called my mothers House saying she met me and lost my cell phone number It worried my mother who at the time was passing away from cancer It pissed me off I filed a suet with the Federal Trade Commission this worked the company was fined and barred from calling and also they were placed with BBB for licit credit collection practices...If you stop and study your rights as a consumer any debt over five to tens years old is a  write off and a for the creditor in question after those years taken in your credit score goes back up.There is a time limitation to how much information is kept on your reports.Regardless of how many letters are sent to you.or how many phone calls you get on your caller ID just don't answer it I know it takes discipline to walk over and check your caller ID but if you don't answer they can't verify or implement the call on their end.Also a great thing is the Do Not CALL LIST get yourself on it,it works.These company buy your old accounts as junk bonds Hoping to collect,if they don't collect they are assed out of a job and a company to work for. good luck and stay cool just like the Fonzie you are.

Call Ed Brown immediately-

Whoever they are looking for, does NOT reside at this known phone number. After 2 years you would think they would get the drift. I have told them on several occassion, no one lives here by the name they are asking for, but yet I still keep getting their harassing phone calls. Its very annoying to say the least!

This is not a legit company. They will say you own money and try to bully it out of you even when you don't owe a dime to anyone like myself. I had to talk one of the ladies down that called me and when she realized that i have worked for collections and won't back down or be out talked she got very upset and very un-proffesional and begain cursing at me. I laughed because i knew they were not legit and had nothing on me. Now i just recieved a call (always let it go to voicemail ) from the company again saying that they talked to my mother and she sounded like nice lady. What they are doing is trying to get you to call them by making it seem like they have all this info on you and will harrasse your family or people you know. Funny thing is, is that he has talked to my mother more than me in the last 13 years because i broke contact with her due to family issuses and have not spoken to her or used her info on anything in 13 years. Plus they ask me if i still live at address i had 10 years ago. Theses people will try to get money out of you that you don't owe.

I get calls everyday from "Steven Brown".  It's just a message with no explanation asking me to call back.  Have not received anything in the mail, I refuse to call back.

They can do to hell! Crimminals and ID stilling scammers!

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.  

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 VIOLATORS 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 – FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
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.

called 08/28/09 at 10:09 am left a message but it was so garbled I could not understand them.
called 08/29/09 at 10:11 am, when I answered and said hello there no one responded.  I called the number back to see who it was as I don't want any unsolicated calls coming to me.  He said his name was Jeremy (didnt catch the last name as he did not speak very clearly)  He said he was from a collection agency.  I told him I have a company representing me and he needs to speak to them.  I gave him the information and he said if it was not correct, he would continue to call my house. I told him if he even called again that I would report him.  Then he laughed and hung up the phone on me.

Total scam.

A girl named Jacky wiped out my bank account!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a single mother.

BEWARE SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

girl named JACKY wiped out my bank account!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im a single mother and I didnt owe anything.

Hello,

We looking for number who calling all the night. We are small business in Berlin, Germany. Steven Brown calling and calling in middle of night from 12 clock to 4 clock. We know not why, but we German people calling European Court, we coming for you Steven Brown!

If you have a loan or any credit or get any mail, those companies sell your information.  In fact some states MVA/DMV sell your information as well.  Maryland for instance sell your information and your picture to whoever wants it.

After reading the comments here i was tempting to call the number back to see what was up with it.  My voicemail was the same as everyone elses....this is Steve Brown call back 1888 306 0431.  Its a collection agency that was calling about an old credit card of mine with Chase.  Its been 5 years since my account was closed due to non payment.  Collection agencies have a bad habit for harrassment and ive deat with a few of those encounters myself.  I was a high risk pregnancy with my second child a few years ago when i received a call about that damn card.  I had told them i was a single mother and that my husband had left me with 2 kids to support (truthfully).  They were asking such things as my using child support payments to pay the debt since i was unable to work.  Also asking if i had anything of value to sell, or asking family for the money to settle the debt! Collections agencies are "cut throat" when it comes to paying!

Shocking i spoke to a very sweet man by the name of Lyn Levy.  He was very professional when explaining the paymant options i had! I actually think i may give in and get this debt payed after talking to him.  Im very shocked to have run up on someone like this working for the collection agaency.  Im guessing he is a new hire and either wont make it very long there or they will corrupt him! Overall, maybe those vultures of collection agencies should consider hiring more people like him!  I know ive been running from this debt for 5 years (since i was 18).  I refused to even think about paying them before bc they were being total [***] lol.  Maybe ill get it paid now after dealing with someone thats actually civil!

TIP TO ALL COLLECTION AGENCIES!!!! Hire more professional civil individuals and maybe we will get our debts paid! lol

Received several calls from this unidentified number.  Have not taken any calls because I do not recognize it.  Upon search on the internet, learned that I am not the only one bothered by unwanted calls from this number.  I have never heard of this company and am not delinquent on any bills to warrant calls from a recovery collection agency.