888-393-6044

Just receive a call a work from this number saying they were trying to find out if it were okay to deliver a summons to me at work.  The guy on the phone gave me a case number and said he had the documents in his hand, but they were sealed and he was not authorized to open them.  When asked what company he was with he said he was unable to tell me as it was private information.   Does anyone know who this company is?  I can't find the case number listed with any of our local courts.

I got a call at home this mornig and can't find any info on this number or the company.....anyone please help.

Got a call today about a debt from 2003, woman had the nerve to ask me how was I making my house payments and said something about a civil suit

I also just got a call from this number at work.  They gave me a case number so I called the number back.  I talked to someone who said that they couldn't give me the actual case number in the court because they didn't have it yet but I will be served with papers soon.  He also said it was just against my husband.  After I hung up the phone I started to think...how can they serve me at work if it's just against my husband.  So I then called them back and voiced just that.  They then proceeded to tell me it's against us both.  I again asked for more information and they said the Plaintiff is NCF and again couldn't give me the actual court number so I could look it up online.  The absolute only thing that is in both my husbands name and my name that we haven't paid on is a vacation timeshare thing we signed up for yrs ago.  We hated it and found out it was kind of a rip-off so I stopped paying on it and using it.  Does this ring a bell with anyone else that received these calls?

I just got a call to my office asking the sase thing.  I don't think i will call it back

I have just been speaking with a Mr. Hooper at this number.  He says he is with Atlantic Resource Managment.  I asked him what this debt was for and he said it was for a credit card from back in Nov 07.  I didn't get a credit card back in 07.  I asked with what company I had gotten the cc and he couldn't tell me.  Just that he needed to serve me a summons if I didn't want to pay it.  I am getting a e-mail from him shortly and I will post again about this.  This is the second time in a week that I have had calls like this.

Speedalosa ... I just got a call from that same guy yesterday. He told me his name was Mr. Hooper and that he would be sending me an email with the contract to pay the "debt" I owe. The email came and it was from a different name. The email came under Blake Evans from email address bxe@armgmt.biz - Let me know what your email stated because this seems like its a scam!

I received the same thing at my job saying the same thing but they were talking about a debt that I had already paid off with another company. They gave bogus info to try to get me to give them payment tomorrow before noon or they would serve me at work. I told them to pound sand and do what they could as long as it was legal. I'm not worried because the case number the company gave me is not a legal Texas case number. Ha eat that.

i had this same guy call me a few months ago n i didnt really care it seem like at scam at first but now i just got hit with a harnishment from my employer two weeks ago i call back to try to settle and said their is nothing they can do for me

I got the same call yesterday from this number asking if they should send a summons to my job or my home. I called back and got some information on them.  They were saying thay they sent me a letter regarding this debt 45 days ago and that I ignored it.  First of all, anything legal, I will not ignore and this is what I told them.  The guy than put me hold and than came back to say that a letter was not sent and nothing was signed so they were going to give me another chance.  He gave his direct number which is 951-547-3066 and his name is Rolando Garcia, the company is Atlantic Resources Management.  After I finished speaking with him, I looked up the 800 number and his number and realized the following: his number is an unpublished number for being a "supposed legal company" is not correct and with the 800 I saw these complaints so I knew that this was a scam. If you receive these calls at home or work, please report them. They are just trying to get you scared and have you pay them money that doesn't belong to them.  If you owe a debt, please confirm first with the actual creditor and inform them that you are being called by people like this and they will probably tell you to call the authorities.  If it is a valid debt, you will be served legally by a court appointed carrier, not by a phone call asking if you should be served at home or work.  This is a scam, report these [***]...

Find out if you can sue them for doing this because it is illegal to garnish wages without proper protocol. Papers need to be served to you in a legal matter, not because someone says they have a debt and you need to pay it.  You need to get information from your employer and ask them who called, what is the number, how much they said you owed and why they garnishing your pay without consulting you.  These are valid questions to ask your employer. If you were served with actual legal papers, than you need to have them so you can see why you pay is being garnished.  Use the legal system to your advantage....

I got a call today from "Michael" from Process Service Verification threatening to send a process server to my house for a debt in my father's name.  I told him he didn't live here and never lived here.  He then said he would set the case aside for 2 hours to give my father time to call him.  Once I started quoting the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act he quickly got off of the phone.  Research the Act online.  It clearly states what they can and can not do and allows you to sue them if they violate the Act.

People, please do not ignore them. If you have anything outstanding this is no joke. I had an old credit card that I honestly forgot about because I was unemployed for so long. When I first got the call, I also thought is was a scam. They told me who the creditor was. So I called the company myself and after going through so many other collection agencies, it was sold to ARM. If it really and is truly yours make an arrangement to pay. They will work with you.

The name of the company is Atlantic Resource Management. I originally spoke with someone named Tessa and she advised that I needed to call back between 8am-5pm. When I called back I got a message saying the number belong to someone named Anthony and that I had to leave a case number.

I got a call on Tuesday, July 27th from Atlantic Resource Management and the lady on the other line said she could not give me any information but to call 888-393-6044 within the hour to avoid a process server being sent to my job. I called the number and talked to a Tessa Montoya and she told me I had until Friday, July 30th to decide whether or not a wanted to be sued, my wages garnished or have the server come up to my job. I called the number back today and now it says it belongs to Tony Sidoti and that I had to leave a message with my case number.

i got a call today august 2nd from 888-393-6044 wanted me to send money or be sued and wages garnished its a mister hopper

My husband received a call from this # 8883936044 to say they were going to serve him with a court summons for a bad credit card debt that I had. He gave me the info because he know nothing of the matter. I call and spoke with Rolando Garcia. He was talking so fast and i couldn't get a reply in the conversation. He said I was sent a letter which I had 45 days to reply and did not. He ask if I had signed for a court summons. I told him I had not recieved any letter if I had I would have take care of the matter or recieved a summons. He told me a I had this credit card debt which I had to pay or theywould take me to court. I could pay a lump sum or make 5 pymt. I told him I was not awhere of this and I did not have that kind of $.  he said he didn't expect me to have it but he knew I could borrow it. If they took to court I would have pay alot more money than what they were offering  and they would garnish my husband's wages and for me to call him back later that day. He had  alot of info concerning my husband and not sure how he obtained it .My husband was not on this account. I pulled my credit report a few days before this and knew I didn't owe the amount that he claimed. I called later spoke to another man, could not understand his name and the company he said Corp Management.
He started speaking in the same threating manner as Mr Garcia. He said garcia had already left and when I told him i spoke with an attorney and they said it really sound like scam. he accused me of being very rude to him and he would get Garcia(thought he had) because he was the only one the could handle me. I told him to handle this and hung up. I did check with the original debtor and though the grapevine found that this account had been sold to ARM. This company should be reported!!

I received a call from this number and was told it was in regards to a summons they wanted to send to me but didn't have my address.  I asked how they got this phone # and he said from the verification department.  I asked if I could contact them and they said it was the same # 888-393-6044.  They gave me a case # and told me to call and speak with their legal department.  I am confused as to how they can get my cell phone # but not my address to send me this summons they are so eager to send.  What is this about and how can I get them to stop calling me?

Received calls on my cell and work phone on Aug 6 from Michael Jones that he was a process server and wanted to know if I wanted to receive my summons at home or at work.  I took down this number and case number and called back after 8pm.  "Michael" answered the phone and transferred me to the "legal" department which told me that I owed them $1784.00 on a credit card from 1996 and $300 to Victoria Secret.  Scarey part is that he had my SS #, and banking information enough to tell me that I had a credit limit that I wasn't using on a certain card and that I should pay them off immediately to prevent court costs and attornies fees.  Very rude and I finally said that I would let me attorney handle it.

ITS CALLED ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTION TACTICS  it is intended to SCARE you into paying them money without the collection agency having to PROVE YOU OWE IT as required by law.  

1.. Check your local court house - they cannot "SERVE" you unless they have filed a case with the court

2. Check your secretary of state website and find out if they are LICENSED to collect debts in your state.  - NO LICENSE - THEY CANNOT COLLECT or SUE

3 NO PROCESS SERVER IS GOING TO CALL AND WARN YOU - they just show up

4.  DO NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS until you have had a chance to CHECK IT OUT!  and do not make VERBAL arrangements ever- GET IT WRITING!  

Debt Collectors are REQUIRED by law to provide all INFORMATION regarding the debt in writing - that includes
Name of Original Creditor
The default date - ( Date of last activity)
The amount of the debt at chargeoff (original creditor)
Chargeoff date.


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