888-797-7727

So I got a phone call at my parent's house - with whom I haven't lived for over 10 years. The woman (Tammy Bagg) left a message with her name and extension - no reason. 888-797-7727 ext 2451 SO, I phoned back today wondering what was up - apparently they were looking for another person with my name but born about 20 years before me. Do I know another person with my name? No. Tammy was nice and removed my poor parent's phone number from her account - but seriously people?! Have you no other way of trying to find people that harassing everyone with the same last name? Come on. Check your records.

Wow Dig you are an ignorant automaton, however this should come as no surprise given your choice of employment.

Has the fact that we are in a recession and people are loosing their jobs left right and center never ocured to you as a reason why so many people are defaulting on their debts?

The credit card companies take advantage of those in need and make millions off of people's misery. Back in the day it was considered criminal to lend money at interest, no less the disgusting rates of compound interest employed by big banks today.

The whole problem has nothing to due with individual's over spending or lack of responsibility.The problem is that the system is built specifically so that people will fall into debt (that is how the big banks and corps make money) It comes down to the fact that all money is borrowed from offshore banks rather than produced by sovereign nations without inherent debt attached. Nations like Canada and the USA gave up their power to create, issue and regulate currency, and this is what the results are. Nations in debt, citizens in debt.

You are economically clueless. Individuals not paying debts did not cause the depression (rather they cannot pay because they lost their jobs or became ill), big banks did. You ignorance sickens me. If anything everyone (including nations) should refuse to pay the gangsters (banks) another cent. We (countries) should start producing and regulating our own debt-free currency, and then none of us would be in this situation.
You should really stop believing whatever your slave masters tell you and use your brain if there are any functioning cells still in there. Here, start your research off by watching this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiBSdBDeucU

You are absolutely wrong when you say that people are to blame for their debts. Has the fact that we are in a recession and people are loosing their jobs left right and center never occured to you as a potential reason why so many people are defaulting on their debts?

The credit card companies take advantage of those in need and make millions off of people's misery. Back in the day it was considered criminal to lend money at interest, no less the disgusting rates of compound interest employed by big banks today.

The whole problem has nothing to due with individual's over spending or lack of responsibility.The problem is that the system is built specifically so that people will fall into debt (that is how the big banks and corps make money) It comes down to the fact that all money is borrowed from offshore banks rather than produced by sovereign nations without inherent debt attached. Nations like Canada and the USA gave up their power to create, issue and regulate currency, and this is what the results are. Nations in debt, citizens in debt.

You are simply a pawn in a giant pyramid scheme

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/deceasedebts.shtm
For Your Information: 07/31/2009
Who is Responsible for a Deceased Relative's Debts?
If your relative leaves unpaid debts when he or she dies, do you have to pay?
According to the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, surviving relatives usually have no legal obligation to pay the debts of a family member who has died. Generally, that person’s estate is responsible for paying his or her debts. But if there isn’t enough in the estate to cover the debts, they typically go unpaid.
After a relative dies, debt collectors may contact family members and ask them to pay their loved ones’ debts. The rights of surviving relatives are covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which the FTC enforces. The FTC has developed a new consumer alert about this issue titled Paying the Debts of a Deceased Relative: Who Is Responsible? To learn more, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt159.shtm.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180
(FYI deceased debts)

Acording the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION - Family is NOT RESPONSIBLE for the debts of deceased relatives.


http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/deceasedebts.shtm
For Your Information: 07/31/2009
Who is Responsible for a Deceased Relative's Debts?
If your relative leaves unpaid debts when he or she dies, do you have to pay?
According to the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, surviving relatives usually have no legal obligation to pay the debts of a family member who has died. Generally, that person’s estate is responsible for paying his or her debts. But if there isn’t enough in the estate to cover the debts, they typically go unpaid.
After a relative dies, debt collectors may contact family members and ask them to pay their loved ones’ debts. The rights of surviving relatives are covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which the FTC enforces. The FTC has developed a new consumer alert about this issue titled Paying the Debts of a Deceased Relative: Who Is Responsible? To learn more, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt159.shtm.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180
(FYI deceased debts)

Don't waste your breath - THEY are the ones BREAKING the law - but they always blame the innocent consumer they are ripping off - JUST the FACT that SHE is posting here at all PROVES they are another illegal debt collector..  Legit Collectors do not TROLL complaint boards



AGENCY COLLECTORS

Agency collectors have correctly been deemed the worst-type of collection agents! They operate from a computer database containing all your personal information, provided to them by the original creditor. When an outside agency gets your account, it has been 'charged-off' for non-payment. They make calls as fast as the auto-dialer can picking up the first one that hits a live voice and letting the rest go as annoyance calls. That's why sometimes you get only a recorded message telling you to call about a very important matter. Commission is their livelihood; they don't have time for pleasantries or obeying the law.

An agency collector's commission ranges from 15-25% of what they can extract from you. Many are paid bonuses if they hit a quota and steady, hard-working collectors can make $40-60K per year. The most aggressive collector will bring in much more if they routinely step over the line to increase their take.

Who Seeks a Career as a Debt Collector?

In a industry where deception, craftiness, and deceit are rampant, you might imagine most honest people would seek work elsewhere. And you're right. My experience says the average debt collector is male, has a large ego, bounces from job to job, suffers low self-esteem and enjoys using the telephone as an instrument of empowerment. You shouldn't be surprised to find most of them have great debt problems themselves.

The debt collection business is plagued with high employee turnover. Constant training of new collectors puts great strain on the agencies and the employees. Every moment someone is in training is time lost on the phone. You can imagine the shortcuts that are taken to get a new caller on the floor as soon as possible.

Collectors are in a position to take advantage of those they deem weaker, in an effort to overcome their own insecurities. They normally will talk-over any issues you may have, threaten and intimidate you, lie, misrepresent themselves, abuse, annoy and attempt to push you as far as they can. After all, a portion of what they collect from you becomes theirs. Unfortunately, far too few consumers complain about debt collectors overstepping their bounds, because they are intimidated or embarrassed about their dilemma. Over the years I've dealt with literally thousands of collectors and would suggest only 3 out of 10 are honest and hard working. The greater percentage chose collecting as a quick fix to their financial situation and it should come as no surprise that many collectors are either just out of, or heading back into a jail cell. Collecting is a male dominated business and because of the shortage of skilled workers, agencies are hiring anyone who can walk and chew gum to make their calls. Social skills, education and career orientation are NOT normally the prerequisites for a debt collector – money beggar position.

What Techniques Do They Employ?

You'll hear standard phrases such as: "what is your intent" or "I'm going to recommend that our client take immediate legal action against you." The innocent unsuspecting consumer feels threatened, even terrorized by the antics of unscrupulous debt collectors. The really bad ones will call you at work, violate third party disclosure, or worse, threaten you with arrest or wage garnishment if they don't have the money today! They'll try to persuade you to pay off old debts using your new credit card, via Western Union wire transfers, bank drafting, debit checks and cash. Surely there is a relative or two from whom you can borrow money to pay this bill. They will tell you your credit report will be clean if you just send them the money.

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the National Association of Consumer Advocates, (NACA) assist attorneys across the country in pursuing agencies and collectors who violate the law and your rights. Collectors are learning that the phone name they use and the perceived anonymity of hiding behind a telephone can easily be overcome with today's modern technology and investigative techniques. Some collectors are learning first-hand that they too, can be charged with making threats over the phone and that their employers don't always provide bail money or legal representation. Creditors are increasingly becoming less tolerant of agencies that allow abuse and will drop those that don't comply.

I urge you to complain about collector abuse by contacting the FTC, the American Collectors Association, the original creditor and your state bar association (against attorneys), or me if you feel your rights are being violated. There is a nationwide group of professional consumer attorneys, skilled in debt collection laws that passionately defend the rights of consumers against these illegal collectors. No consumer should ever suffer abuse from a debt collector.

The laws WILL protect you!

attorney/law office, file a complaint with your State Bar Association, the Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission, or contact us for a confidential referral to a consumer law professional in your area.


http://budhibbs.com/linkflat.png

I answered the phone yesterday and it was someone looking for a "Carol" I explained to him that no one by that name lives here. About 2 minutes later the same person called again and realized he called the same number and apologized.  Then about another 2 minutes later he called back again, this time telling me he said the wrong name and he said he was looking for another name which turned out to be my mother's name.  He then proceeded to tell me that he was Officer Alan Murphy and he needed to speak with my mom about a "payday loan" and said that she was to appear in court and possibly be put in custody for fraud against a bank.  I told my mom about this call when she got home and she called the number but was sent to voicemail, but the message on the voicemail was a different name, not Alan Murphy.  Then at 7 am today the phone rang and it was Alan Murphy again. He made my mom so upset over the phone that she was in tears.  He kept belittling her saying that she knew the collection process very well and speaking down to my mom like she is a peice of sh*t.  She proceeded to explain to him that she needed something proving this was her debt because she did not do a payday loan online. He would not give her any information when she asked for the website address of the online payday loan company all he said was the web.  I told my mom to get the address and name of this company so I could research it and he refused to give it to her and said it would all be sent in an email.  When my mom received this email there were two different phone numbers on it. not the number that he gave me when he called yesterday. one number went to Check Systems LLC 1-888-988-7727 and the other one 1-888-999-7727 went to a Talk Line.  Hmmm?  When I told my mom she has the right to ask for the license number of the company and the license number of Alan Murphy, she called back to ask (this was within a couple minutes of getting off the phone with him) his "secretary" answered the phone "hello?" what business person answers the phone like that? My mom asked for Mr. Murphy and the secretary said he was in a meeting, within 2 minutes Mr. Murphy called back... pretty short meeting if you ask me. My mom asked him for the business license number and his license number and he proceeded to yell at her over the phone telling her that her attorney could contact him (she mentioned attorney general, not personal attorney) and telling her that his secretary doesnt have time to research licenses and addresses and such.  At first we were skeptical that this was even a real company, we thought maybe it was a group of scammers getting people's personal information and then calling them to say they owe these debts from so long ago, threatening them with jail time so they pay up.  The funny thing is when he told my mom about when she supposedly did this payday loan online he said an address and a year.  the year he said she wasnt even living at that address, she hadnt lived at that address for about 4 years.  So he not only is a rude a**hole but he doesn't even have his information correctly.  I went to visit the website and there is only a homepage, it says to click the link, but there is no link.  When my mom finally recieved the email from him, it said a specific website address of the company where she allegedly did this online payday loan... i went to the payday loans website and got the customer service number.  My mom called and explained to the customer service representative about the phone call from Mr. Murphy, they put my moms social security number in their system and informed my mom that she is no where in their system.  They told my mom that even if she started to apply for a loan and didn't finish, it would show in their system.  Now, we are really confused.  Anyone have any ideas of who we can contact to get this figured out? Because they are obviously scamming (trying to) my mom.

My brother-in-law who lives in another part of the state was called by these people and said they were looking for me!  They used citation, civil and federal law, etc. and said they were looking for me.  They then gave him a number for me to call which was a private number of a personal resident.  Where and how they located my brother-in-law I do not know......I had not talked to my brother-in-law in almost 20 yrs. as my husband died in February 2010.  They tried to scare him and he contacted me.  Lately, my bank account was taken for almost $2000 by fraud and from different states all of which were unknown numbers.  Some people do not work and prey on those who do work....be careful out there.

The same number called my house, and stated that I had a past due loan at a bank that I hadnt banked at in 10 years, in another city in Texas. He stated that I had not payed off a loan and they were truning me in to the local Police Dept. My Mother called the Bank that he reffered to and talk to my old loan officer, in which I had paid off several loans in full, as well as used a vehicle title as colladeral, DUH, and still have the Vehicle and in good standings with the bank. He was very rude and went as far as called my 70 + year old mother "STUPID" ....and stated that she obviously didnt understand the laws ....HELLO, her Father was Captain of Fort Worth Texas Police Department ..lol.

Guy named Eamon wants to contact a distant relative of mine. Left a number of 1-888-797-7727 ext 246 to call iif I had any way of getting in touch with her. Yeah, right!!..as if.

Bottom feeders - Doug Stone from Metropolitan Credit.  I posted comments on this site on another page - just wanted to make sure it goes on the more up to date page.  Do not pay, acknowledge the debt, confirm you are the individual, or offer to make payment arrangements.  In many Provinces they cannot sue after 2 years, BUT if you do any of the above, the 2 year period starts all over again.  Just hang up if you get them on the line.  They try to "sound" like they have some authority over you, but just remember they are simply $10 an hour clerks who make commissions from the money they are able to collect from people in bad circumstances due to the economy.  Again, they produce nothing, and contirbute nothing but misery to an economically suffering society.  They are simply harrassing you for THEIR  paycheque benefit.  Despite this debt having nothing to do with me, they refuse to delete the number from their auto caller.  After receiving so many of these calls, I am trying to pass along the info I have learned along the way, to educate others about the bad and questionable ethical collection practices of these agencies.  You should run a better business bureau report on the collection agency calling you  - it is amazing to see how many of them have  abysmal "F" ratings themselves lol, a sure example of the pot calling the kettle black!!!!

I'm a debt collector and a successful model as well.  I have a college degree and have traveled around the world.  So to the genius who gave the typical collector floor model, yeah... you're an idiot.
@ Still Diggin- Hell yeah.  Do you pay a mortgage with your bonus money too?  Do you also have the REAL Gucci wardrobe like I do?  Girl, we got it all in this business cuz there are SO many people who can't pay their bills.
They're just embarrassed and take it out on people who have jobs.
Keep collectin girl, hope you had a good close out.

[***] credit company that when challenged to present a paper trail proving anything they hang up and stop calling for 6 months. They call all hours of the day and don't care about the laws regarding harassment calls. Report them if they call you and get them fined. *57 after you hang up with them will mark the number as a harassing call for future legal proceedings if needed. :)

Ha Ha Ha LOL!!  A "successful" model would not be moonlighting as a lowly collection clerk - there would not be the need to!  With a college degree no less - in what - how to operate a telephone?  Just got a call from a Chris "Elke" and thought I'd check the # out.  Good old bottom feeders Metropolitan credit at it again.  One of the few "industries" to flourish in a poor economy.  That in fact sez it all - a scum operation!    I guess Chris must be a model that travels the world too, eh?  Funny how the calls seem to appear close to the 15th and 27th of each month - just in time for their paycheques perhaps?  The ones where they receive their bonuses, on top of their $10 an hour, that allows them to "travel the world" - too funny!!!  Have a good trip there Chris Elke,  you must have been on one of your trips or you would know that these calls are not for me but for a previous live-in, and therefore a complete waste of time for someone trying to collect commission.

I had blocked this number as I do with alot of 1-888, then they started calling with a number that came up PRIVATE CALLER and leaving a message.  They are asking for a person that is unknown to me, I have returned the call leaving a message to extension 2444 stating the person they are looking for does not live here and is unknown to me.
The thing that really ticks me off is I have answered calls that state Private Caller as I have a family member who is ill that calls from a private number.  When I would answer these calls I would hear people talking in the back ground then I would hang up.
I had to make other arrangements to communicate with my brother as I stopped answering private numbers.
How irritating is this!!!!!!!!!
Make Sure you Have The Correct Household!!!!!!!

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS TO ME - THEY CAN NEVER PROVIDE WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF ANYTHING!

got a call from Shawn Brown ext 1043.  Shawn Brown seems like a pretty All-American sounding name to me but this guy was clearly foreign.  I have no debt, I have no credit cards, I am not calling back and am blocking the number on my phone

Tell her to go to hell!!!

Wow! Now I see why you are working in collections. You read a script and the only information you need, is provided to you on a screen. You should be ashamed of the fact that you CAN'T spell! Even after it was pointed out to you that you can't spell, you continue to misspell the same words. LOL I guess you had to memorize the ones you do use daily on the phone to know what they mean!