Collection agency concern threatening calls?

Question

Hello,
My inlaws were on vacation to come home with these messages on there machine. Both were from this guy named tom harrington asking for my wife in her maden name. One stated a phone # and a legal matter, the other dicussed about a 1099c filing. My inlaws at once where under the impression it was the IRS. i called the # right away, and asked for this Tom. He asked for a ssn# i only had a case. He then pulled up a file and demanded 3,000 $ now or else he will take me to court for 6,500. I asked him why he told me it was a credit card my wife opened 6 years ago and made only 3 payments. I told him i dont have it and he said see you in court Mr. after that conversation he left a message on my in law answering machine stating if she dose not call by the end of today it will make matters much worse. I did ask my wife witch she dose not have the best credit about this. she dose not recall owing that much on a credit card. what should we do.

Answer 1

I would do nothing. If it is an unsecured credit card loan debt. Credit cards companies have the greatest amount of complaints to every Attorney General in every State. They tried to bring these companies to court some time ago concerning their collection tactics and misrepresentation of personnel to get results.
A small faction of people from the federal government told every Attorney general in every state that they could not bring suit against these huge money conglomerates. What this has done has enabled all these companies to do as they will.
With this said, laws are only as strong as the enforcement used to uphold them.
I don't know of one Attorney General in any state that will prosecute
a delinquent credit card. I know we all must pay our bills but these credit card companies our price gouging consumers nationwide and all of our Attorney Generals know it and can do nothing about it. I would tell them to contact the Attorney General in your state and tell Him or Her their issues. I believe the law the credit card companies use in the Marquet Law. This allows them to set up business in Washington State and Deleware where there are no interest limits and these companies can operate consumer price gouging nationwide.

In closing if your payment is six months delinquent the credit card companies will settle for 10% on the dollar.

Answer 2

Call block works, as well as caller I.D., also accept no private or blocked calls =

As for harassing - they are pros - No is not an answer to them, it means continue humiliating you whether that be your character or your obligations.
Even if you told them you were living under a bridge they'd still say that's no excuse!

Expect letters in the mail.

Only bad thing is when going to purchase something, IF it is on your credit report you can contest it - especially if you don't know what it is!

Thing is this too, a company writes off your debt at end of year. Then sells it to a collection agency stating that whatever monies they can get from you is there's! That agency can try all means to collect, then sell it to another agency!

Supposedly there is a seven year period and after that you are no longer responsible.

I'm not saying slack on your bills, but hey ...it happens!

Answer 3

If the account was opened 6 years ago, and only three payments were made, the statute of limitations is ended, and they can not enforce a debt in a court.

They most likely bought the dept for pennies on the dollar, and are trying to get you to make a payment to restart the clock on the statutory time to sue. DO NOT PAY ANYTHING OR EVEN ADMIT TO THE DEBT!!!!!!!!

Ignore any future calls and tell them that you will file a harassment suit if they continue to bother you.

Answer 4

Don't panic, and don't admit anything to the credit agency. If it's been six years -- even if legit -- the statute of limitations may have run out. In any event, don't respond on the phone. If you want, you should demand that this clown send you his claim in writing, but it's very important that you don't say anything that can be construed as an admission that the debt is real. Check with your state attorney general's office for the laws specific to your locale, but this sounds like harrassment, and is illegal.

Answer 5

#1 don't give them your ssn# or any personal information. they should have it. they are also required to send you written information of this. it could be a scam otherwise.
#2 get a credit report online (creditexpert.com and there are others)., the card in question should show up on your wife's credit report. (NOTE: you will not see the collection agency, tho)
#3 call back that lady and get the details of the cc. Call the cc company with the information and see what the deal is.

Answer 6

Call the Police.. My grandmothers friend got a call from a guy stating he was with the IRS in regards to a 1099 form. he told her she was to pay 550 in back owed taxes or face jail for tax fraud. She freaked out and pd him by credit card. She then contacted her daughter and soon to find out it was a scam. This group victimized many people. This was a year ago. Don't give him anything.

Answer 7

hello,
My boyfriend got a call from a collection agency and left threatening messages on his answering machine. Anywhere from stating that they are lawerys and going to take his car away to telling him it was fraud. We contacted an attorney. Once the attorney got involved with the answering machine tapes the debt got thrown out. They were even responsible for paying our attorney. He had some problems paying his bills and he would of settled but it seemed like a scam. Good luck Hun! Contact a lawyer.

Answer 8

Whats the version? you probably did no longer pay the suited months charge - so which you owed them £20 That debt has now been handed to a debt series corporation who've further their expenses so which you at present owe £220 in case you dont pay this then they could shop on with for a CCJ (which they're in all risk to get) So the expenses of which would be further to the invoice plus yet extra of their expenses The debt will then bypass to bailiffs who will upload THEIR expenses So the £220 you owe now ought to get to £1000+ no situation (yet i'm shocked the didnt take the final £20 - maximum in all risk you haven't any longer been paying with the aid of direct debit - you have been paying below a "continuous charge authority" subsequently sure you are able to cancel the club yet you dont say you cancelled this authority the two with them or your financial company - so as that they could have in basic terms taken the £20)

Answer 9

Reference the FDCPA - Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Try the ADA website. You might find info there. It depends upon what type of company it is trying to collect the money.

If it's just a credit card, then no, probably they can't threaten you with legal proceedings. You can also ask Tom what company he works for and then research it with your local BBB.

Answer 10

First of all, you should never give out your ssn to people who call you over the phone. If they are a creditor, they should already have it. This sounds like a fraud and you should report it. People can steal every with your ssn. Also creditors have laws they have abide by when attempting to collect a debt and one of them is they can't threaten you (although they can sue you, but they must serve you court documents first). Go to http://www.ftc.gov to learn your rights as a consumer.