How to Avoid Collection Agency Scams
With all of the old debts floating around out in "credit limbo," it can be hard to tell which bill collectors are going after legitimate debts and which ones are just going after a random buck. Use these steps to judge whether a credit caller is actually due any money from you, and act accordingly.
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Instructions
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Verify information. When a creditor comes calling out of the blue, ask specifically what debt it is they are trying to collect, on whose behalf, and what the delivery date was for services provided. Also get details about interest or other penalties. If the representative balks, it is probably a scam.
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Check your credit report. If you have a debt that is affecting your credit, it has to be reported on one of the three big credit databases (see Resources for Transunion, Experian, and Equifax) that monitor consumer credit. If it isn't, something is wrong. Either the collector is scamming, or the debt has fallen under the radar. Either way, you need to evaluate whether it is a legitimate collection if the judgment doesn't show up on your credit report.
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Refer to the statute of limitations for your state. Collectors can't contact you after several years to reopen an old debt. Under statute of limitation laws, a debt is declared clean if it doesn't get follow-up communications within a set number of years.
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Don't accommodate credit callers who ask you to go after your neighbors. Even someone who once rented in the property you are renting or buying is not your concern. Some consumers with land-line telephones say creditors are asking them to connect them with neighbors or other non-family associates. This is not legitimate. Creditors can't ask you for help doing their leg work. Report these kinds of calls to a business bureau or chamber of commerce.
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Don't give out personal information to a credit company until negotiations are complete. Otherwise, you might find that their calls were just a front to get enough information to leverage against you.
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Comments
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Beware of this: You get a call - a message is left - no caller ID - they say they are a private courier company - to be available at a certain time- to have 2 forms of state ID and a witness. But if you are not available they will leave the paperwork for you to sign and give to your employer. They give a case number and a phone number as well. I think they have a list they work because this call has come 1 time each month , at the same time of the month for the last 3 months. The first 2 times men called, the last time a woman called. Each one said they have a private courier company. They never show up.
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scammbuster
Jul 15, 2010
If you have ever agreed to work for commission only by Empire Collection Authorities and made zilch or very little for commissions (because Alonzo Cole, president and CEO of Empire Collection Authorities is greedy), you can go to Labor & Industries and sue for collecting minimum wage for the hours you put in. L&I law states that if you do not make at least minimum wage working for commissions, your employer has to make up for that, UNLESS it's outside sales/independent contractors. -
scammbuster
Jul 14, 2010
I see that Mr. Alonzo Cole aka Ray Green, president and CEO of Empire Collection Authorities is now seeking 3 people to work as debt collectors at 15% commission from their home in Oregon. You have been warned...don't go there. You won't get your commissions as he is extremely greedy, self righteous and selfish. Alonzo Cole aka Ray Green will see to it that you don't.
