payday loan collection scam
Complaint
Patricia
Country: United States
Call from 'unknown' number to my cell phone, from a Julie Morrison, stating that I had written a check to a cash store in 2005 that was NSF, and I had only today to pay 1263.20 or felony warrants, tapes recording the transaction, and all other proofs of fraud would be served to me tomorrow. It sounds exactly like the post prior to this. beware. I have filed a complaint with the FTC.
Comments
https://complaintwire.org/complaint/QRmNc7urJwU/nca-national-check-affiliates
https://complaintwire.org/complaint/dRms68G8KwU/national-check-affiliates
In addition, file a complaint with the New York Attorney General.
This struck me as very odd, coming from an attorney's office.
I called the number, spoke to "Robert Vernon", who told me the same as the others stated- that this was from 2004 and that papers were being filed against me for a bogus check and for something about malicious intent of fraud.
My check loan was valid; it was also paid. I have never seen it on my credit report, I called my bank, and she said that legally, they can't provide any information to anyone, unless it was a returned check, in which case, it would be per normal protocol- a copy of the check, stamped with 'NSF', to the original creditor.
When I asked what company it was, they told me it was Advance America, which is owned by Republic Bank & Trust, and that I could call them but, they wouldn't have any record of this company, because it isn't public knowledge until the paperwork is filed. I said I'd call the courthouse, he told me the same thing- not public knowledge. He said I could call & they'd tell me the amount I owe is $465, but that wouldn't take care of it. I have to pay $665 to get rid of it and to avoid any criminal charges. He said, "I don't what your history is, if you're looking for a job or trying to get a loan, a charge will pull up on your report and it won't look good for you." (I actually did a credit check for a potential employer the other day, this makes me wonder if this is how they got my information...) This guy did a fantastic job of talking in circles and intimidation tactics- when I said I wasn't sure about the legitimacy of this, that I've never seen this on my credit report, and it makes me a little nervous that someone is going to call me, out of the blue, 8 years after the fact, trying to get money. He got defensive and said, "Hey, I never asked you for any money!" He bad mouthed the company that the call was about, and really seemed to want me to buy into his good guy act.
I guess I'll have to wait and see if I'm going to be served for this.
File fraud complaints with FTC, your state Aattorney General, and the New York Attorney General.
Also, there was a good point somewhere in here about not disclosing the mini-miranda thing, where they tell you they're attempting to collect a debt- gee, is there a lawsuit waiting to happen, maybe?
High pressure threats to "settle" immediately, with lots of "details" to convince you, yet none of them in any way verifiable, is practically the classic formula for a fake "debt collection" con.
There was a recent post on one of the threads that they ran off with some other debt collector's data, and they were being sued over it. No way to verify, but often posts that appear to have direct knowledge of these scams turn out to be accurate.
With all the reports of concocted fabrications, it doesn't sound like they are working from some old debt portfolio, but if they are using data from another company, they might have bought skip-trace info from an insider out the back door. That would be basically consistent with the allegation.
A couple years ago, several people were prosecuted for selling skip-trace data out the back door of a skip-trace company, that was then used for these shakedowns. In fact, this did occur in the vicinity of Buffalo NY.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/nyw/press/press_releases/Arent.pdf
"...
Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryEllen Kresse, who handled the case, stated that from
October 2006 through October 2009, Arent and Wieczkowski engaged in a fraudulent debt
collection scheme. The two illegally purchased debtor information from two former
employees of a Buffalo debt collection business and used the information to coerce the
victims into paying fictitious debt. These former employees, Thomas Rice and Andrew Jon
Pytlewski, pleaded guilty to stealing the debtor information and were sentenced to probation
earlier this year.
The Government’s evidence revealed that as part of the scheme to defraud, the
defendants impersonated law enforcement officers, attorneys, judges, paralegals, and legal
assistants in an attempt to coerce victims into making payments on the fictitious debt. For
instance, Arent, posing as a law enforcement officer, threatened to arrest victims if they did
not immediately make a payment. During a three year period, Arent and Wieczkowski
received approximately $6.8 million in checks written by over 1,000 victims across the
country.
..."
Even though those guys got caught, others in the area know how to run the same shakedown. This is Buffalo, after all. People learn how to do fraud by working with others who do it.
If you want to stop being harassed by these punks, you could find a consumer attorney in your state through www.naca.net
Or if this has class action potential, there might even be an advantage in working through a Buffalo attorney who might know the local players and how to collect on a judgement. This is not a recommendation, since I don't know him personally, but here is one you might contact:
http://www.kennethhiller.com/Consumer-Protect ... ion-Cases.shtml
Here is another attorney that takes these types of cases.
http://lemberglaw.com/lead-debt-collection.php
Most banks tell their customers they only keep check records back 7 years.
It appears their script has been deliberately crafted to claim this "check" was back so far that consumers could not get a copy from their bank if they tried. At the same time, even though they threaten "prosecution for fraud", no one has reported receiving any copy of an actual NSF check from them.
This is a con.
This company is so bad at what they do it really is laughable. I got a message from Julie Morrison about 5 days ago saying she had information about a case that she wasn't sure I was aware of, but it was really important I call her because I would be served the paperwork in 24 hours. Well, nothing and no one showed up. So to amuse myself I called back today, and I was curious to see what kind of "case" was pending against me. She told me they don't make outbound calls, but yet I reached her at the number and business she had left on my, and my mothers voice mail. When she couldn't explain that lie, I asked to speak with a supervisor, I was put on hold and when they returned to the phone they said the attorney said there was nothing they could do for me. Ya, I'm sure you have an attorney on standby, and if so they got their license to practice law out of a cracker jack box after finishing at the bottom of their class. This is allegedly over a payday loan "they have me on camera" writing a check for. Funny thing is, the date they gave me and location of this alleged video was during a time I didn't even live in the state. Even if I had, the statute of limitations has already run it's course so there is nothing they could do to me anyway. Even if the statute wasn't up they still couldn't do the things they claim are about to happen, and they aren't even licensed to collect in my state. They had bad information and addresses and were so ridiculous with their idle threats it really was funny to me. Not so much to them. In fact, the calmer I was, the angrier they got. They called me dear and hon, yelled and called me other names. Real professional. I agree with the person that said they must have just started up, either that or they were under a different name and got sued so many times they had to change the name of their "business". These payday loan collectors are the bottom feeders of the collections industry that can't hack it at a legit company and give other collectors that are actually good at their job a bad name. Shame on you Julie Morrison and the other 3 employees that probably work out of that dump. You're so bad at your job you're not even believable, but you are so outrageous I got a good laugh at your expense. After working at a real job all day actually helping people it was appreciated. Even though I laugh at you, I actually feel sorry for you, it must be hard when asked what you do for a living to say you annoy, harass people and break the law everyday, but just like you lied to me, I bet you lie about what you do as well. Your parents must be proud. I give it about another month before this number and business are no longer reachable and they will have no one to blame but themselves. Get a life and a real job. This may be hard since from the way they speak it probably doesn't even require a GED to work there. So for anyone else getting these calls, don't hold your breath waiting for someone to come because they never will.
They are running a fake "debt" extortion racket, writing their scripts toward what they think will shake loose money regardless of any actual "debt"..
Check your credit reports, and see if they have been pawing through them.
Extortion shakedowns and wire fraud are not a "permissible purpose" for accessing credit reports.
Heres my email
beverlylewis4040@yahoi.com
My curiosity got more because I have never gotten a letter or call until today, I pulled my credit report every 6 months and never saw this default of a loan on it. If there is any truth to this default loan, why the hesitation to provide the necessary information of authenticity to the default loan to the person that supposely default on the loan.