Complaint

0
Lois Langehaug
Country: United States
MCI Collections bought a debt that T Mobile claimed that I owed when I quit their service.  I was told before I quit that my bill was a certain amount and then I quit and T Mobile tripled the charges.  I paid what I felt I should have been charged and stood up for myself by not paying the other unaware of charges.
T Mobile sold the debt to MCI Collections and they are constantly calling my cell phone.  I've changed my number once and they found my new number.

Comments

  • +1
    tj
    Contact an attorney, as you might be able to sue the debt collector for violations of FDCPA.

    You can find a consumer attorney in your state through www.naca.net
  • 0
    worriedncautious
    I am getting calls from a number from my home state from which I moved 7 + years ago they leave messages with a supposed subpoena number and an 866 told free number to call. I called from a blocked number not the number they are calling me on using *67 and asked the rude person who answered what this was about.  She asked me If I had a case number I said yes and provide the one that they had given to me. when they provided the number to my voice mail they said I had until end of business day to call and they have left that message twice now.   She then asked if I was ( insert maiden name here) I stated no and she said well do you know ( insert maiden name here).?  I asked why and who was calling the number I was assigned from my cell phone company. She then went off on me and told me that she had a subpoena to serve ( insert maiden name here) and that if I knew her and that if she lived at ( my current address but not my married name) I better provide her with correct information and that I should have ( insert maiden name here) call her to discuss the matter and get her served. She is not allowed to discuss the matter with me as I was not whom the call was for and it is unlawful to discuss private business matters with anyone but  ( insert maiden name here). At this point I told her that I wanted the phone calls stopped asked her how was I supposed to give any message to a person that I have no details about the cause of the call and she got belligerent with me. Went off about the phone number could be wrong and if I knew this person which it sounds like I do then I better provide information or I would be in contempt of court and further stating that if I did not comply I would be sued. I asked her again what agency I was calling and she stated MCI.  If there was anything else to discuss I needed to have ( insert maiden name here) call her by end of day or I and ( insert maiden name here) would be served a subpoena for court and damages and I had until end of business day if I wanted to avoid further charges.  I have read the internet doing research on this and I am completely baffled as to what to do about this.  I have looked at my credit report and I have not seen anything I did not know was supposed to be there.  Please help, any information and Ideas are welcome I have looked up the SOL and I am free and clear of all other things.  I did however find things listed incorrectly on some paid off debts.
  • +1
    Why do anything?
    | 1 reply
    Your caller matches the typical scam "debt collector" to a T.
    1)  No apparent connection to any real debt, only vague or no information, "debt" may be real old, past SOL, doesn't match anything on your credit reports, etc.
    2)  Indications they are "skip-tracing" (trying to contact someone matching your maiden name), and just guessing who to harass. You're supposed to "beg" to be the person they are trying to fleece, to "avoid trouble".
    3)  Illegal deceptive implication of some "lawsuit", through pretending to be a "process server" serving a "summons" (or in this case a "subpoena".  She didn't even use the right legal term.).
    4)  Abusive and harassing phone calls.  Deception is always accompanied by intimidation through abuse and harassment.
    5)  Illegal threats that "you will be in contempt of court", or "you will be arrested", or "your wages will be garnished", etc, like she is some judge and can just order it.
    6)  Evasion of FDCPA validation, which might likely prove the "debt" isn't owed, or you aren't even the correct person, through use of threats to overcome your reluctance to pay some "debt" you don't think you owe.
    7)  Using illegal threats and deception likely to collect even when they contact and threaten the wrong person, making it an extortionate shakedown scam.
    8)  Deceptive attempt to evade FDCPA validation requirements and pressure you for money immediately, by implying you had to "settle" immediately.
    9)  Implying that if you don't "settle" immediately it will cost you "a lot more", like made up "court or attorney fees", or that you would be penalized for demanding proof you owe this "debt".

    What are we up to, +9 counts on the deception meter?

    This form is the "process server" script, to pretend there is some "lawsuit" as a threat.

    Basically, she's BSing you, attempting to scare you into paying her money without any proof you even owe it.  The fact that she has it all scripted, with all details aimed at deception and threats, all toward collecting money without validation, shows that she does this routinely, probably hundreds of times a day.

    If there really was a lawsuit, the attorney would just hire a real process server to serve a SUMMONS (not a "subpoena").  More likely, if there really was some debt, even owed by some other person, a legitimate collection agency would have sent an FDCPA "g" letter notifying you of the alleged debt and of your right to dispute it, even if they had misidentified you as the "debtor".  

    That's what the law requires, within 5 days of first contact, but the scam "debt collectors" never do that.  Instead, they just keep harassing by phone, never disclosing any real information, and hoping that their illegal threats and harassment will con someone into paying them.  

    File complaints with FTC and your state Attorney General.
    If you want to stop their harassing calls, tell them you are recording the call to forward to your state AG.
    See how fast they hang up.
    Otherwise, ignore them.
    • 0
      worriedncautious replies to Why do anything?
      Thank you for your reply.  It helped and they called again yesterday and not there is a supposed returned check that they are trying to collect.  Yet another marker that it is a scam.  So I agree with you and I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else to be sure. Wonder why they would change their game and state something like a returned check Item now. People like this are just wrong.
  • +1
    Jamie
    People, please pay attention. 3rd part collection agencies have no power what so ever. Collection agencies don't buy debt. They simply collect a commission on what they collect. 3rd party collection agencies can not and I repeat cannot sue you. They have to send it back to their client as uncollectable. It is then up to the client to make a move. Which they won't. Remember an educated debtor is a collection agencies worst debtor. Collection agencies buying debt is a lie. Take heed to this advice.  :-)
  • 0
    C. Calloway
    | 1 reply
    I have 2 collection companies harassing me right now. The first one stated they were going to serve a summons and I needed to call. I called, they told me of the debt, which I have, and they were attempting to collect before the summons is filed in court. They had the right info for the debt but they could not provide me with any documentation nor a receipt that I had paid them anything until the entire debt it paid. Then I would receive an email with the "paid in full" declaration. I am afraid they are a scammer because I researched them and found horror stories online about them. When I called them again about it they said I could stop the payments and risk going to court because the summons would be sent. Now the 2nd collection agency is MCI and they harassed me the same way but they actually served the summons. I set up arrangements to pay but then realized I had agreed to this large payment every payday when I thought it was once a month. The amount owed also went up about $300 yet they claimed they did not add any amount to the amount due. So just today I called them to see if I could get the payment agreement adjusted and they refused to take anything less than $150 a payday, I also have another collection with them ( I lost my job last year and 10 credit cards went unpaid and to collections.) Now they are threatening me on the other account as well, stating I am going to be serving the summons. I offered to pay what I could afford and they refused it. Straight out said no. I finally contacted an attorney that I cant afford either. Waiting to hear from them now.
    • 0
      John Blevins replies to C. Calloway
      You would be served a summons from a court via certified mail or a process server would serve you. You then would have a time frame to answer the court and ask for a hearing. What you got was a payment agreement contract and since you signed it you have reset the clock on that debt for SOL purposes. In my state SOL is 10 years so if in year 9 someone signed a payment agreement with the debt collection agency you have now made a brand new agreement and thus SOL no longer applies until you are past due and 10 years has passed. Check with your states laws. Remember only a lawyer can file a civil collection lawsuit against you and many companies except hospitals never send it to a lawyer because of the cost of the lawyer on a debt that can be $500.
  • +1
    J Martin
    Well, I listened to a couple of very rude messages stating that I was a deadbeat and neglectful in paying a debt.  I have been working on my credit for several years and managed to pay two new cars and working on my third one.  So I am careful watching my liabilities and expenses.  So I was surprised why the calls and rudeness.  When I call the 833 number, the representative was very nice when he attempted to confirm if I was who appeared on the call id number. I confirmed my number and asked why the rude messages, to which he stated, he was apologetic for the messages, nevertheless they were attempting to collect a debt from an EZ Corp Group.  When I stated that I don't have an account or familiar with such a business and I keep an eye on my credit, and  he attempted to confirm my social security number.  I told him that I don't confirm my personal information he hung up.

    So folks, don't fall victim to these scams.  Tell them to cease and desist from harassing you and to provide you the information in writing.  Don't confirm your information, if they are authentic , they would have that information.

    Be watchful, safe, and quick thinking!  Keep an eye on your credit report!

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