harrasment!!!!
Complaint
mick lowry
Country: United States
THIS COLLECTION FIRM CONTINUES TO CONSTANTLY CONTACT ME & FAMILY THAT i HAVENT EVEN BEEN AROUND FOR 10 PLUS YRS ALL TIMES A DAY (LATEST BEING 10PM CST & AS EARLY AS 6 AM CST) THEY CLAIM I OWE FOR A BILL THAT I HAD MY WAGES GARNISHED TILL IT WAS COMPLETELY PD OFF COURT FEES ,ATTORNEY FEES AND ALL. WHEN I ADVISE OF THIS THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE FELONY COURT CASE NUMBERS AND ARE CURRENTLY SEEKIN CRIMINAL CHARGES YEAH RITE 1ST TIME I HEARD THIS WAS LIKE 3 YRS AGO I'M JUST GETTING SICK OF THEM AND I GUESS BBB DONT WANNA INVESTIGATE OH WELL!!!!!
Comments
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/GWtZGr3PHgC00gjNC2YwqQ
"THIS COLLECTION FIRM CONTINUES TO CONSTANTLY CONTACT ME & FAMILY "
Contacting family, often before even contacting the alleged debtor, is common with this scam. The goal is to create panic so you pay without checking out the validity of the debt, evading FDCPA validation requirements. Conacting family to create panic makes it more likely relatives will help cough up the several thousand they are trying to scam quickly.
"ALL TIMES A DAY (LATEST BEING 10PM CST & AS EARLY AS 6 AM CST)"
Clear violations of FDCPA and NY State law to call before 8AM or after 9PM. You could sue them, but they are probably fly-by-night and trying to hide their real identities and location. Routine violations of debt collection laws, particularly harassing and abusive collection, are an additional indication that the alleged "debt" is probably phony. If the law requires something, they find a way to violate it.
"THEY CLAIM I OWE FOR A BILL THAT I HAD MY WAGES GARNISHED TILL IT WAS COMPLETELY PD OFF COURT FEES ,ATTORNEY FEES AND ALL."
Then you have records proving the debt was paid. You could even pull court records to prove it, or get confirmation from the attorney that sued you.
"WHEN I ADVISE OF THIS THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE FELONY COURT CASE NUMBERS AND ARE CURRENTLY SEEKIN CRIMINAL CHARGES "
Obviously they are liars. In addition, the threats violate FDCPA. Again, an indication they are engaged in deception and fraud.
Many similar reports, starting in Feb. 2010.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-228-1217
"It's another Mackinnon agency.Shapiro & Price
This one is Greg's who put it in Kathleen G. Mackinnon's name (his wife)
They collect on payday loans
Not sure if they even own the paper with all the lawsuits on them lately.
Same old story, drugs, money laundering, extortion.
You would think people would get wise to their crap and stop sending them money."
Shill post, common with this type of scam.
"TXlonghorn
18 Feb 2010
I recieved a call from a Mr Smith. He notified me of a delinqent account that i forgot about from a 2 or threes years ago. At first i was apprehensive about the situation but after i looked into it further it was a great thing that they called me when they did. If i had not had this oppurtunity to discuss this before it reached a legal status i would of been hurt pretty bad in the pocket book for years to come
Caller ID: 8772281217
Caller: Shapiro and Price
..."
Caught.
"lamet replies to TXlonghorn
4 Jun 2010
NICE TRY TROLL - OF COURSE YOU WORK FOR THEM ..."
This listing shows them based in Buffalo, with a 716 area code.
http://www.manta.com/c/mtd06q1/shapiro-price
They appear to be a fraudulent debt collector running a phony "payday loan" scam, with the usual threats of "criminal prosecution" similar to others in the Buffalo area. Numerous reports the "debts" are mostly phony. Even one report that there was some outstanding payday loan included that on contacting the initial payday lender, they were warned about this company, and the possiblity they might be collecting on debt they had no right to collect on.
That may indicate that in many cases they are probably fabricating them rather than buying old actual payday loans, maybe just pulling credit reports and collecting on old accounts they find there. That would be consistent with your case.
If you do get a "summons" get an attorney and respond to it, but all indications point to fraud. This scam, including fabricating claims using information found on credit reports, is becoming increasingly common, and the various complaints match that common pattern.
The NY AG has shut down a number of similar scam "debt collectors" in the Buffalo area, and prosecuted a number of their employees for larceny. You can find footage of some being led away in handcuffs on Youtube.
Contact the New York Attorney General to file a complaint for attempted fraud and violations of state and federal debt collection laws. These people deserve to build up a thick file.