Rude phone calls
Complaint
L
Country: United States
They call once a week, one agent calls saying What's up, then tells me I told them I was going to send money when I never made any plans. He then continues to tell me I told them I was sending them money with my Visa, when I didn't even have a card at the time. I asked that they not call anymore and he tells me they can call me everyday if they wanted to because it's not against the law.This week an agent agrues with me telling me I'm stalling and I'm wanting his apathy, and continues to yell at me. I asked for his managers name and number, and when I called he answered acting like his manager, having total disreguard of my complaints, and hung up on me!
Comments
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/QYjwcE8lwADWrQjMbBxXig
Harassing, abusive, or deceptive collection is not illegal (violating FDCPA, as well as state debt collection laws), but is often an indication that the underlying debt is suspect, and knowing this the debt collector is using illegal tactics to overcome expected disputes from consumers.
What alleged debt do they claim they are collecting on?
http://www.roseconsumerlaw.com/?gclid=CN6N7e3DsdICFdi1wAodX1QKrQ#!blank/g2l4f
Harassing, abusive, or deceptive collection IS NOT ONLY ILLEGAL (violating FDCPA, as well as state debt collection laws), but is often an indication that the underlying debt is suspect, and knowing this the debt collector is using illegal tactics to overcome expected disputes from consumers.
What alleged debt do they claim they are collecting on?
There appear to be 3 patterns:
1) Invoices for unwanted subscriptions to Playboy. It appears that anyone can put someone's name on a Playboy subscription card and send it in, or similarly sign someone up online. This may be resulting in high levels of bogus joke or harassment subscriptions. Magazines are generally not shipped until payment is made, and Playboy is reported to cancel on request. Some complaints indicate that the payment demands vaguely threatening collection may be connected to this debt collector.
2) Invoices for unwanted subscriptions for various other magazines, many from either Hearst or Conde Nast. Again, it appears that there is nothing to prevent anyone from signing up anyone else, online or via sending in a card.
3) Invoices for unwanted renewals. It appears to be a common practice in the magazine publishing industry to manipulate renewal notices and billing timing to force current customers to renew even when they choose not to, alleging automatic renewal policies, providing no notice of when subscriptions are about to end, then ramming through a renewal through a last minute letter claiming the consumer "agreed" to it, with no advance notice of terms or date to allow timely cancellation, followed by collection threats. Complaints indicate this debt collector may be a participant in this type of deceptive renewal mini-scam in connection with several magazines, "helping" the publisher retain its "customers".
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/QYjwcE8lwADWrQjMbBxXig
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/f6rmZ9FotAAmwgjMX4LhBg
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/mg-jepamZwAXggjJfBfDwA
http://www.roseconsumerlaw.com/?gclid=CN6N7e3DsdICFdi1wAodX1QKrQ#!blank/g2l4f
It is illegal to send invoices for unordered products, or solicitations deceptively designed to appear to be invoices, through the U.S. Mail.
In addition, whenever you receive any letter from a debt collector, you should avail yourself of your FDCPA dispute rights to determine whether the alleged debt is even legitimate. To best maintain your rights, send a letter within 30 days of receiving their first letter, disputing the debt and requesting that they obtain and send proof you owe it. Send that letter certified return receipt requested.
Report all harassment, abuse, or attempts at fraud or deception, to FTC, and your state Attorney General.
Mostly Hearst. Sunrise Credit is mentioned in one such case.
http://contests.about.com/b/2009/11/09/be-ver ... sweepstakes.htm
http://www.roseconsumerlaw.com/?gclid=CN6N7e3DsdICFdi1wAodX1QKrQ#!blank/g2l4f
The difference is that since they don't have consumer bank or credit information, to monetize the deception, they would have to pressure the consumer to provide that, hence the claim the consumer has "agreed" to a subscription, and the involvement of a debt collector.
The pattern of complaints includes repeated reports that people signed up for contests, intentionally choosing NOT to subscribe to offers made as part of the contest entry, yet found themselves billed for the subscriptions anyway, followed by collection letters.
It appears the contest webpages and their actions have been constructed in a deceptive manner, or for the deceptive purpose of gathering consumer information to be used to deceptively create "subscriptions".
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/playboy-c350.html
"...
3 days ago by Attorney Harvey Rephen
Hi, I'm a consumer advocate in NYC. I have settled several cases with Sunrise under the FDCPA. If you would like free advice or representation feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Attorney Harvey Rephen,
212.796.0930
consumeradvocatenyc@gmail.com
..."
http://mharveyrephenlaw.com/
Find one that you are comfortable with. They will give you small payment based on amount due. They need to prove and have all documentation that you owe money, majority of this [***] do not.
http://www.roseconsumerlaw.com/?gclid=CN6N7e3DsdICFdi1wAodX1QKrQ#!blank/g2l4f
What it really means is that you are talking to a liar who will con you if they can get away with it.
Find one that you are comfortable with. They will give you small payment based on amount due. They need to prove and have all documentation that you owe money, majority of this [***] do not.
http://www.roseconsumerlaw.com/?gclid=CN6N7e3DsdICFdi1wAodX1QKrQ#!blank/g2l4f