Complaint

0
Cynthia Montoya
Country: United States
Scott Anderson has called and said that I have until the end of the day to call or I would be served papers for a court matter.  He has left this message twice and still no papers.  Also, don't they know that when you're served with papers you're not give a "heads-up".  I have checked all three of the major credit bureaus and there is nothing listed with this name.  I fell into this trap once before and I think they found me again.  I owed a small loan and I made arrangements with them to pay it.  After giving them 425.00, the REAL company called me.  It was only after speaking to them that I found out AFG was a fraud.  I reported it to my bank and their fraudulent department investigated, I got my money back and now they're trying to attempt to scam me again!

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    "Second attempt" is apparently a part of the standard fake "debt collection" script.

    They all say that, as part of implying YOU have broken some law by not being contacted.  It's part of fabricating the appearance of urgency for you to "settle" without any proof, as the tactics are designed to con money without ever proving you owe them.  There isn't any "first attempt".

    The fake "process server" collections scripts typically go on to say if you don't immediately call back and either settle or arrange for them to serve you, they will report you to the court as a "failure to be served".  

    "he'll proceed as far as the law will take him to prosecute me"
    Threats, but with a back door to weasel out, are a sign of deception and fraud.  "as far as the law will take him" is NO WHERE, just BS to imply he can somehow "prosecute" you, yet he isn't any DA, so he has no such power.

    All a bunch of BS, designed to intimidate and threaten you.

    Process servers just serve you, they don't warn you they are coming, and they don't threaten to "prosecute" you.  Hundreds of similar complaints are reporting there is NO LAWSUIT, and these are fraudulent collection scams.

    Try Googling "site:800notes papers" and see what all these scams are doing, the whole lot of them.
  • 0
    tj
    Correction:  "site:800notes.com papers"

    When you Google "site", you need the full exact domain name.
  • 0
    Nat
    They did use my name in the msg. Do not worry they will try anything to get ur info. They told me last wed that I would be getting served in 24-48 hours. Report them and protect ur self. What company called u????
  • 0
    Val
    Just had a message from AFC associates, from Scott Harrison, telling me this was their second time trying to contact me and if I do not reply I will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! I have a clear criminal back ground and I have no debt!!! This call seems bogus. When I try calling the number 954-346-4080 back at 9:30 am on a Wed. the recording says I have reached them after business hours.

    I really dont appreciate threatening voice mails left on my phone. If this is in fact fraud, how do we remove our phone numbers from their contact lists?
  • 0
    tj
    Similar complaints:
    https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-954-346-4080

    Threatening prosecution or arrest when they can't do so, is a violation of FDCPA.
    If they don't notify you by mail of the alleged debt within 5 days, they are in violation of FDCPA.  
    If they don't obtain and send proof of the debt when you request it in writing, they are in violation of FDCPA.
    If they use threats and deception to evade your validation request, they are in violation of FDCPA, and probably engaged in fraud.

    You are looking at the profile of a fake "debt collection" con.

    Contact FTC.  They have been suing scam debt collectors running similar rackets.  They just sued a large cluster of related debt collectors in southern California, and froze all their assets, shutting them down.
  • 0
    A***************
    | 1 reply
    Good afternoon, if you are being contacted and it is the wrong number please simply call our office back and one of the collectors will remove it out of our CRM. Thanks in advance and sorry about that.
    • 0
      Kharma replies to A***************
      INVISION CONSULTING GROUP INC
      CORAL SPRINGS FL

      ...failure.
  • 0
    A***************
    | 1 reply
    Good afternoon Tj, I have not been reviewing the notes that appear on the sites but to call us a "con" is completely incorrect and I'm sure that you are aware of that. "You are looking at the profile of a fake "debt collection" con". Again, we have nothing to do with the corona scam. We are a THIRD party debt collection agency and we purchase the paper that we collect on. These debts are valid and are collectable. Since we own the paper and have the media (original contract and check) we do have the ability to pursuit an account legaly. I've noticed many people on these sites take what is said during the conversation completely out of context to possibly make them feel better about not paying back a pay day advance loan. Again, we are based in Coral Springs Florida and the address 5541 North University Drive Suite #102, Coral Springs FL is not a mail drop. If you have access to google earth you can actualy see my office as well as my own car in the parking lot in a nice modern office complex. Thanks in advance everyone! If we do contact you or if your reading this site because you are weary you can always contact the original creditor whom will tell you to either contact us or the broker that we purchased your debt from and they will inform you to contact our toll free line at 877-372-5594. I hope everyone had a great New Year's including you Tj. I will check back up in a few months.

    Best Regards,

    A**************
    Vice President
    Allied Financial Group & Associates Inc.
    5541 North University Drive Suite #102, Coral Springs FL 33067
  • 0
    tj
    The use of illegal harassment, deception, and threats by the debt collection industry has become an endemic problem, resulting in increasing numbers of consumers deceived and defrauded into paying "debts" they don't even owe.  

    A key indicator of these fraudulent debt collectors is that their first contact is often by a threatening call, possibly even first calling a relative, implying some "lawsuit" has been filed that does not exist.  The goal is to con people into paying without any proof the alleged debt is owed to them.  

    FDCPA gives consumers the right to dispute alleged debts, and to demand proof be obtained from the original creditor and sent to them, to resolve errors or misidentifications.  Attempts by debt collectors to evade these legal compliance obligations are often an indicator of fraud.

    It is illegal for debt collectors to use deception, threats they cannot or don't intend to carry out, abuse, or harassment to collect debts.  It violates FDCPA, and you can sue them for it.  If you receive a threatening message, log the details and save the recording.

    File complaints for violations of FDCPA with FTC and your state Attorney General.  FTC and state AGs have sued many debt collectors for engaging in these illegal practices, but without your complaints, they cannot know who to go after.

    In addition, you can contact a consumer attorney.  Many will take FDCPA cases on contingency, since courts can award statutory and actual damages and your attorney fees if you win.  You may find one in your state at www.naca.net
  • 0
    A***************
    | 1 reply
    Tj, You say they do not owe the debt. Out of curiosity how would you know that? When I talk to debtors they to remember these debts and many cany pay $500 in one payment so we setup a payment plan. You are really gunning for the consumer collections agencies. However, we are running a legitimate company and have created jobs for people. So have the other thousands of agencies. I know your just doing your job TJ but your telling people who actually owe debts to try and sue? what kind of world is that?.

    1. You borrow $500 cash signing a contract.
    2. You don't pay it back.
    3. you don't answer your phone, respond to letters, or pay it back for years.
    4. You sue the company that is TRYING to collect on the VALID debt?

    Sorry for my french but that sounds like a [***] up world.
  • 0
    tj
    The Corona scam also purchased the paper they worked.  They just didn't care who they got money from, or what they said to get it.  Threatened relatives, employers, coworkers, complete strangers, played "cop", "attorney", "DA", along with "process server".

    Profiles aren't based on who you are or what you call yourself, or even whether you are licensed or findable, but on the particular deviations from normal legal debt collection practices showing up against phone numbers.  

    Even if you did have the media, and could possibly sue, it would be deceptive to call claiming you are suing or "trying to serve papers", if you don't or haven't actually done so.  Media in your possession is not a substitute for consumers' FDCPA validation rights.  It is not even the same as FDCPA compliant validation with the original creditor's business records under control of creditor's personnel, only "hearsay", and to represent it as such is deceptive.  

    Initial calls implying a lawsuit has been filed are also deceptive, as they overshadow required disclosure of consumers' FDCPA dispute rights even when a separate "g" letter has been sent.

    You have control over what your employees say, so if consumers "take what is said during the converstation completely out of context", that is your compliance responsibility.  Courts have held that debt collectors must not misrepresent consumers' FDCPA rights, through overt deception or implication as well as by ommission, even as a "least sophisticated consumer" might interpret what you say.

    Kindly list all numbers used by your operation, both outgoing and incoming, so that complaints against the California scam can be separated from complaints against your numbers.
  • 0
    tj
    When anyone with a phone can call anyone else and play "process  server" demanding money, making threats of "lawsuits", or "prosecution for fraud", or whatever, with no proof, and no consequences for numerous violations of law, the world is indeed f***ed up.

    The problem the legitimate debt collection industry has is that anyone can call themselves a "debt collector" and make calls demanding money.  They can be in the U.S., or in India, and they can ignore the law.

    If the legitimate industry doesn't get its act together, and separate itself from the activities of its "bad apples" or out and out con artists, even educating consumers in what is illegal (*gasp*), it will find itself tarred with the same brush.

    I doubt that will ever happen, so you can expect increased regulation in response to rising consumer fraud complaints.  

    Nationwide licensing and bonding, with felony penalties for unlicensed collection, would be a solution that would actually benefit the legitimate agencies, but I doubt the industry will get behind that.
  • 0
    Dre
    Steve Harrison just called me and let a message never mentioning anyons name. So how would he know if he had the right person?  What an idiot!! As If I would call back. I'm going to report them when I get off work today.
  • 0
    tj
    If FDPCA says debt collectors must notify consumers of their right to dispute, yet debt collectors are illegally evading such disputes by deception, threats, abuse, or simply failing to notify consumers of their rights as required by law, then we may assume the alleged "debts" are not owed until proven otherwise.  

    If we assume the debt collector has a reason for evading validation, then the most likely reason may be presumed to be that the debt collector cannot prove the debt and knows it, that they are calling people without knowing whether they are even calling the right person yet deceptively demanding payment anyway, or even that they are faking the "debt" entirely.

    With "payday loan" debts, there are even fraudulent "lenders" known to fabricate faked "payday loans" through cramming unauthorized deposits followed by quick withdrawals that quickly take far more than any legally compliant loan, then sold off as "delinquent payday loans".  If you know your business, I trust that you know how to avoid buying fraudulent paper from these offshore crooks.

    The law and the courts place the burden of proof on the debt collector.  Evading that legal obligation leads to consumer fraud.
  • 0
    A***************
    | 1 reply
    If you know your business, I trust that you know how to avoid buying fraudulent paper from these offshore crooks.

    80% of the debt we buy is storefront meaning they are not online lenders. The one online lender that we did buy paper from was Cashnet USA who has a great reputation. I've been in the indsutry for two years now and have this company for 9 months so im obtaining a much bettter grasp for how things work. As far as lawsuits we have not been sued simply because we do not cross that line. The information about the FDCPA that you are copying and pasting is accurate but your just giving the debtor excuses to say we said this or we said that. If anyone in my office ever tried to play the role as a police officer or say the debtor is going to jail they would be terminated. Again, AFG & Associates is a great 3rd party agency, I love what I do for a living. These angry debtors who dont want to pay and post on here dont bother me because i have settled out so many people without any problems and all you have to do is kill them with kindness. Sometimes after paying their payday loan off they even say Thank you Alex which makes me feel like im doing something good. Also, i read an article not to long ago that our Government wants to collect on a few billion dollars in debt and their hiring 3rd party agencies just like the one we have.
  • 0
    tj
    What you refer to as "excuses" is what FDCPA states are consumer rights, by law.  FDCPA was written by Congress in response to extensive complaints from consumers of deceptive, abusive, and harassing behavior by the industry.  Although the law has been in place since 1976, rising levels of complaints continue.

    Most problem debt collectors show complaints not only from people with possible debts, but also from people who don't even owe them.  The relatively recent fake "process server" scripts routinely target relatives who owe nothing, or at least whoever the debt collector thinks is a relative.

    The reason for high complaint levels from non-debtors simple:  If a non-compliant debt collector is engaged in deceptive collection or making illegal threats, it isn't likely they will somehow not do so in the cases where they call a changed number or "skip-trace" to the wrong person.  The non-debtor reports then become a sampling of the normal compliance (or non-compliance) behavior of the debt collector.

    Thus contrary to what you suggest, when repeated complaints of deception, abuse, or threats show up, it usually indicates not that a bunch of deadbeats somehow all have a grudge, but that the debt collector is in fact engaged in that reported behavior.  Furthermore, when this pattern of complaints continues over an extended period of time, it supports the hypothesis that the illegal behavior is done with the assistance and training, or at least the tacit approval, of management.

    This has been born out time and time again, as early complaints from consumers turn into FTC or state AG action 1 to 2 years later.   In particular, it shows up in the FTC's complaint filed against the Corona Scam, and in the documented violations in that case.  The Corona scripts filed with the court in that case are particularly damning.

    Extensive and continuing consumer complaints are reliable indicators of actual debt collector violations.  By the time regulatory agencies take action, cummulative consumer fraud losses usually far exceed the recoverable assets of the perpetrators.

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