Total Scam

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesARG and Associates or Assest Reliance Group

Complaint

0
Sick and Tired
Country: United States
They contacted me about a debt from 2005 in which I had previously settled.  The odd thing is that they had all my information.  I was very nice to them and got them to provide me their "corporate address" which was supposedly: 3380 LaSierra Avenue, Suite 104, Riverside California, 92503.  I looked it up on the Internet and Yes, it is the address for UPS.  I spoke with the UPS manager who confirmed it was possible that they had a "mailbox" through UPS but that the address they are providing belongs to UPS.  I sent the name and address to my state's Department of Insurance (DOI) to see if they were a licensed collection agency in my state. I received an e-mail back from the DOI which indicated they were NOT licensed in my state.  I called Mr. "William Brewer" back and informed him of the communication I had received from the DOI. He told me that they would stop calling.  I requested this in writing and have not received YET!!!!  They had previously told me I was going to get served.  Well I am still waiting...........Know your rights and file a complaint.  Also check with your state's collection laws.  My DOI was very prompt in there response.

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    Following factors match M.O. for the old "Corona Scam", run out of various locations in and around Corona, CA, before they were shut down by FTC in 2011.
    1)  Old "debt" of suspect legitimacy.
    2)  Use of "corporate" to sound "professional" and "legitimate".
    3)  Use of a UPS Store mail drop in Riverside County.
    4)  Use of the old "process server" scripts to imply some "lawsuit", to evade validation and coerce payment without providing any proof the "debt" is even owed.

    Might be a new startup by "Corona" alumnae.

    File a fraudulent collection complaint with your state Attorney General.
    Also file a complaint with FTC.  They might as well know the old Corona alumnae are still at it, evading FDCPA with the same scripts they found in the raids..
  • 0
    The boss
    | 8 replies
    I always ask myself this one question? Why are there people who feel the need to protect people who don't pay back their creditors? Then go and slander debt collectors? I was well aware of the companies involved in what some would call the corona scams, the truth is these companies were collecting outstanding debts that they rightfully purchased and therefore owned. Maybe the tactics were misleading, agreed, but since other companies have evolved and are now actually suing people which allows these companies to say they are scheduling consumer to be served, etc etc. too many times do we hear that they thought this was paid or I forgot I owed this...people lets get it right, we know who we have and have not paid. If we were not so defensive and contacted these agencies with an open mind that possibly they can provide a good service and help me out when times are tough, why wouldn't we take advantage of these companies buying out old debt for pennies on the dollar and giving us the opportunity to settle for a fraction of what we owed. Never good enough for some. The America we now live in!!! Great role models for our kids and the future of a country already in a slump!!!
    • 0
      tj replies to The boss
      | 1 reply
      Even the legitimate debt collectors on InsideARM call it the Corona Scam.

      The truth is you have no idea whether any debt you may have bought for pennies is actually owed any more than you know if the person you call and harass is the one who owes it, assuming you bought anything at all.  Federal and state law define what you are required to do to comply, and if you, or your Corona friends, choose to violate the law, it is fair to assume that the debts you claim to own are bogus.  In fact, that is exactly how the courts have been treating this illegal debt collection using deceptive and threatening scripts.

      YOU are the ones choosing to evade the law's requirements for notification and validation, pretending to be "suing", threatening "arrest" or "prosecution", playing "cop" or "attorney", or "assistant DA", or whatever your employees feel like making up today.

      The tactics you characterize as "misleading" were in fact fraudulent and extortionate.  According to the FTC investigators who raided the offices in and around Corona they succeeded in conning money out of people who weren't even who the Corona scammers claimed was the alleged debtor.  Even knowing this, and knowing that their tactics were blatantly illegal, they happily took the money, even gloating about how much excess they could make up and add on, calling it "spiff money".  The scripts outlined it all, including what to say regardless of how the targeted victim responded, whether the "debt" was already paid, included in bankruptcy, caused by id theft and  fraud, whatever.

      There is a clear line between legal debt collection and intentionally fraudulent shakedowns.  It's often as simple as this:  Legal debt collectors send a "g" letter as the law requires, allow disputes, and either obtain validation when disputed, or move on.  The crooks call your relatives, friends, and coworkers, pretend to be "serving a summons", and make other phony threats.

      There isn't really hard to confuse the two.

      As a role model for your kids, what are you teaching them spending all day making up bullsh*t to con people?  And is Corona, or Riverside County still such an economic cesspool that this is the best you can do with your life?

      By the way, Diana still wants her money.  
      Where are your deadbeat friends hiding now?
      • 0
        littleQueenie replies to tj
        I absolutely love your response here. It is exactly what I would have loved to write to this idiot. Thank you for writing this response. It was very helpful and uplifting for my day.
    • 0
      Shame, Shame ,Shame. replies to The boss
      Now stop all your lies, and do your research on debts you've purchased from these so called companies before you begin to harass these people. And train your want to be collectors before they go out to represent your want to be collection agency.  This is what you want to be right. (?)  I can't say claim to be because your people are no where close to professional yet; after all the apple does not fall far from the tree right ?   Why ask you that you would not know either.
      BUT there is one thing you do know how to do and that is stay in the DARK. A legitimate collection agency would be more than happy to send a person that owe them money a statement showing a balance due, with an addressed envelope.
      Now to all you people that ARG is harassing do n't give them your credit card # any personal info. If they purchased your acct. from a previous company it maybe written off, or included in some bills if you filed bankruptcy you do not owe it. these people are trying to get balance on bill plus what they wan to add,that why they will not send you a paper bill. Do not let them scare you into give them your credit card #  You need to see the bill.
    • 0
      fuk u replies to The boss
      get a real job [***]
    • 0
      Chris replies to The boss
      [***] you
    • 0
      shut up replies to The boss
      All of the "debt" that these "companies" buy are debts that the statute of limitations have expired. So you cant legally be sued for it and it cant appear on you credit report. They are trying to strong arm people into communicating with them, giving personal information or making a payment. All of which can restart the statute of limitations and then they can legally come after you. If the statute of limitations has expired, stay silent folks!!
    • 0
      Noneofyourbusiness replies to The boss
      You must be a debt collector.
    • 0
      Seriously???? replies to The boss
      to: the boss...You're kidding right?  I got a call from one of these so called legitimate companies. They said they were calling about money I owed southwestern bell.  I laughed. Southwestern bell was bought out by At&t, all of the SWB customers were transferred automatically to at&t customers. I had them for years until I decided to let go of my home phone service.  And you want to call that legitimate?  Please.....
  • 0
    Not a deadbeat
    Everyone is entitled to their opinion about debt collection.  However, I know first hand that these are scammers. I received a call from Check Services because my account had suspicious activity occurring.  So naturally, I called back, because I was concerned that it had something to do with my checking account.  Well, guess what, it didn’t.  They proceeded to go thru the legal mumble jumble about coming to my house, work where ever if I didn’t settle an outstanding payday loan.  As seems to be the theme, they wouldn’t provide any info unless I agreed to settle my account.  I did manage to get the name of the loaner and the date of the ‘payday loan’.  I told them I would research it and get back to them.  Of course, the threats and intimidation started. I hung up.  When I check my bank statements for the bank in question and the date, that account had been closed a year, with no reported payday loans.  So needless to say, SCAM.  But it gets better.  A few weeks later, I received call from another collector regarding all the BS legal actions that they were going to take if I didn’t return their call.  So, I called them.  Again,the intimidation and threats. Again, I asked them who the loaner was and they did tell me.  Well, guess what – different collection agency same account. So I have two agencies threating legal action for the same alleged debt. The best course of action is to advise them, on the one and only call you will speak to them, is to advise them that they are in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act and you will be filing a complaint with the FTC, ftc.gov, and your state attorney general’s office.  Best course of action is do not answer the phone.
  • 0
    Fel
    | 1 reply
    Here it is 2018 and these scammers have resurfaced. I just received a voicemail from a Philip Norman from ARG threatening the usual (attempting to serve me, etc.) The phone number on caller ID was 877-220-1743. The only debt my husband and I have is car loans, which are kept current. This is a scam.
    • 0
      Thomas replies to Fel
      I get the same calls from the exact same person and number 😆
  • 0
    DC
    Yep, me too, - same calls from the exact same person and number. And never paid a debt late in my life.

    Philip Norman 877-220-1743 SCAM
  • 0
    TR
    Me too!!  Just got a voicemail from Philip Norman from ARG yada, yada.  He called from a different number a few days ago so I just keep blocking the number.  All my current debts are in good standing and settled all others over a year ago with documentation to prove it so definitely a scam.  Just do not answer the phone and keep blocking!!
  • 0
    OhBee
    Just got a call as well, complete scam!  Threatened we’d get a “failure to appear” in court... hey dummies you gotta have actual court filings and summons to be charged with failure to appear! And what court?!? Scammer scammers!
  • 0
    NONON
    They called me and my wife using 888-451-1611 under the name GM Associates and ARG & Associates
  • 0
    Tbone
    Same here Phillip Norman ARG and associates 1 888 817 4393.
  • 0
    KS
    Called my phone and cell from 1-888-506-7753. Said they were from ARG and I should consider myself served. Haha. Burn in hell scum!!
  • 0
    Madame D.
    Got a message on both my cell phone--which a lot of people know--& my home phone--which VERY VERY few know...telling me a formal complaint had been filed against me & that they needed my address to serve papers,  etc... Came from (985) 314-8560...which shows to be in Paradis,  Louisiana...a little one-horse town with a population of less than 1,500. All of my debts were discharged in a bankruptcy after my husband passed away,  so I know it's a scam.

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