Scammers
Complaint
Angelique
Country: United States
I filed a complaint with consumerfinance.gov and got a response back from the company they said they will cease & desist trying to contact me, which tells me they are not legitimate. They also claim to have a good standing with the BBB under STP management group, which they do not. I looked them up under that name on BBB and it doesn't even exist. Do not fall for their scare tactics, file a report with Bureau of consumer finance ask them to stop harassing you and send a letter of intent, and they will stop contacting you. They also claimed to only have tried contacting me once at my place of work, which is false my coworkers have said they took messages multiple times from this Mrs. Brown, but could tell it must be a scam. Do your self a favor and report them.
Comments
"claimed to only have tried contacting me once at my place of work, which is false"
Once you catch one lie, expect that it is their normal tactic. As you map out their profile and goals, you map out their thinking.
These shakedown "debt collectors" depend on harassment and intimidation to collect, easily crossing the line into FDCPA violations, which is some of the strongest evidence that they're collecting on bogus "debt". It's always just some "mistake" when you catch them, but someone must be falling for it or they wouldn't do it.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes its complaint statistics on-line, listing company names and nature of complaint, so you can mine it for common patterns. You also know that they see the same patterns.
CFPB and FTC are mainly dealing with violators who generate a lot of complaints. Allied Interstate settled with FTC several years ago, so they're subject to a consent agreement. If you have problems with them, file complaints with FTC, as it indicates problems with compliance with their agreement. That agreement probably requires that they maintain systems to track their own compliance, so "losing" your cease communications letter would be further indications of problems with compliance.
http://www.bbb.org/houston/business-reviews/c ... on-tx-90024041/
STP & Associates
Phone: (866) 981-0940
And there's an ALERT!
"Mail sent to the business on 11/25/2013 was returned by the U.S. Postal Service as Moved Left No Address. "
"Additional Complaint Information
According to BBB records, several consumer complaints allege STP & Associates' debt collectors misrepresent themselves as government agencies or law enforcement officers, often threatening consumers with legal action and/or incarceration if the alleged debt is not paid immediately. Individuals are often told the debt originates from a payday loan. Debt collectors with the company will not offer consumers identifying information such as the company's location or licensing/registration information, however.
Consumers should note that the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires debt collectors to identify themselves, as well as name the original creditor. Debt collectors must also provide verification of the debt if a consumer issues a written request within 30 days of receiving initial notice. The Act also prohibits collectors from engaging in the false misrepresentation of a debt's character, amount, or legal status.
A BBB investigation found STP & Associates was not actively registered with the Texas Secretary of State (SOS). BBB investigators found no record of STP & Associates in the state's database. State law requires debt collectors engaging in debt collection activities within Texas be bonded and registered with the SOS. Before paying any debt, verify the company contacting you is licensed to collect debts in your state. Beware of callers refusing to provide you with their identifying information or those who threaten you with legal action or arrest.
The Bureau has attempted to contact the company at the following addresses and has received returned mail from each of the address listed below as of today:
13831 Northwest Fwy STe 250
Houston Tx 77040
1500 Rankin Rd Ste 200
Houston TX 77073
10900 Northwest Freeway, 200
Houston TX 77092
..."
Phone numbers?
There appear to be complaints associating name variants of "STP" with various forms of illegal or fraudulent collection of "payday loans", including exorbitant ones from such "lenders" as Western Sky, and reports of collection attempts on crammed "loans" consumers never agreed to.