ABC NIGHTLINE TO AIR SEGMENT ON CORONA AREA DEBT COLLECTORS

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesGLOBAL AG aka RFA aka RELIANT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES

Complaint

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Diana Mey
Country: United States
Unless it gets bumped (as things sometimes do in the news business), ABC's Nightline will air a segment tomorrow night (4/24/12) detailing the circumstances surrounding the $10 million judgment I was awarded here in West Virginia in 2011 against debt collection agency Global AG (aka Global Attorney Group aka RFA aka Reliant Financial Associates) an LLC that until about a month ago was operating out of an office at 501 N Golden Circle Drive in Santa Ana, California.  Global (also known,  perhaps more appropriately, as GAG) is owned by the trio of Thai Han, Jim Phelps & Stewart Phillips.  

Within months of being awarded the $10 million judgment against Global AG, I was able to identify Han, Phelps & Phillips as the owners of Global (as well as dozens of other fictitious LLC debt collection agencies operating in and around the infamous corona-scam area).  As a result, I have recently filed an amendment to the original lawsuit that seeks to hold the owners, managers and other key past and present personnel personally liable for paying the $10 million judgment.

If the Nightline episode gets bumped, I will let you know.

Comments

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  • 0
    Todd simms
    | 6 replies
    Can you provide the rest of the DBA's as I too have been contacted multiple times by a collector for and bogus debt?
    • 0
      tj replies to Todd simms
      | 4 replies
      There are many of these debt collection shakedown rackets operating around the country.  Many are operating out of southern California, some in Florida, some around Buffalo NY, and some scattered elsewhere.  They tend to use multiple names, or operate through a cluster of related "offices" using different names but with common ownership.

      Since they often use multiple names, and often try to hide their locations or physical addresses, it's more reliable to track them by phone numbers.

      It would be easier if you post the "company" name(s) and phone numbers, particularly call back numbers or numbers from caller id.
      • 0
        TS replies to tj
        | 3 replies
        Ever heard of a company called MacDowell & Associates, LTD., Attorneys at Law? They are in Newport beach, Ca.
        • 0
          tj replies to TS
          | 1 reply
          They appear to exist.  BBB information matches CalBar information.
          Names listed on BBB report appear to be licensed as attorneys by CalBar.

          Appear to be a fairly typical attorney run collection agency/law firm.
          Relatively minor BBB complaints, about 1 a year.

          BBB report, rated "B"
          http://www.la.bbb.org/business-reviews/Collec ... ch-CA-100098000
          MacDowell & Associates, LTD Attorneys At Law
          (949) 756-8114

          3636 Birch Street, Suite #290, Newport Beach, CA 92660



          http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/147561
          Charles Frederick MacDowell - #147561
          Bar Number: 147561    
          Address: MacDowelll & Associates Ltd
          P O Box 450849
          Atlanta, GA 31145
          Map it  Phone Number:  (404) 634-1100
          Fax Number: (404) 634-0511
          e-mail: fmacdowell@maclegal.com
          County:  Non-California
          Undergraduate School:  Univ of Georgia; Athens GA  
          District: Outside California    
          Sections: None  Law School: Atlanta Law School; Atlanta GA  

          Status History
          Effective Date Status Change
          Present Active
          7/19/1999 Active    
          1/1/1999 Inactive    
          7/10/1990 Admitted to The State Bar of California

          http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/216513
          David Taiway Chen - #216513
          MacDowell & Associates Ltd
          3636 Birch St #290
          Newport Beach, CA 92660
          dchen@maclegal.com

          http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/170651
          Todd Alfred MacDowell - #170651
          MacDowell & Associates
          3636 Birch St #290
          Newport Beach, CA 92660

          FDCPA lawsuits average maybe 1 a year.
          http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=MacDowell+%26+Associates

          Only strangeness is that "maclegal.com" has no website, and appears to have just been registered.
          • 0
            tj replies to tj
            They do appear to respond to BBB complaints.
        • 0
          UROUT replies to TS
          Yes they have a very low Better business bureau rating. Have settled out of court but continue ? tatics
          Don't go after these guys by yourself . call the secretary of states office and let them know whats going on. they will help you
    • 0
      Charles replies to Todd simms
      Write them a letter Keep copies and ask them to stop calling it forces them to have to file suit or leave you alone... If they continue file a consumer complaint with your AGs office or the FTC and consult with local counsel and have them send the letter but get an attorney that is versed in the FDCPA.
  • 0
    J
    Awesome work Diana. Thank you for helping rid the world of this quintessential pond scum. I hope you are able to have them found personally liable as well. Will watch the piece on Nightline tonight.
  • 0
    Juan Gomez
    Diana, I just red the Yahoo report on your case against those evil collectors. I'm so glad there's people like you with guts too stand up against abusive practices like this one. Best of luck!!
  • 0
    TMoore
    | 2 replies
    Brava Ms Mey,

    My friend is going through somewhat the same thing. Harassing phones calls, threats, etc.  After much coaxing I convinced him to fight them in court. This is not even his debt, yet they got judgement, by sending the court papers to different addresses that my friend never lived at, so they went to court unopposed and was granted the judgement. My friend is barely getting by after they garnished his meager wages from Walmart. His court date is April 30,2012.  We will be watching this ever so closely.  Scott, originally thought this was a debt owed over 30 years ago when he filed bankruptcy.  Florida has a statute of limitations regarding debt collections. The tactics the "debt buyers" are using is frightening to say the least.
    • 0
      Stan X replies to TMoore
      RE Your Friend:
      This may be a fraud on the court. If you can show a pattern of them doing this to other people. Of course, any money they have is likely from others they have scammed.  Let us know how things go.

      Best Wishes to you and Scott.
    • 0
      Frank replies to TMoore
      Make sure your friend shows at the court hearing and bring the paperwork and tell the judge their case. This should go away if your friend appears. If the other company doesn't appear ask the judge to dismiss the case.
  • 0
    Kevin L.
    Great job! You've inspired me to pursue legal actions as well.  I continually receive calls from a JDB that is trying to collect a debt well outside the SOL that was actually paid to another company that got a judgement via the same way TMoore references. I too sent a certified letter w/return receipt telling them to cease and desist all communications only to have them continue to call.  Question.  Did you tell them you were recording the call?  Do I need to advise them I'm going to take legal action or just do it once I have proof they've contacted me after receipt of the letter?  Thanks for any assistance.
  • 0
    Debbie
    | 1 reply
    Hello and thank you for fighting these awful people.  I wish that I could do the same.  The company that I have been fighting with is Sherman Acquisitions or LVNV.  They evidently changed their name to Gemini Capital Group and got an attorney (obviously a bottom feeder) named David A Bauer to come after me in Colorado now.  I tried to pay the first group (LVNV) off even though I didn't owe all that they said I owed, just to make them go away, but what they do on a regular basis is get you to send a check to them by a "deadline" then hold the check until the "deadline" passes, saying that you didn't live up to your end of the bargain, and oops you owe three times as much than you did before and BTW your debt will never ever go away because you tried to pay them.  These people should all be put in jail, if you ask me.  There are stories about them taking money out of people's banking accounts directly and getting judgments against people on debts that are not real.  I think the judges who help these scumbags get money that they have no right to should lose their positions as judges.  Anyway.  I'm glad you won.  I just don't have the resources to fight with them.
    • 0
      gerry replies to Debbie
      For those that have been or are in any type of financial stress, and you have these dirt bags that are "tricking" YOU out of YOUR money, do yourselves a favour, and seek credit counciling or debt management courses. As a debtor, you do have rights. If you owe the debt, offer a settlement and get rid of the debt. If you do not owe the debt and stuck with [***] collector/company, then seek legal advise.
  • 0
    help
    | 1 reply
    How can i go about suing thid company. I paid a good amount of money to RFA after they dd the same thing to me. Can someone help me, please.
    • 0
      Lil replies to help
      If you can pay a lawyer, or there is a Legal Aid foundation or Society in your area, talk to them.

      Before that, my best advice is, if the statute of limitations has not run out, gather your proof that you did not owe the money, it was not your debt, or was previously paid. Document, as well as you can, this info and all about your dealings with RFA, and proof of the money you paid them.  
      I think if you can do this you might be able to do something.
      Also as others have said, contact your state's Secretary of State, the Better Business Bureau, and check out the Federal Trade Commission website for whatever info they have.
  • 0
    ACE
    I had a debt collection agency harassing me a number of years ago. They called back repeatedly asking for a lady named "Elizabeth Alvarez". Despite my informing them that no one by that name ever lived at this address or had this phone # they continued unabated. At one point I asked them for the name of their company and went and did some digging. Using google and other search resources I was able to find them as well as the name and # for the "president" of the company. The next time they called I gave them a tel# where "Elizabeth Alvarez" could now be reached... I never heard from them again.
  • 0
    Bob Rogers
    Diana,

    Did they ever identify the debt they were representing (i.e bank, credit card company). If so, amend the complaint to include them where there may be deeper pockets to collect. Even if creditor has "Hold Harmless" clause, I think you could bypass it.
  • 0
    Warren
    Saw the piece tonight. I highly suggest that u Contact ur local solicitor/district attorney along with the police and press criminal assault charges and conspiracy charges for the phone calls etc. that way you can get the SOB's yanked into court themselves and maybe they see a jail cell for some time. If u can't amend the order. Sue them personally to pierce corporate veils etc. to have your current judgment enforced personally. Congrats to you!!!
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