Premier Credit Services
Complaint
Russ
Country: United States
Premier Credit Services
PO Box 19309 Indianapolis, IN 46219
866-808-7118
My compliant is based on their phishing via telephone cold calling techniques at night and on weekends with no legitimate reason.. IE, they
make calls to numbers without knowing who they are calling and ask for
name and SSN over the telephone with no disclosure of why they are calling.
One can only assume it is a "Phishing" exercise to obtain names and
SSN's for apparent reason other than they have some sort of scam going.
Additionally, I am on the do not call national registry so they are
quick to point out that they are not marketing or selling... and they do
not attest to any company/customer legitimacy to their actions... so one
can discern that they are on some sort of phishing exercise... asking
for name and SSN's.
They fall into the "harassment call" category as they call late at night
and on weekends.. and do not take no for an answer.
I cannot grant any legitimacy to their disguise as being some sort of
collection agency since I have no such debts in arrears and they do not
even know who they are calling... just a phone number as if it was a
boiler room operation.
PO Box 19309 Indianapolis, IN 46219
866-808-7118
My compliant is based on their phishing via telephone cold calling techniques at night and on weekends with no legitimate reason.. IE, they
make calls to numbers without knowing who they are calling and ask for
name and SSN over the telephone with no disclosure of why they are calling.
One can only assume it is a "Phishing" exercise to obtain names and
SSN's for apparent reason other than they have some sort of scam going.
Additionally, I am on the do not call national registry so they are
quick to point out that they are not marketing or selling... and they do
not attest to any company/customer legitimacy to their actions... so one
can discern that they are on some sort of phishing exercise... asking
for name and SSN's.
They fall into the "harassment call" category as they call late at night
and on weekends.. and do not take no for an answer.
I cannot grant any legitimacy to their disguise as being some sort of
collection agency since I have no such debts in arrears and they do not
even know who they are calling... just a phone number as if it was a
boiler room operation.
Comments
They can say anything they want. Doesn't make it so.
If they continue to call and harass, and they appear to not be legitimate, report them. Excuses don't matter.
Complaints about them show up here:
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-311-556-3320
Some consumer complaints indicate deceptive and abusive collection, including claiming that they are not a collection agency.
The 311-556-3320 appears to be a "spoofed" phone number to fool caller id boxes or phone number blocking, since 311 is not a legitimate area code.
It may be that they have a block of 866-808-xxxx numbers.
No government agency wants to [***] a congressman since it can come back to bite them at the next hearing, or when their budget comes up.
I am in the process of verifying addresses, email accounts, and phone numbers for David Hoeft, Todd Wolfe, Eric Wolfe, Todd Hartmann, Don Conway and any other Premiere Credit creeps I can.
dhoeft@premierecredit.com, twolfe@premierecredit.com, ewolfe@premierecredit.com, thartmann@premierecredit.com, dconway@premierecredit.com
Once this information is posted, I would hope anyone who is being illegally harassed by this outfit, contacts the principals in the same manner they are being contacted ... AT HOME & AT WORK .... OVER & OVER & OVER AGAIN.
Folks, if you know the names of the Premier scum who are harassing & annoying you ... post their names, check them out in the Boone or Marion County Tax Assessor's Office for their residence, get their personal phone numbers .... and do some tit for tat! ... Oh, and post that info on these boards.
Stay tuned ...
By Carmen Dellutri, Attorney at Law on Apr 21, 2009 in Debt Collection Laws, Debt Collector Abuse, Featured
Timothy McCollough of Laurel, Montana sued Johnson, Rodenburg and Lauinger ( a debt collection law firm) for violations of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Mr. McCollough was awarded $311,000.00 in damages because of the unlawful acts taken by the debt collectors.
Mr. McCullough’s story is not unique. This is a story that is being played out in courtrooms around the country, and I am glad that the story is finally getting some publicity. Congratulations to Mr. McCollough for his efforts in taking a stand against the debt collection industry when they pushed him just a little to far. Mr. McCullough was quoted as saying: “I was being shoved around” and “I don’t like bullies.”Mr. McCullough allegedly owed a debt to Chase in the 1990s. At some time thereafter, the debt was sold to a debt collector named CACV of Colorado, and Mr. McCullough was sued in 2005. He represented himself armed with the affirmative defense that the statute of limitations had expired for the collection of a consumer debt. Ultimately, the 2005 case was dismissed.
In 2007, Johnson, Rodenbury and Lauinger filed another lawsuit on behalf of CACV of Colorado against Mr. McCullough. The 2007 lawsuit included approximately $6,000 in attorney’s fees and costs. This time, Mr. McCullough got mad, and he sued the debt collector. I couldn’t agree more with his strategy.
The Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692) is a federal statute which was enacted to eliminate abusive consumer debt collection practices. It was also designed to provide an opportunity for consumers to dispute debts and obtain verification of debt information. Needless to say, it is not always followed. In today’s economy, the debt collector’s activities are getting worse and the collection violations are becoming more prevalent.
After a three day trial, a Federal jury awarded Mr. McCullough actual damages of $250,000, statutory damages of $1,000 and punitive damages of $60,000. Lastly, the Federal Judge will consider the issue of Mr. McCullough’s attorney’s fees.
This leads to the next question of whether the law firm will appeal the decision of the trial court. It is possible they will appeal the decision, and the Appellate Court may reduce the award or strike the punitive damages, but it doesn’t matter, Mr. McCullough has already won.
Mr. McCullough has set the standard for individuals around the United States by taking a stand against abusive debt collection efforts. In my opinion, Congress needs to amend the FDCPA by adding more violations and increasing the damage awards. Statutory damages of $1,000 is ridiculous. The damages should be $10,000 per violation at a minimum.
Harassing or Abusive Tactics
Debt collection agencies are prohibited from engaging in the following harassing or abusive practices:
* using or threatening to use violence or criminal means to harm you;
* using obscene or profane language;
* advertising your debt for sale;
* telephoning you repeatedly or continuously with the intent to annoy or harass; or
* placing telephone calls without meaningful disclosures of their identity.
One good thing about that is that it will keep many of the lower IQ's off the streets and away from their criminal activities for a few hours each day.
Who aspires to be a debt collector for Premiere in Indiacrapolis, IN????
I got lazy, and I got knocked up...so I dropped out of school. I never finished because I couldn't manage my classes, a job, and my new baby. I received my student loan bills in the mail, and set the aside along with the coupon ads. I just kept dodging the bills...even though the government was willing to grant me forbearance and deferment on payments due to my situation. Who cares? I was given the opportunity to improve my life through education, they lent the money...and all I had to do was promise to pay it back. I broke that promise, but they followed through on their end...I was given over $20,000 to pursue my dreams! Oh well. I'm not paying it back.
I am a collector...not for Premiere Credit, but I also collect on FEDERALLY insured student loans. It is disgusting the amount of complete dead beats I get on the phone everyday. We are talking about individuals who were given thousands upon thousands to pursue their dreams...and they didn't follow through on their end of the deal. How about the lawyers, doctors, and high paid business owners who make $200,000+ thanks to those student loans?
Now, I get it...I understand that a lot of collectors come across as aggressive and rude, but many of us, especially those of us that collect on student loans, are just trying to help. There are SO SO SO many government programs out there to help people get out from under these loans and into a UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT sponsored rehab program. The pool of money available to people who want to go to school at a reasonable interest rate is NOT infinite. Every little bit that we squeeze out of these people who owe thousands goes back into that pool...lowers the interests rates...and allows one more truly motivated individuals the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
I understand that we call at bad times, at your work, at your home, we call your family and friends trying to locate you. If you are not our borrower, excuse our mistake...but we're just trying to rule out possibilities so that we can find these criminals and have them start paying back what they PROMISED they would...
...but how DARE you accuse us as being the ones on the wrong side of the fence? We are looking for credit criminals...we are trying to recover as much lost money as possible so that you, your children, and your children's children may one day be given the same opportunities that you have available now.
If you are not the person we are looking for, be calm, rational, and verify the information we are asking for. We will always ask for reasonable information...such as the last four of your social (cell phone companies even as for that), or your birthday (your best friends will even ask you for that!). If you are not our borrower, we will apologize, remove your number from the file, and move on to the next lead.
BUT just for the record, I don't pull a random number from the phone book of someone who has the same last name as you...I have a legit lead on your home phone or cell phone...and people change their numbers ALL the time...so just be calm and rational...verify you aren't the person I am seeking, and I'll be just as nice and remove your number from the file.
Also, your remark about lower IQs....lets be honest...wouldn't you rather have those individuals trying to make a living rather than sucking up government assistance or selling drugs? You probably owe a student loan, don't you?
We are not uneducated scum bags. We are reasonable people with a job...and our job is to demand that people follow through with the promises they made to the United States government 20, 30, and even 40 years ago. Having the ability to take out thousands of dollars for an education is a privilege...not a right...and we will lose that privilege as a country if we do not stop standing in the way of those of us that are trying our hardest to bring these debtor to justice.
As a collector, I have rules and regulations to follow...and I am a reasonable person with a heart...but you have to meet me half way.
He had one of these low IQ Premiere collectors call him, using a local area code spoofed number, and left this 866 number with the bogus reference bit on an answer machine.
Everything is dated & documented.
Here it is folks ... FDCPA States:
806. Harassment or abuse is, among other Premiere practices, ...
(5) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person
in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously
with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the
called number.
and / or
(6) Except as provided in section 804, the placement of
telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the
caller’s identity.
Just one more violation logged for the lawsuit. Folks, begin logging all the violations.
These A$$wipes need to be taught a lesson!
- They have been documented spoofing numbers 5 times in this one situation.
§ 806. Harassment or abuse (6) Except as provided in section 804, the placement of
telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the
caller’s identity
- They are documented as calling 15 - 20 times in one day
§ 806. Harassment or abuse (5) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number"
- They are documented as contacting & annoying neighbors, when their only legitimate reason to contact a 3rd party is to "locate" a debtor. Hey folks ... by definition, if they know where the next door neighbors live, they have already located the debtor. ....
§ 805. Communication in connection with debt collection:
(b) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES ... "a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than a consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector"
§ 807. False or misleading representations - A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or mis-
leading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.
10) The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer.
I suggest you maintain a detailed log of the Premiere Credit A$$wipes illegal activities to include saved telephone messages; dates, times & calling number information for all calls from the low IQ's; dates of calls to friends & neighbors and queries made, recordings of all conversations.
Folks, this is much bigger than the $1,000 regularly recurring FDCPA violations that Premiere will be assessed.
This is a basis for proving a "company culture" and pattern of condoned, and planned, illegal debt collection activities to cause consumers emotional pain & suffering, and public embarrassment. This is the BIG payday.
This is the way Premiere conducts their business ... in violation of the FDCPA, ALL DAY - EVERY DAY!
Can anyone say ... CLASS ACTION?
It's not illegal to be in debt, or to be irresponsible. It is illegal to pursue debt collection activities as Premiere Credit does.
Who aspires to be a debt collector? ... Methinks they come from the same fold as the McDonald's workforce.
Here's the deal, stupid, ...
- you are to locate consumers in default on a credit agreement
- you are to contact them to try and get payment
- if you can't get payment, you are to turn it over to legal to get a judgment
- you are to legally try to perfect the judgment (garnish, attach assets, etc)
YOU DO NOT HARASS, ANNOY, OR TRY TO EMBARRASS CONSUMERS.
That is against the law.
Get it, dumbA$$??
I believe, due to our severe recession, there are going to be many more millions of consumers falling into default on student loans. The vast majority of people in "default status" on student loans are in that situation not because they are inherently irresponsible. Many, many different situations have caused the defaults ... loss of a job, divorce, illness, inability to find meaningful employment, etc.
Sure there are some "serial deadbeats", just as there are some intelligent / law abiding debt collectors, .... but each are a distinct minority.
The bottom line is: there are many more people today who will not stand for the illegal debt collection activities. They are much more knowledgeable regarding the law, and, because of the internet, can easily find out what their remedies are.
Look for many, many more lawsuits, FDCPA censures & penalties, and large judgments against the debt collection vermin.
In another vein, I've no doubt you will see many, many more complaints to the ED regarding the agencies they contract with. Hey ... If they are operating "outside the law", it's quire easy to prove.
We will do anything to make our measly commission if we can wring a little money out of you.
Hey man ... what else can I do? I'm an uneducated, underpowered cretin with a Barney Fife complex. It's wonderful to have my dumb A$$ on the other end of a phone line trying to bully someone. These are all things I could never do in person because I am a low life coward.
I love being a Premiere Credit debt collector! What else could I do?
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/02180802jgb.pdf
I wonder if the Education Department realizes the scum they are contracting with???