Demand for Payment for Unauthorized Yello Pages Listing
Complaint
Tony Cooper
Country: United States
Unuathorized listing in www.goyellowpages.com
No physical address listed on their web site
Reverse lookup of 866-967-8205 reveals a company www.gafachi.com
Demand for $574 for A. C. A. Recovery Inc., 38 E.Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, New Jersey 07540 Phone 800 356 3713 on behalf of www.goyellowpages.com submitted with no proof whatsoever of the contract details.
No physical address listed on their web site
Reverse lookup of 866-967-8205 reveals a company www.gafachi.com
Demand for $574 for A. C. A. Recovery Inc., 38 E.Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, New Jersey 07540 Phone 800 356 3713 on behalf of www.goyellowpages.com submitted with no proof whatsoever of the contract details.
Comments
Claim to be connected to an attorney named Norman G Kalina. Several consumer reports that Norman Kalina claims he has nothing to do with them.
Either he has nothing to do with them, or he doesn't want NJ State Bar complaints for violations of debt collection laws.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-201-336-1026
If they claim to be the offices of this attorney, and they are violating debt collection laws, file complaints with NJ State Bar. Let them sort out the truth.
http://www.njsba.com/
Who are these jokers? Bags-o-money's uncles?
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Collection-Agency-s/ACA-RECOVERY/aca-recovery-ripoff-scam-calle-fffm8.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Collection-Agency-s/ACA-Recovery-Norman/aca-recovery-norman-g-kalina-92zfb.htm
ACA Recovery/ Norman G. Kalina, ESQ
Phone: 800-356-3713
Fax: 201-670-8272 38 E. Ridgewood Ave #395
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
U.S.A.
Similar address. 38 E Ridgewood is a maildrop.
http://www.op.nysed.gov/pecesedsponsors.htm
"New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association - Engineers
38 E. Ridgewood Avenue, PMB 183
Ridgewood, NJ 07450"
Its a UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc.
http://www.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Post+Offices/S-NJ/T-Ridgewood/
" Mail Boxes Etc
Not Rated | Write a Review
38 E Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 zip code
www.theupsstore.com
"
"Accredited Collection Agency
47 E Ridgewood Avenue, # 3, Ridgewood, NJ
(201) 670-8851
(201) 670-8272 (fax)
(800) 356-3713 (toll-free)
"
47 E Ridgewood may be a real address, including a Marine recruiting office.
"http://www.yellowpages.com/Paterson-NJ/Armed-Forces-Recruiting
United States Marine Corps
47 E Ridgewood Ave Ste 4
Ridgewood , NJ 07450 Map
(201) 447-1082 "
Based on FAX number match, they are hiring.
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/csr/1448364259.html
"...
COLLECTORS (ROCHELLE PARK, NJ)
Date: 2009-11-02, 3:04PM EST
Reply to: job-by7u5-1448364259@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
HIGH PROFILE COLLECTION AGENCY SEEKING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A DRIVE FOR SUCCE$$.
EXPERIENCED COLLECTORS PERFERRED BUT WILL TRAIN THE RIGHT CANDIDATE.
WE SERVICE FORTUNE 500 CLIENTS, AS WELL AS HIGH-PROFILE CLIENTS.
IMMEDIATE HIRE.. FULL TIME .&...PART TIME EVENINGS AVAIL...
SERIOUSLY INTERESTED CANDIDATES PLEASE EMAIL OR FAX RESUME TO 201-670-8272
Location: ROCHELLE PARK, NJ
Compensation: SALARY, MEDICAL, COMMISSION, 401K
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 1448364259
..."
(201) 670-8851 shows up under various ACA Recovery reports.
BBB report, rated "C".
http://www.bbb.org/new-jersey/business-review ... ood-nj-26003154
BBB report, rated "F".
http://www.bbb.org/new-jersey/business-review ... ood-nj-17001653
"Business Contact and Profile
Name: A.C.A. Recovery Inc.
Phone: (800) 356-3713
Address: 38 E Ridgewood Ave # 395
Ridgewood, NJ 07450-3808
File Open Date: May 2003
Type of Business: Collection Agencies
BBB Accreditation: This company is not a BBB Accredited business.
Additional DBA Names: ACA Recovery
...
Additional Addresses
...
76 N. Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
..."
U.S. Post Office.
http://ridgewood-nj.yellowusa.com/Public_Notaries.html
"UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
76 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ
"
http://www.lawcash.com/class-actions/accredit ... sq-lawsuit/3284
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-paedce ... case_id-163120/
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=ACCRED ... 1&max-year=2009
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=Kalina ... 1&max-year=2009
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=PROFES ... 1&max-year=2009
Once one starts targeting you with phony "invoices", it is not uncommon for others to do so as well. In effect, failing to respond aggressively labels you as a soft "mark" with weak accounts payable controls, which is exactly who they are looking for.
Mailing of "invoices" for unordered services or merchandise is illegal under U.S. postal regulations. Anything that might look like an invoice but is claimed to be an "offer" must be clearly marked as a "solicitation", clearly disclosing that you have no obligation to pay it. Otherwise, it is classified as "unmailable matter", and sending it is "mail fraud". File complaints with the U.S. Postal Inspector for every fraudulent "invoice" you receive. Do the same for fraudulent "collection notices".
U.S Postal Service, FTC, and Canadian law enforcement do periodic sweeps of the worst scammers, suing them and seizing their assets. A recent sweep in July resulted in lawsuits against three directory scam operations.
Report ALL fraud attempts. NO TOLERANCE!
Several reports of doctored recorded phone "authorizations", involving leading "yes" questions used to edit "yes" into a different script.
Report from a church that they first claimed the listing had been "authorized" by a pastor that had been dead several years at the time of the supposed "authorization". They then changed the alleged name to a different pastor, which also didn't match the right timeframe. Indicates they are pulling up old name information from some sources and using it to falsely claim authorizations were made by that named person.
Also complaints against ACA Recovery, and an alleged attorney Norman G. Kalina, as handling their "collections". Involvement in a second "business directory" scam with high levels of complaints, a classic cross-border one at that, argues against ACA Recovery "accidentally" accepting fraudulent collection accounts from goyellowpages without knowing what they are up to.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-689-5084
Conflicting allegations that Norman G. Kalina is an attorney associated with ACA Recovery, and also that he claims to have no relationship to them.
Justia clearly shows FDCPA lawsuits against ACA Recovery and a Norman G. Kalina, which would be expected if ACA Recovery is sending out collection letters under that name, legitimately or not.
There is a Norman G. Kalina practicing with Helfand and Helfand in NYC.
http://www.lawyers.com/New-York/New-York/Helfand-and-Helfand-452803-f.html
Michigan address, little information.
230 E Harrison Ave, Royal Oak , MI 48067
(866) 689-5084
http://www.regionalyellowpagesonline.com
Mail sent to the business on 10/20/2009 was returned by the U.S. Postal Service as Moved Left No Address.
http://www.bbb.org/eastern-michigan/business- ... ak-mi-90008461/
626 Rex-Corp Plaza, PO Box 6111, Uniondale, NY 11556
(866) 689-5084
http://www.regionalyellowpagesonline.com
39 complaints in last 12 months,
mail returned by Post Office since Feb. 2009.
http://www.bbb.org/new-york-city/business-rev ... dale-ny-103949/
Main report, appears to also reference above addresses.
Rated "F".
Note settlements between Thompson Hill Publishing and Idaho Attorney General. Also North Dakota AG cease and desist order.
http://www.bbb.org/centralohio/business-revie ... bus-oh-70053898
"605 N High St # 306
Columbus, OH 43215-2024"
"36 Rue Des Abenakis
Gatineau, QC J9J 2W5
Canada
Tel: (514) 313-1847
"
"...
Additional Phone Numbers
Tel: (248) 961-3411
Tel: (877) 829-2970
Tel: (877) 238-9765
Tel: (866) 689-5024
Tel: (800) 695-5421
..."
"...
Customer Complaint History for Ypages Group
Since April 1, 2009 companies have written to our BBB concerning more than $21,300.00 in invoices from YPages Group for internet or virtual directory listings for their businesses.
These businesses are saying they did not agree to a listing and asked the firm to stop billing them and to remove all charges.
Some of the businesses say they recalled receiving a phone call from YPages Group but their records reflect they did not agree to a listing with the company. Some of these businesses further say that while the call was recorded, the firm only plays back the portion of the call when an employee says yes, no part of the sales presentation is played back for the company to know to what question the employee responded "yes".
In response to complaints forwarded by BBB, YPages Group representative, Ms. Sharon Banks in a phone call to our office on April 15, 2009 stated she had received the complaints and would look into them.
The firms who have filed complaints with our office are located in Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. This portion of our report is updated as information is received.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
BBB processed a total of 43 complaints about Ypages Group in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 43 complaints closed in 36 months, 43 were closed in the last year.
These complaints concerned :
1 regarding Contract Issues
1 - None of the Above - Contract Complaint Issue
42 regarding Sales Practice Issues
3 - Sales presentation did not disclose key conditions of the offer
17 - Sales presentation misrepresented the product
2 - Sales presentation misrepresented the service
19 - Sales presentation used dishonest sales practices
1 - Sales presentation used high pressure methods
These complaints were closed as:
8 Resolved
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to BBB.
6 - Company resolved the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to BBB.
1 - Company offered a partial (less than 100%) settlement which the consumer accepted.
35 No Response
..."
http://www.wvago.gov/press.cfm?ID=470&fx=more
"...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Norman Googel
Phone: (304) 558-8986
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Attorney General Darrell McGraw Sues to Enforce Subpoenas and Enjoin Predatory Practices of 12 Internet Payday Lenders and Collection Agencies
Today Attorney General Darrell McGraw continued his effort to curb illegal activities of payday lenders by filing two lawsuits against 12 Internet payday lenders and their collection agencies. Both suits ask the court to order compliance with McGraw’s investigative subpoenas and to enjoin the companies from the continued making or collection of payday loans in West Virginia.
...
The companies named in today’s filings include the following:
Suit Against Internet Payday Lenders
Cash Advance Now d/b/a PeoplesPayday.com of Miami, FL
Debt Doctor, LLC d/b/a Magnum Z, LLC of Wentzville, MO
Direct ROI d/b/a Cashwest Payday Loans of Mesa, AZ
E Smart Credit Network d/b/a www.YourLoanServices.com of Miami, FL
Island Payday, LLC d/b/a www.islandpayday.com of Ogden, UT
Platinum Finance Company, LLC d/b/a www.PaycheckNow.com of Wilmington, DE
Sonic Cash, LLC d/b/a Sonic Cash Online Payday of Boise, ID
Suit Against Collection Agencies
A.C.A Recovery, Inc. of Ridgewood, NJ
Capital Collections, LLC of Miami, FL
Covenant Management Group, LLC of Gainesville, GA
Oasis Financial Solutions, LLC of Orange Park, FL
Westbury Ventures of Wilmington, DE
..."
The letter lists "Norman G. Kalina of counsel".
Since knowing that the goyellowpagesonline.com is a scam, I wanted to research this A.C.A Recovery to see if they were also a scam. After coming across many 'fishy' things online, I decided to go one step further.
I found Norman G. Kalina at www.helfandlaw.com and sent him an email asking if he was associated with this A.C.A. Recovery company at all.
5 minutes later I received a phone call from Norman. He was a bit rude to me and said "first off I'd like to tell you to not send emails to that address anymore, and secondly I am not associated with these people, they have caused me a lot of aggravation" I said "okay, that is all I needed to know" and he stated AGAIN "Do not send any more emails to that address".
Wow, I'm not sure what the deal is, why is it so important not to email him there?
Do I report this company and where do I report them?
As deceptive collection of a fraudulent business debt, however, it may require state fraud and unfair trade practices statutes to nail them. Alternatively, if they have put negative information on your personal credit reports, then FCRA would apply even if this is a (fraudulent) "business debt".
There are a number of consumers reporting contacting Mr. Kalina after receiving similar letters, and getting similar responses. Mr. Kalina has not clarified his past or current relationship with this debt collector. He also has not claimed there are two Norman G. Kalinas, which leads us to infer that he possibly had a past business relationship, may or may not still have one, and/or may have reached some settlement or agreement with the debt collector that includes an NDA.
Regardless, taking Mr. Kalina at his word, he has actually tipped you on how to deal with the "yellow pages" scammer and the debt collector willing to collect on their scam "accounts". File the usual complaints, FTC, state Attorney General, NJ Attorney General, NJ State Bar Association, and find an attorney with expertise in FDCPA and illegal collection law. You may have a "deceptive collection" case against ACA Recovery (on top of the fraud attempt by the "original creditor"), and it would become in Mr. Kalina's interest to provide the affidavit that their letter is unauthorized and deceptive.
Note that it is still appropriate to contact NJ Bar, regardless of whether this is an ethics violation for failure to supervise the authorized use of his name on letters, or whether it is an unauthorized use of his name on their letters, essentially a false representation by ACA Recovery itself that the letter is from an attorney, when it is not if it is not authorized (essentially equivalent to UPL).
The act is done, the "bell" cannot be un-rung, the bluff CAN be called at your choice.
You might try www.naca.net to find an attorney practicing in your state in the area of consumer debt, FDCPA and FCRA litigation. Since this involves the systematic use of a deceptive debt collection letter, there are attorneys who view this as an opportunity for a class action suit, and who would be familiar with how to effectively use the combination of possible FDCPA, FCRA, and state violations to define a class, for which ACA Recovery would have to provide the names of the class members, whether consumers or businesses.
Another thing to check, however, is that since this involves trafficking in fraudulent "debts" produced by a fraudulent telemarketing operation, across state lines. Give the FBI a call, and get in touch with their White Collar Crime Unit, which handles fraudulent telemarketing and knows how to deal with the other businesses that assist in this type of crime.
This one is also connected to South Florida. Note allegations of forging credit card receipts.
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/collection-agencies/about49519.html
Similar scam in UK.
http://www.businesswatchdog.net/yellow-pages-scam-from-holland.html
Three Canadian-based "business directory" scams sued by FTC.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/06/optmirage.shtm
And again, 4 years ago.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/08/datatech.shtm
26 state settlement with Yellow Pages, Inc, over "refund check" directory enrollment.
http://www.myfloridalegal.com/NewsBrie.nsf/On ... 525715E006531AF
Florida settlement with US-Yellow, AKA Allied Telephone Directories, Global Directories, Inc., and Global Directories, deceptive invoicing.
http://myfloridalegal.com/__852562220065EE67. ... =0,yellow,pages
Numerous "business directory" scam complaints, including reports of doctored recordings and phony debt collectors. Interesting sample of ways to fabricate or misrepresent "authorizations". Note reported use of mail drops in Champlain NY, associated with other cross-border scams. Also note insider reports, and shill attempts.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/blog/2005/08/business_direct.php
"they told me that one of our managers signed a 2 year contract agreement. It sounded sketchy. A few weeks ago, I received an invoice and then just called them to request a copy of the signed contract. Of course, they said they don’t keep a copy of it."
Regardless of whether this "debt", probably fraudulent, is "consumer debt", or "business debt, the long term practice of ACA Recovery sending letters in Mr. Kalina's name implies a presumption that Mr. Kalina qualifies as a "debt collector" under federal and state law. You might as well give him the opportunity either to respond to your request for "validation" on a fraudulent debt, or to respond denying any connection to ACA Recovery and indicating they are engaging in deceptive collection, sending letters under his name without his review or authorization.
You would send this second letter to a contact address DIFFERENT from ACA Recovery, such as where he apparently practices law, to ensure your response is directly from him and not intercepted by ACA Recovery.
I called back and asked them point blank if they were aware that this was a well known, widely recognized scam and that I did a search for them on Yahoo and found multiple pages related to their scam. The lady I spoke with mumbled something about "that's what people say when we collect debt" and then said I needed to call back and talk to the legal department and hung up on me.
I called her back and asked her again about the scam, and asked about whether Norman Kalina was a part of their company or not, at which time she said "I told you to talk to legal" and hung up again.
I called back a 3rd time and the first person to answer the phone promptly hung up on me.
I called today at 4:15pm Eastern and asked to speak to their legal department and was told they were gone for the day. I asked what time they came in, and they told me 9 to 4. I asked whether Mr. Kalina was in the office or not and they said no, that he was not in the office today, he was already gone and that he had court tomorrow morning so they didn't know when he would be in the office.
I have already reported them to the FTC, to the NJ State Bar, and going to follow up on the other options as well. I have dealt with these harrassing phone calls from go yellow pages for almost 2 years and I'm sick of it.