RPM trying to collect a fake debt
Complaint
JP
Country: United States
On 4 Apr 08 I got a call from Receivables Performance Management (RPM) claiming that I owe $85 on a Verizon account from 2000. I know that I’ve never had a Verizon account, and that my phone account from 2000 (I forget which company) was paid properly. So I told the RPM rep that they were full of s**t, and that I wanted written proof that this debt is actually mine. They had the last 4 of my SSN and tried to pass that off as “proof” that their info was legitimate. I still didn’t fall for it and asked for everything in writing.
Fortunately I have records that go back that far. I also called Verizon to confirm that they don’t have any account information with my name on it. Surprisingly they have no record of me ever having an account with them. I then went online to find out if RPM is some sort of scam. They are a “legitimate” company, yet seem to be practicing what I would describe as predatory debt collection, or legal extortion. Unfortunately, there is not much information on the internet yet about RPM. However, there is a lot of information about AFNI, who seem to be doing the same thing.
So, after I found this web page, and read all of the information about AFNI, I downloaded the FDCPA and FCRA and read them. I’m sending RPM a letter in accordance with the FDCPA. I’m also sending the letter to my state’s AG and the WA state AG. (RPM is located in Bothell WA.) I also checked all of my credit reports to make sure that nothing has been placed on them. I’ll continue to monitor my credit reports very closely for the next few months. As this develops I’ll update this comment.
I’m considering contacting a lawyer to see if what RPM is doing is in any way actually extortion. It’s a crime that the max penalty under FDCPA and FCRA is only $1000 or actual damages. Obviously that small amount isn’t enough of an incentive to keep these companies from violating the law. I’m also going to contact my Congressmen about this. Maybe if enough of us complain the law can get changed?
Oh, and a huge thanks to the poster on this site TJ! His information and advice was invaluable!!
Fortunately I have records that go back that far. I also called Verizon to confirm that they don’t have any account information with my name on it. Surprisingly they have no record of me ever having an account with them. I then went online to find out if RPM is some sort of scam. They are a “legitimate” company, yet seem to be practicing what I would describe as predatory debt collection, or legal extortion. Unfortunately, there is not much information on the internet yet about RPM. However, there is a lot of information about AFNI, who seem to be doing the same thing.
So, after I found this web page, and read all of the information about AFNI, I downloaded the FDCPA and FCRA and read them. I’m sending RPM a letter in accordance with the FDCPA. I’m also sending the letter to my state’s AG and the WA state AG. (RPM is located in Bothell WA.) I also checked all of my credit reports to make sure that nothing has been placed on them. I’ll continue to monitor my credit reports very closely for the next few months. As this develops I’ll update this comment.
I’m considering contacting a lawyer to see if what RPM is doing is in any way actually extortion. It’s a crime that the max penalty under FDCPA and FCRA is only $1000 or actual damages. Obviously that small amount isn’t enough of an incentive to keep these companies from violating the law. I’m also going to contact my Congressmen about this. Maybe if enough of us complain the law can get changed?
Oh, and a huge thanks to the poster on this site TJ! His information and advice was invaluable!!
Comments
If they did so without any legitimate permissible purpose (as defined in FCRA), and in particular then used your SSN obtained from that credit pull to attempt to deceptively claim having your SSN "proved" it was your debt, to get you to pay a debt you didn't owe, you might have an action under both FDCPA and FCRA, or corresponding state law. Some state laws allow for higher statutory penalties.
(sirama7262@aol.cm)
An ex-employee a couple years ago revealed that they are so cheap they were using old obsolete phone number database records to skip trace, resulting in numerous erroneous calls
Thanks
We have been receiving calls daily from this company Receivables Performance Management. They claim to have a $19 Sprint Long Distance bill from 2005 that supposedly we were making payments on until 2008. First of all who makes "payments" on a long distance charge for that many years. That had to have been one heck of a LD charge. Second Sprint has never been our long distance carrier in 2005 or any other year.
I have spoken with 2 different people and asked them for proof. I would pay $19 to stop the calls but am not comfortable giving them any money over the phone. They asked me to confirm the full social. Yeah, that's going to happen. But they only confirm the last 4 of the social and the mailing address. The funny thing is the address they have for us now if current but was not the address in 2005. So they clearly make up amounts and then go fishing.
I spoke to a nice fellow today who said he will send me the info that he does have by email and that they will not be calling again. Sure enough, they called just minutes later demanding that I take care of this. I want them to go away. What do you suggest. If you can get the $1000 keep it. I don't want it. I just want it to cost them for this crap.
Thanks
I would love to sue them. I mostly want to make them stop calling me.
Please contact me on how I can sue them.
Thanks,
David Abelson
I would love to sue them. I mostly want to make them stop calling me.
Please contact me on how I can sue them.
Thanks,
David
Thanks
Jennifer
The scams use illegal threats, harassment, abuse, and deception to collect on what may be inflated or faked "debt", and typically fail to send the required letter, fail to send verification (proof), try to pass of some email "settlement letter" as "proof", or claim they don't have to comply with all the FDCPA requirements. You can sue them for violations.
I have no idea where these people from RPM are coming from and if they are legal or fraud. AZ
Why are we held to contracts that these companies do not honor themselves? I would love to be part of a class action on all of this. Please count me in if one arises and you need proportionate signatures to get it started. (jinjelle@gmail.com).
Thank you
tawharris@gmail.com