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
Thanks in Advance
Send a letter disputing any questionable debt and requesting proof that you owe it, to the debt collector, sending it certified return receipt requested so you have proof they got it. If they have never contacted you, and you have only found their negative collection account on your credit reports, indicate that, and include a redacted copy of the page from your credit report showing their questionable entry. Black out all other information since it is none of their business.
Then when you have verified by U.S. Postal Service that they have received your request for validation, send a written dispute to the credit reporting agency showing the collection item, disputing it. Again, send this certified return receipt requested.
The credit reporting agency should notify the debt collector of your dispute, in which case they should either remove it if it is in error, or they might notify the credit reporting agency that it is "verified". If they "verify" it erroneously, and they haven't sent you proof you owe it, then they have engaged in continued collection without validation, in violation of FDCPA. You contact an attorney and sue them.
Here are over a hundred complaints against Resurgent:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/searchresults.asp?q1=ALL&q5=Resurgent+Capital+&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0
You will note that complaints include allegations of abusive debt collection, attempting to collect debts from the wrong person, and attempts to collect debts already paid or settled that are no longer owed.
There are also allegations that because they operate under a large number of names, they may attempt to evade validation of debts required by FDCPA by just passing off disputed debts to another part of their operations.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/searchresults.asp?q5=GE+Capital&Search=Search&q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21
GE Capital handles retail consumer credit accounts for a number of retailers.
First send a dispute and validation request letter, certified return receipt requested, to the address for RPM on your letter. Then you might contact GE Capital directly to see if there is even any account under your name and SSN.
It is not uncommon for debt collectors to attempt to extract payments from the wrong person, using harassment, evading validation requests, and other violations of FDCPA to extort payments from people who owe them nothing.
As for you guys with RPM, Chriss what's your full name and zip? I'll get an RPM inside scoop for you.
At the same time they click on apart of the screen that shows the balance, and add interest as they deem fit.
So now a bill that is not yours has you admitting it's yours, has been reported to all credit agencies, and is being resold as we speak most likely to several other third party debt collection agencies, with you on the record as admitting to the debt before a single call is made to you.
This is why I stopped working for these creeps. I remember when we actually did get people to make payments, we would keep payment details of any payment that wasen't made in CASH public in our system so that I could take it home and do some online Christmass shopping.
And those payments that WERE made in CASH. Well could you see this? Imagine, picture it in your head, the owner of this business opening up the envelope and putting the cash in his pocket, then he puts in your record that you refused to pay, and that there was no recieved payment.
Or better yet, you do pay, but they take a couple years to report it as paid, and meanwhile the interest on your bill goes up and they have resold the bill to other collection parties. And if you can't save proof of payment (which you can't with cold hard cash) then you have to pay it again.
I was RPMS and Sentry Credits finest. I can tell you how it goes in these companies. I remember looking at my boss, and yelling out "it's like taking candy from a baby".
Example: Lets say that the bill is shown as unpaid from day one that it's gone into collections. And everyday that it's reported as unpaid your score goes down. Now lets say on day 24 they make you aware that you have an unpaid bill. Now let's say you dispute/pay the bill, and they report it as paid/disputed on day 55 in their systems notes, and lets say on 60 it gets removed from your credit report. Well your score that has been ruined by this bill doesn't go back up. It's YOUR responsibility to keep track of YOUR score, and therefore it's YOUR fault for not acting in time....
Oh and keep track of that score because there's nothing preventing them from doing it again. Or from another agency doing it if they have already, or ever do get their hands on that bill.
Before I ever worked for Sentry Credit, I had an LNI bill that by mistake was given to collections with Sentry Credit.
Not only was it sent into collections, but when I started working there I looked it up. And what it showed me was TWO bills for the same procedure for the same amount! They basically doubled the bill. Now as an employee I said something about it. But that didn't even matter! So even if an employee TELLS them they made a mistake, they JUST DON'T CARE!
Finally I got someone with the Everett Clinic involved and Sentry was forced to fix the mistake. BUT! My credit score was and still IS damaged from their mistake! Because it's MY responsibility to keep track of what's going on!
So please make sure that RPM didn't double or triple the bill. Because these businesses CAN and DO do that.
And many of the ORIGINAL CREDITORS do not keep track of YOUR bill after they have sold it and/or gotten paid for it and still sold it! So if the collection agency screws you over, there's NOTHING you can do! So you have to keep track of YOUR credit score!
Nasty credit can prevent you from buying/renting a home/car, applying for a loan, or credit, or job and can get you garnished and increase the current rates on your credit cards! It brings harrasment for you and your family, and your co-workers. Wether or not the bill was EVER yours, and is or isn't anymore! That's why 90% of people pay off these debts, and 90% of them know it's NOT their debt!
Here is a news story that tells people how they can get screwed credit wise for paying their bills ONTIME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2XPNjmJhQs
Here is ABC news regarding debt collectors breaking the LAW! Trying to make people pay bills that aren't theres!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhGNiofkzaA
Illegal freezing of bank accounts! Child support payments STOLEN, Cancer patient funds STOLEN, STEALING Social Security! Motor vehicles Suspending license, FEDERAL LAW BEING BROKEN! Including checks BOUNCING that THEY have to pay!
ABC NEWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB7nl-7XkqU&feature=channel_page
Here you can see collection agencys threatening JAIL TIME for debts that are already written off legally!
Judgements PROVE salarys garnished even if debts are BOGUS!
Victims SUED in court and LOST!!!
MY9 NEWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTVZ4rU2_84&feature=channel_page
Illegal threats, death threats, sex acts, ect. is now popular to pay off DEBTS!
MY9 NEWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsGPlXI42Mo&feature=channel_page
Here is stories of people being insulted and GARNISHED for thousands of dollars for debts that they DON'T even OWE! For people who didn't even have the same NAME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pVfKbCOyVg&feature=channel_page
Governor refuses to help out his own state to illegal actions!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9UGyhv3gv8&feature=channel_page
One of the good things that happens in a deep recession, such as we are in now, is the collapse and uncovering of enterprises built on fraud. Just as we have seen scandals such as the $47 Billion Madoff Ponzi scheme and other similar fraud schemes collapse, we are also seeing some of the more notorious "debt collectors" closing their doors.
"Businesses" built on excessive leverage due to borrowing to purchase increasing amounts of "bad debt", and who depend for their cash flow on preying on consumers who now have no cash to pay off even legitimate debts, will be unlikely be able to keep the doors open on what were even in good times marginal operations. The industry is "parasitic", unlike normal businesses that grow when they benefit their customers.
As these overextended businesses unwind, however, we can expect them to engage in increasingly egregious violations of law, which will also increasingly spill over to cause damage to entirely innocent consumers. As they go down, they have no reason to be restrained by law, since it will be just "get the money any way you can". The lines between legal "debt collection" and "fraudulent telemarketing and scamming" blur. In effect, the collapse of a shady debt collection business can be expected to parallel the collapse of other fraudulent enterprises, degenerating to shell games to hide the illgotten gain as the rats dump the "business" and scurry for cover.
Good riddance.
If you actually had a card with Providian back in 2003, even if you don't remember, your credit reports should still show Providian's credit reporting data from back then, assuming your are not dealing with a case of identity theft or misidentification.
In any case, you cannot trust any debt collector's unsubstantiated claim that you owe them anything. Send them a letter, certified return receipt requested, disputing the debt and requesting that they send you proof you owe it. Make sure the "proof" matches your own records, and is not just some letter they made up themselves.
If they can't or won't provide proof you are the correct debtor, and actually owe what they claim, they may be harassing the wrong party.
A bunch of creeps conning people is really low on their list, even though deception was a common factor in creating the mortgage crisis.