topic Re: NEED ADVICE - QUICK in General Credit Topics

NEED ADVICE - QUICK

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:35:41 GMT

I received a call today from an attorney's office in Atlanta (I am in Tennessee). They said that they were calling about a bad check from September 2002. They told me that I could pay it (or make arrangements to pay it) and they would "take me off the docket" - otherwise, I would be served court papers later this week. Please tell me what to do about this . . . they can't (or won't) give me the name of the company that I owe, nor can they give me the amount of the original check, yet they claim that I now owe $580.00 due to the additional fees that were added. I know that I never wrote a check for that amount - or even close to that amount. Do I have any way to deal with this without being taken to court?

Thanks.

Re: NEED ADVICE - QUICK

Lel — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:53:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I received a call today from an attorney's office in Atlanta (I am in Tennessee). They said that they were calling about a bad check from September 2002. They told me that I could pay it (or make arrangements to pay it) and they would "take me off the docket" - otherwise, I would be served court papers later this week. Please tell me what to do about this . . . they can't (or won't) give me the name of the company that I owe, nor can they give me the amount of the original check, yet they claim that I now owe $580.00 due to the additional fees that were added. I know that I never wrote a check for that amount - or even close to that amount. Do I have any way to deal with this without being taken to court?

Thanks.

This sounds like a scam. There should be no reason why they can't tell you who you owe. Did you get the name of the "attorney" that called you?

Re: NEED ADVICE - QUICK

corkyduckfan — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:34:11 GMT

a 100% absolute scam. More than likely, one of the many CA's breaking law becuase there is very little trouble they can get into for doing this. Tell them to piss off and that you are aware of your rights.

Re: NEED ADVICE - QUICK

Anonymous — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:41:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I received a call today from an attorney's office in Atlanta (I am in Tennessee). They said that they were calling about a bad check from September 2002. They told me that I could pay it (or make arrangements to pay it) and they would "take me off the docket" - otherwise, I would be served court papers later this week. Please tell me what to do about this . . . they can't (or won't) give me the name of the company that I owe, nor can they give me the amount of the original check, yet they claim that I now owe $580.00 due to the additional fees that were added. I know that I never wrote a check for that amount - or even close to that amount. Do I have any way to deal with this without being taken to court?

Thanks.

A law office is required to provide you their practice name, address, phone, the attorney's name, their state bar number, the name of their client, original claim amount, accrued interest, fees and attorney's fees, etc.

If they will not provide any of the above info, they are almost guaranteed to be lying to you about even being an attorney. An attorney who fails to do the above can be sanctioned, disbarred and even imprisoned (depending on the nature of law violation).

Ask them for this info. Ask them to fax or mail you a letter or statement. Any debt collector is required to mail you a written notice within 5 days of contacting you by phone.

This sounds like a dead beat collection company (if there is ANY root of truth to an original debt) down to an outright scam. They are counting on you reacting EXACTLY as you are, scared and in a panic. If they can get you into that state, there is a good chance they can get you to pay up, even if you don't owe anything.

Did the phone number register on Caller ID? Did they give you any info at all?

Message Edited by txjohn on 05-19-2009 05:41 AM

Re: NEED ADVICE - QUICK

Anonymous — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:32:37 GMT

Check your state statutes to determine your SOL and read up on bad check laws. Sometimes this is different than regular SOL.

Also, if you have the name of the company, do some research and see what you can find out about them.

If you have the name of the company or the phone number, if you want to post it, some may be able to tell you a little more if they've dealt with them and others will see what they can find for you.

Re: NEED ADVICE - QUICK

Anonymous — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:00:05 GMT

Wow. Thanks so much for everyone's input.

The number that comes up on my phone is 678-916-5474 and I have searched for it on the internet and can't find anything about it.

They couldn't give me the name of the company, other than it was a "cash advance" business. They refuse to give me the amount of the original check.

She seems very hesitant to offer me anything in writing (validating the debt) until I agree to pay and give my credit card and/or bank account number.

The SOL for Tennessee is 6 years, so I'm not even sure how they can get away with this. If I truly owed the money, I would pay it. However, I don't want to pay something that is 3 times the amount of the check or for something I don't even know that I did. I called an attorney today.