topic Re: Possible Fraud. in Rebuilding Your Credit

Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 18:13:03 GMT

On July 3rd I had a new collection show up on my report for West Bay Acquisition for BMG. Never got a dunning notice or anything. I called today to see what it was for and apparently it has my name and my old address which was also my girlfriends address at the time. I never signed up for BMG, but I am thinking my girlfriend signed up for it using my name, I am not 100% certain I contacted my ex and she claimed to not know what BMG is. Should I file Identity theft and place fraud alerts on my account, try a pfd to just get it deleted and bite the bullet to get it to fall off faster, or should I wait for it to fall off on its own Feb/2014. The balance isn't high, but I really don't feel like paying for something I am 100% certain is not mine.

Re: Possible Fraud.

DaBears — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 18:54:35 GMT

You would file a police report then the FTC fraud affidavit and submit them to the cra's then copies to the OC. How much is the bal?

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 18:57:34 GMT

@DaBears wrote:
You would file a police report then the FTC fraud affidavit and submit them to the cra's then copies to the OC. How much is the bal?

The balance is very small $31.00, that is why I am hesitant to file the report since it is so low, but don't know if a PFD will work.

Re: Possible Fraud.

DaBears — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:00:56 GMT

For $31 i would pay it.

Re: Possible Fraud.

toi34 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 00:49:37 GMT

I don't know if I would trust West Bay Acquistions....and I wouldn't pay them a dime!

In June they did the same thing to me. They inserted at $50 collection on my EQ report for a Hollywood Video account I never had. Hollywood Video is not even in my town.

My CR showed a fall-off date of 10/2013.

Like the other poster, I did not receive a dunning notice in the mail, it just popped-up on my CR. I sent an email to my state's AG, and within 2 weeks it was off!

I've read other posters say the same thing about this CA -- collecting on low balances,not sending prior notices, putting debts on peoples CR, and the fall-off dates are usually within a few months.

Sounds like a scam to me???!!!

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 02:03:35 GMT

@toi34 wrote:
I don't know if I would trust West Bay Acquistions....and I wouldn't pay them a dime!

In June they did the same thing to me. They inserted at $50 collection on my EQ report for a Hollywood Video account I never had. Hollywood Video is not even in my town.
My CR showed a fall-off date of 10/2013.

Like the other poster, I did not receive a dunning notice in the mail, it just popped-up on my CR. I sent an email to my state's AG, and within 2 weeks it was off!

I've read other posters say the same thing about this CA -- collecting on low balances,not sending prior notices, putting debts on peoples CR, and the fall-off dates are usually within a few months.

Sounds like a scam to me???!!!

Did you send them validation first or did you go straight to your AG?

Re: Possible Fraud.

toi34 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 02:11:48 GMT

I did them both silmultaneously. By the time the AG sent me letter saying that they received my complaint and contacted the company, within a day or two I received a letter from WestBay saying they had sent a request to delete and closed the account.

From the time I got the EQ alert to the time it was off my CR was about 12 days.

Re: Possible Fraud.

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 03:27:44 GMT

It does sound like a scam. I have seen their name mentioned in many posts.

But, there is nothing that says they have to send you anything prior to reporting.

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:09:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It does sound like a scam. I have seen their name mentioned in many posts.

But, there is nothing that says they have to send you anything prior to reporting.

I thought in the FDCPA it says they have 5 days to notify you of the debt after first communication? Maybe I am misunderstanding what it is saying?

§ 809. Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g]

(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing --

(1) the amount of the debt;

(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;

(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;

(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and

(5) a statement that, upon the consumer's written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.

(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.

(c) The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under this section may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability by the consumer

Re: Possible Fraud.

toi34 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:10:51 GMT

@Guiness

This CA did not send a dunning notice post-reporting either. I thought I have read that within 5 days of contact a written notice needed to be sent? How else are we supposed to know what the debt is about, from whom, and our federal right to dispute?

Re: Possible Fraud.

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:17:26 GMT

If initial communications is reporting to your CR then they have 5 days to send a dunning notice. They don't have to send one prior to reporting.

If you have never received one then yes, they are violating the FDCPA.

Re: Possible Fraud.

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:18:24 GMT

@toi34 wrote:
I don't know if I would trust West Bay Acquistions....and I wouldn't pay them a dime!

In June they did the same thing to me. They inserted at $50 collection on my EQ report for a Hollywood Video account I never had. Hollywood Video is not even in my town.
My CR showed a fall-off date of 10/2013.

Like the other poster, I did not receive a dunning notice in the mail, it just popped-up on my CR. I sent an email to my state's AG, and within 2 weeks it was off!

I've read other posters say the same thing about this CA -- collecting on low balances,not sending prior notices, putting debts on peoples CR, and the fall-off dates are usually within a few months.

Sounds like a scam to me???!!!

FYI, West Bay IS NOT allowed to report collections for Hollywood Video accounts. Several state AG's have gone after them over this. It even says on their website somewhere that NO Hollywood Video collection accounts will be reported to the CRA's. Google "West Bay Hollywood Video"--you'll find pure gold.

Re: Possible Fraud.

DaBears — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:34:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@toi34 wrote:
I don't know if I would trust West Bay Acquistions....and I wouldn't pay them a dime!

In June they did the same thing to me. They inserted at $50 collection on my EQ report for a Hollywood Video account I never had. Hollywood Video is not even in my town.
My CR showed a fall-off date of 10/2013.

Like the other poster, I did not receive a dunning notice in the mail, it just popped-up on my CR. I sent an email to my state's AG, and within 2 weeks it was off!

I've read other posters say the same thing about this CA -- collecting on low balances,not sending prior notices, putting debts on peoples CR, and the fall-off dates are usually within a few months.

Sounds like a scam to me???!!!
FYI, West Bay IS NOT allowed to report collections for Hollywood Video accounts. Several state AG's have gone after them over this. It even says on their website somewhere that NO Hollywood Video collection accounts will be reported to the CRA's. Google "West Bay Hollywood Video"--you'll find pure gold.

+1 I just read the articles. Good eye leadberry!!!

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:42:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@toi34 wrote:
I don't know if I would trust West Bay Acquistions...And I wouldn't pay them a dime!

In June they did the same thing to me. They inserted at $50 collection on my EQ report for a Hollywood Video account I never had. Hollywood Video is not even in my town.
My CR showed a fall-off date of 10/2013.

Like the other poster, I did not receive a dunning notice in the mail, it just popped-up on my CR. I sent an email to my state's AG, and within 2 weeks it was off!

I've read other posters say the same thing about this CA -- collecting on low balances,not sending prior notices, putting debts on peoples CR, and the fall-off dates are usually within a few months.

Sounds like a scam to me???!!!
FYI, West Bay IS NOT allowed to report collections for Hollywood Video accounts. Several state AG's have gone after them over this. It even says on their website somewhere that NO Hollywood Video collection accounts will be reported to the CRA's. Google "West Bay Hollywood Video"--you'll find pure gold.

I've read about the whole Hollywood video craziness, but unfortunately this is for BMG. But I have a feeling what they did with Hollywood they are now doing with BMG if you read the BBB complaints.

Re: Possible Fraud.

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:52:06 GMT

@bb2200 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@toi34 wrote:
I don't know if I would trust West Bay Acquistions...And I wouldn't pay them a dime!

In June they did the same thing to me. They inserted at $50 collection on my EQ report for a Hollywood Video account I never had. Hollywood Video is not even in my town.
My CR showed a fall-off date of 10/2013.

Like the other poster, I did not receive a dunning notice in the mail, it just popped-up on my CR. I sent an email to my state's AG, and within 2 weeks it was off!

I've read other posters say the same thing about this CA -- collecting on low balances,not sending prior notices, putting debts on peoples CR, and the fall-off dates are usually within a few months.

Sounds like a scam to me???!!!
FYI, West Bay IS NOT allowed to report collections for Hollywood Video accounts. Several state AG's have gone after them over this. It even says on their website somewhere that NO Hollywood Video collection accounts will be reported to the CRA's. Google "West Bay Hollywood Video"--you'll find pure gold.
I've read about the whole Hollywood video craziness, but unfortunately this is for BMG. But I have a feeling what they did with Hollywood they are now doing with BMG if you read the BBB complaints.

Yeah, my comment was directed more toward anyone who may read this thread in the future who gets letters from West Bay concerning a Hollywood Video account. They sent me letters a while back due to an old Hollywood Video account--my roommate rented UFC 2k9 on my account and never returned it. The thing is I totally remembered it happening, so I knew it wasn't a scam. Just paid them the $30 and was done with it. I will say that West Bay had the most unprofessional CSR's I've ever encountered...and that's saying a lot.

Last I remembered, they had an F rating with the BBB or something, so I would just skip that route and go straight for the AG.

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:57:21 GMT

Last I remembered, they had an F rating with the BBB or something, so I would just skip that route and go straight for the AG.

I was just about to file a BBB complaint. I already filled a complaint with the CFPB. This is what I said.

While checking my Transunion credit report I noticed I had a new collection from West Bay Acquisitions for BMG in the amount of $31.00 I disputed this with Transunion since i've never owned or signed up for BMG music service it was removed a couple of days later. On 07/03/2013 I received a notice from Experian saying there has been changes to my credit report. I logged in and found the same collection that was on Transunion now on my Experian report. They never sent me a dunning notice which is in violation of the FDCPA. And they never tried contacting me about the debt that apparently went delinquent on 09/01/2007. As stated earlier I have never signed up for BMG I cannot find any contact information for them and don't think they even exist anymore. I don't know how West Bay Acquisition got any information saying that I owe them any money?

I want to send this to the BBB, and FTC, and AG but don't know if I should hold off until the CFPB results.

Re: Possible Fraud.

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:11:29 GMT

Have you already filed a dispute through TU? In my experience, the CFPB wants to see that you tried to solve things through the CRA's first.

Edit: Just reread your post, disregard. May or may not have blood in my alcohol system. -_-

Edit x2: I would wait for the results from the CFPB...they usually get things done.

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:11:37 GMT

Yeah I filled a dispute with Transunion it was removed. It got added onto my Experian so I disputed it twice but it remained.

Edit: No problem lol.

Re: Possible Fraud.

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:12:38 GMT

Was the complaint filed with the CFPB concerning TU or EX?

Re: Possible Fraud.

bb2200 — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:18:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Was the complaint filed with the CFPB concerning TU or EX?

The collection is stuck on my Experian report. TU removed it within 3 days of my dispute.