Collections Agency Scam?

[Anonymous]

Didn't know where to post this... but

I just received a letter in the mail box dated 13 Jan 2009, from a collection agency saying I owe $25,000! No idea where that could possibly come from, me having no loans etc.

Only one page, all it says is account #, "Creditor: YOUR CREDITORS" , amount due:$$$$" and some message about need to inform about address change etc.along with company letter head, payment options etc. It has my name and address on there as well..

It's from Collection Consultants of California - A Debt Collection Agency , 6100 San Fernando Road Suite 211, Gelndale CA 91201 (818) 551-5600.

I tried googling the company, didn't come up with anything bad nor anything about snail mail collection agency scams...

Think this is a scam? or identity theft(checked credit report a month or 2 ago)? Got me pretty worried, thoughts?

Message Edited by grezex on 01-16-2009 10:53 PM

[Junejer]

Think really hard about whether this could possibly be yours. If you are positive that it's not yours, DV them. If it's some error, they will disappear, or they will validate and you will then know what it is.

Scam? IDK. Scum? Probably.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, there's no way the debt can be mine. The only reasonable explanation I can think of is identity theft, which I will probably request a free one soon just to make sure despite seeing one a couple months ago. On the letter they sent, there's no info on my social security #. The only personal information they have listed on the letter is my name (not even full name) and my address (but missing apartment #). Should I bother calling them and asking or should I just go ahead and write a DV letter to them? I just don't want a wrongfully accused debt showing up on my credit report :-/

Thanks for the reply.

[marty56]

Do not call.

IMHO if you have a listed phone number, they could be looking for someone with your name and dont have enough information to get the correct person.

Also, until it shows up on youre CR, would it be a mistake to do a DV?  If they are looking for someone else, your reply might make them decide to pick you and that might be enough information to add the collection to your CR.  I dont think CAs care if they have the right person or not. 

[Junejer]

I would certainly DV. You don't want that thing to hit your report, which they might do, if you completely ignore them. Send a strong DV letter, requesting full media validation and at the same time, contact the BBB and tell them of this action.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedbacks guys.

Hmm, pardon my ignorance but is BBB = Better Business Bureau? If so, I found this: http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=13026065 . That's the collection company that sent the letter. There's no user reviews it seem, but it looks like they don't respond to complaints. The letter is so suspicious itself makes me just want to ignore it. I mean it says Amount due to creditor's name is "YOUR CREDITOR" with no specific name, c'mon... :-/

Would you suggest getting a CR now and see if that stuff is on there now? I guess I will write a DV letter to them on Monday instead of ignoring it; I searched this forum and there are lots of great examples for DV letters. And at the same time just file a complaint with BBB?

[Junejer]

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grezex wrote:

Thanks for the feedbacks guys.

Hmm, pardon my ignorance but is BBB = Better Business Bureau? yes If so, I found this: http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=13026065 . That's the collection company that sent the letter. There's no user reviews it seem, but it looks like they don't respond to complaints. Contact the BBB and tell them your story. The letter is so suspicious itself makes me just want to ignore it. I mean it says Amount due to creditor's name is "YOUR CREDITOR" with no specific name, c'mon... :-/ Ignoring it is not the answer, IMO.

Would you suggest getting a CR now and see if that stuff is on there now? Yes, annualcreditreport.com--can get your full reports from there.  Get all three. I guess I will write a DV letter to them on Monday instead of ignoring it; I searched this forum and there are lots of great examples for DV letters. Use the Lonnster letter that asks for full media validation.  Remember never sign it, just type your name in there. And at the same time just file a complaint with BBB? yes

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[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the feedbacks guys.

Hmm, pardon my ignorance but is BBB = Better Business Bureau? If so, I found this: http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=13026065 . That's the collection company that sent the letter. There's no user reviews it seem, but it looks like they don't respond to complaints. The letter is so suspicious itself makes me just want to ignore it. I mean it says Amount due to creditor's name is "YOUR CREDITOR" with no specific name, c'mon... :-/

Would you suggest getting a CR now and see if that stuff is on there now? I guess I will write a DV letter to them on Monday instead of ignoring it; I searched this forum and there are lots of great examples for DV letters. And at the same time just file a complaint with BBB?

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BBB is the better business bureau.

You must send a DV letter CMRRR to protect your rights.

Check immediate;y your Credit Reports in case they have added a tradeline.

If you are 101% sure it can't possibly be yours, file online complains with the Attorney Generals in your state in in the CA's state. Also file online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC. Also, if your state has a business licensing board, complain with them as well.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I will take care of the DV letter first thing Monday.

There's just another thing that strikes me as odd, they didn't include the spelling of my full name, mine actually contains a hyphen and more after what they wrote as my first name, and also on my address they failed to put down the apartment number. If i wrote a letter to them with my accurate name and full address, would they use that to their advantage?

[Anonymous]

I just checked my Credit reports, Equifax is clean, However Experian shows the collections agency as potentially negative, should i dispute the item on there? (For some reason I was able to get the Transunion report online, I have to call/mail to confirm my identity).

I'm about to send the DV letter today and file a complaint with the BBB. 

Edit: .. scratch that I called Experian and filed a dispute, after hearing the original creditor for the collections agency I realized who the debt belonged to.. it belongs to my brother who has similar name to me and they probably thought it's me, should I still send the DV letter or just call them and straighten things out?

Message Edited by grezex on 01-20-2009 10:17 AM