Do you think this CA is actually licensed?

[azsassycat]

Collection Agency Licensing Requirements:

The Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (32 M.R.S.A. 11031 et seq.) requires the licensing of any person who conducts the business of a debt collector in the State of Maine. The term of each license is generally two (2) years and may be renewed. Each licensee is required to file a bond in the form as prescribed by the Office of Consumer Credit Regulation. Violation of the licensing requirement or any provision of the Main Fair Debt Collection Practices Act may result in civil penalty as well as liability to the consumer.

Application and fee schedule for licensing a collection agency may be obtained from the Director of the Office of Consumer Credit Regulation, 35 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0035.

Links to Maine laws,  government agencies, and organizations are included here. Always discuss actual cases with your actual legal advisor or legal department. The Maine State Bar Association is linked here.

~~www.lawdogs.com

Garrett-

Here's the link for Maine

http://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/licensing/credit_reporting_agency/

[annah]

I'm not to far from Norfolk- I can go beat em up for you.

[Anonymous]

Debt collection agency surety bond amounts will vary state by state. However, you can rest assured that they will all guarantee that the debt collection agency abides by the rules set fourth by the state. If they fail to do so, the state will file a claim on their bond and compensate those effected. ...even better is that the bonding company will then persue the agency for the losses!

[Anonymous]

I just checked my credit report and found that PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFIL  just hit my credit report.

I do not know what this is for and whatever it would be for, would be years old, as I have no outstanding debts. I have never been contacted by them - ever.  Yet they claim I made a $20 payment to them (according to Experian) and I never did.

I live in Alaska and have tried to read the "regulations" but I dont understand them.  Are they allowed to collect if they are not licensed in Alaska?  Can someone tell me what they think it means?

http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pcoa.htm

Out-of-State Agencies

Alaska licensure is not required for a foreign (out of state) collection agency that does not collect on behalf of creditors based in the State of Alaska nor is soliciting collection agency work from Alaska clients, but is only seeking to make collections from debtors within the State of Alaska. 

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What do you suggest I do, because I want to dispute this! Im trying to buy a house and I dont want this screwing things up for me!

[Anonymous]

The way I read this- (I am not a lawyer)

Is that their is no licensing requirement UNLESS they are collecting for AK Clients(OC's)

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leogirl wrote:

I just checked my credit report and found that PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFIL  just hit my credit report.

I do not know what this is for and whatever it would be for, would be years old, as I have no outstanding debts. I have never been contacted by them - ever.  Yet they claim I made a $20 payment to them (according to Experian) and I never did.

I live in Alaska and have tried to read the "regulations" but I dont understand them.  Are they allowed to collect if they are not licensed in Alaska?  Can someone tell me what they think it means?

http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pcoa.htm

Out-of-State Agencies

Alaska licensure is not required for a foreign (out of state) collection agency that does not collect on behalf of creditors based in the State of Alaska nor is soliciting collection agency work from Alaska clients, but is only seeking to make collections from debtors within the State of Alaska. 

---

What do you suggest I do, because I want to dispute this! Im trying to buy a house and I dont want this screwing things up for me!

---

[llecs]

I'm not an attorney either, but I saw Judge Judy once. As I read it, they must be licensed under (a) (3 & 4 & 5). A search in their database did not produce Portfolio. I don't think they are licensed, unless there is a DBA that they are not using. Search using "COA" in the "Board" field. This is for collections. And use the letter "P" for Last name or DBA. You'll see all collections with the name beginning with the letter "P".

Here's the statute:

Sec. 08.24.090. License required.

(a) A person other than a collection agency licensed and authorized under this

chapter may not for compensation

(1) conduct a collection agency business in this state;

(2) collect claims for others in this state;

(3) solicit the right to collect or receive payment of a claim for another;

(4) advertise or solicit either in print, by letter, in person or otherwise, the right to collect or receive payment

of a claim for another;

(5) seek to make collection or obtain payment of a claim on behalf of another.

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leogirl wrote:

I just checked my credit report and found that PORTFOLIO RECVRY&AFFIL  just hit my credit report.

I do not know what this is for and whatever it would be for, would be years old, as I have no outstanding debts. I have never been contacted by them - ever.  Yet they claim I made a $20 payment to them (according to Experian) and I never did.

I live in Alaska and have tried to read the "regulations" but I dont understand them.  Are they allowed to collect if they are not licensed in Alaska?  Can someone tell me what they think it means?

http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pcoa.htm

Out-of-State Agencies

Alaska licensure is not required for a foreign (out of state) collection agency that does not collect on behalf of creditors based in the State of Alaska nor is soliciting collection agency work from Alaska clients, but is only seeking to make collections from debtors within the State of Alaska. 

---

What do you suggest I do, because I want to dispute this! Im trying to buy a house and I dont want this screwing things up for me!

---

[Anonymous]

For those TEXANS on this site you can click on this link and type in the CAs name to find out if they are bonded (TX does not require licensing for CAs):

http://direct.sos.state.tx.us/debtcollectors/DCSearch.asp  on the upper right side under "Quick Links" click on "Debt Collectors Bond Search".

I was told by the SOS office that you should do wild card searches using the % sign:

e.g. %Allied%.

Good luck!

SerenityBound...indeed!

[gdtobefree]

Where can I find this kind of info for Louisiana?

I looked all over the AG site and hadn't found anything

[llecs]

Give me a minute and I'll read the law on this.

But in the meantime....

This may not be the right link, but if you search the CA name, it’ll pop up with registration info, contact info, etc. It is free so as long as you don’t place an order for the license copy.

http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov/app1/paygate/crpinq.jsp

[gdtobefree]

Thanks for the site, I did find all but Pinnacle Credit Service, which has 2 CA's on my CR BUT turned one pver to Nelson, Watson & Assoctiates who IS lisc in La OH and NCA was not listed either.

So If Pinnacle and NCA is not lisc can they show on my CR?

If not how do I get them to remove?

Message Edited by gdtobefree on 03-11-2008 11:36 AM