Is this a scam?

[Flfico]

I'm by no means an expert and lucky I guess that my atty was willing to advise me after so many years but this is what I found on NW with a Google search.

Collectors are required by Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to send you a written debt validation notice with information about the debt they’re trying to collect. It must be sent within five days of the first contact.

The debt validation letter includes:

• The amount owed.

• The name of the creditor seeking payment.

• A statement that the debt is assumed valid by the collector unless you dispute it within 30 days of the first contact.

• A statement that if you write to dispute the debt or request more information within 30 days, the debt collector will verify the debt by mail.

• A statement that if you request information about the original creditor within 30 days, the collector must provide it.

If you don’t receive a validation notice within 10 days of the first contact, request one from the debt collector the next time you’re contacted. Ask for the debt collector’s mailing address at this time as well, in case you decide to request a debt verification letter.

[comfortably_numb]

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@Flfico wrote:

Ask for the debt collector’s mailing address at this time as well

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They refused to give me a mailing address. When I said they were required to provide it by federal law, they said "No, we're not" and then "we're all paperless."

[Flfico]

Sounds fishy. I'll bet if you told em you were going to send a money order they'd have a mailing address real quick lol

[SouthJamaica]

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@comfortably_numb wrote:

I received a call from 888-709-7930 this afternoon. They identified themselves as the "paralegal processing center." I eventually got them to tell me they were Solace Group LLC. They claimed I owe money on a payday loan I took out in March, 2019 and unless I settled it with them, I'd be going to court.

I asked them to provide the name of the lender and they sent me the attached. I've never heard of "citycashloans." I had a couple of payday loans back in 2017 but they were discharged as part of a chapter 7 bankruptcy.

I told all this to the agent and she said "Ok well I'm going to be escalating your file and recommending your case for court so you should probably get an attorney."

Solace Group LLC is a real company, but I never took out this loan. 

Kinda freaking me out...

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If an actual lawsuit shows up, then consult an attorney.  Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

[comfortably_numb]

An actual lawsuit for what? Some loan I never took out?

[SouthJamaica]

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@comfortably_numb wrote:

An actual lawsuit for what? Some loan I never took out?

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For anything.

Never ignore a lawsuit, even if it's bogus.  If you get sued you have to defend yourself.  Otherwise you'll wind up with a default judgment against you.

[comfortably_numb]

This morning I consulted with a local attorney who specializes in abusive debt collector litigation. This is what she said:

"This is a scam.  Next time they call, give them your bankruptcy attorney's name, contact number and case number.  They will stop calling."

[SoCalGardener]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@comfortably_numb wrote:

An actual lawsuit for what? Some loan I never took out?

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For anything.

Never ignore a lawsuit, even if it's bogus.  If you get sued you have to defend yourself.  Otherwise you'll wind up with a default judgment against you.

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^^ This. Even though the issue in this thread is almost certainly a scam, if the OP receives an ACTUAL court summons or notification of a lawsuit and court date, DO NOT ignore it. @SouthJamaica is exactly right. A REAL lawsuit that you ignore will automatically yield the plaintiff a default judgment in their favor.

[comfortably_numb]

I asked the attorney if her office ever goes after these people and she said:

"No, we don't.  Because it's a scam, we can never find them, and even if we did and got them served, they would fail to appear, and we wouldn't be able to collect on any Judgment.  Not worth the time, unfortunately."

I hope my experience will help others who go searching for information on this scam. Perhaps it will help ease their mind and give them "Solace."