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Susie · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 12:17 pm Subject: Question

Does this company only collect or credit card debt or other things like hospital bills, etc. They called for a distant relative (same last name) but wouldn't tel me what the debt was just that they got my name from a report.

LaShaunda Hawkins · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 12:48 pm Subject: They Have Been Bothering Me Too

I'm 20 years old and I don't make that much but they insist that I send basically my whole check. They call my grandmother's house as soon as the clock strikes 8am and they harass her too. I want to pay my bill but only what I can afford.

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:06 pm Subject:

LaShaunda

Don't let ACS ruin your legal rights under the federal laws. Start recording the phone calls and give it to your attorney for filing charges on ACS.

It is a must for ACS to give you the details of the debt in writing. Have they given you any such info? The company must identify that they are making legitimate collections with all your details. If they have not sent you anything in writing, send a debt validation letter and stop them from calling you further until the account is put in writing.

alfonso contrisciani · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 10:09 pm Subject: They are stupid assholes

They are in the buisness of trying to prey on people who are down for one reason or another! They called me twice and I didi the talkinh not Rick wilson! I basicaly told him to f**k himself! havent heard from him since! HA HA hA

guest · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 11:33 am Subject:

Is it possible to include limitations in a "Cease and Desist" notice? What I mean is; I do actually want to pay off the debt because I know it is my responsibility, but I don't want to just ignore the debt.

But I have informed ACS that I am not permitted to receive these types of calls at work, and they have continued to do so 5 times since then. They have called my mother's house on more than one occasion looking for a contact number; she told them the first time that she would take a message but would not pass on any information as she doesn't know who they are. I want to stop ALL calls from them; however, I am open to written correspondence.

I have had a TERRIBLE experience "working" with them for the past month. Everyone I've spoken to (Grant Hill, Tom Ryan, Rick Archer, and one more who's name I don't have in front of me at the moment) has been rude without any antagonization on my end. In fact, the first guy I spoke to brought me to tears!!!

Oh...I have another question. I just spoke with Mr. Ryan this morning. He said he NEEDED lump payment today and ONLY by electronic check. I proceeded to tell him that the last person I spoke with informed that I could setup a payment plan, but Mr. Ryan insisted that ACS doesn't do that. He said that he was writing me up for "refusal to pay"...even though I insisted that I am NOT refusing, however, I would call him back this afternoon to make the payment. He insisted that I was only refusing to pay and that he closed my account and that my wages would now be garnished and a 2nd lien put against my car. I live in CA and I know that wage garnishments are possible; but can he proceed with those actions based on "refusal to pay" when I insisted that I was, in fact, willing to pay?

(ps...sorry for the long, windy post)

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 4:45 pm Subject: Sorry this is soooo long!

***sorry...I posted twice above (once as "guest"). I thought I was logged in***

I have been having financial difficulty for awhile now, and wasn't able to make payments on my Citibank account. So apparently they charged off my account and sold the debt to ACS. I have been dealing with this company since April. Now�I am not trying to avoid paying my debt. I have been trying to work with them�but they don't seem to want to �help me� as they keep saying. The first person I spoke to literally brought me to tears when he told me that they wanted $3000 right then and there, and if I didn't pay it by 2:00pm (5:00pm my time) the next day the account would be closed and they would proceed with legal action (wage garnishment). I called some family and friends for help, but they are not people of money either. So I didn't call ACS back by the deadline, assuming my case would be closed, legal action started, and my wages garnished (this is obviously before I started doing any research). Well�the calls have been incessant since then. I expect at least one call a day. They leave messages every other day. It's hard to be able to talk to them, however, due to our conflicting work schedules. They always tell me to call back by 2pm, but I am at work at that time and cannot receive or make personal calls. By the time I am home from work, it is 1030pm their time. On a rare day off, I did speak with another guy and explained that to him, but he didn't believe me and insisted that I was stalling. Then last week I spoke with the worst of the bunch. He was yelling at me for practically the duration of the call. I flat out told him I didn't have $3000. He offered a payment plan. When I asked what the terms of the plan would be, he proceeded to say that talking to me was like �talking to a child�, and that �he didn't have to pacify me, I had to pacify him� (I have been documenting all of my calls to the best of my ability). Then he told me that my case was being closed (again) and to contact my attorney. Well�they called everyday since then. And today they called me at work (for the 5th time, despite the fact that I informed them that I cannot receive calls here); the guy I spoke with tried to �help me� again. I told him I didn't have the $4400 he was asking for; that at best I may be able to get $1000 by week's end�and that's with borrowing from family. BUT�I couldn't complete any transaction as [1] I was at work and am not supposed to receive calls, and [2] I had to go to a meeting right then anyway; but I would call back this afternoon. He said that he was writing me up for �refusal to pay� (even though there I was making an attempt to pay), that my case was now closed, that my wages would be garnished (as California is the most creditor friendly state in the nation) and a 2nd lien put on my car, and that I should seek an attorney. I asked for their address, but he refused to give it to me�he just told me to have my attorney contact them for it. WTH?

So at this point and after an incredibly looooong backstory (I sincerely apologize, but thank you if you've stayed with me here), I have a few Q's.

1. I know that in CA wage garnishments are possible (though difficult to achieve, esp since I am a federal employee), but can they proceed in spite of the fact that I have, in fact, expressed that I am willing to pay the debt?
2. If I send in a cease and desist, will they take that as a �refusal to pay�?
3. I have read that some will send in a C&D only to stop telephone calls. Would it be best to do that, or cut them out completely and see if Citi will be willing to work with me? I have a feeling that they won't since I have not made payments in a year.

Thank you so much to anyone who reads and responds to this. This whole thing is seriously stressing me out, (which is really not good as I am 5 months pregnant), and I need to find some way to relieve the stress. But I don't want to be some deadbeat who tries to get out of their responsibilities.

Dee · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:42 pm Subject: A useful site

I am trying to rebuild.. I have these guys calling almost daily for like a year now. They are trying to collect on a little over $1,200 (much of which are late payment fees.. etc) not a lot if you have it, but if you don't...
Look at this site.. it might be useful

Link deleted as per forum rules - Mike

CaptainJaneway · Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:04 am Subject:

I just got a message on my phone from some Miss something stating that there had been a "problem in her office" and I needed to call back immediately. No mention of what company it was or what it was about - just a problem in her office.

I have no problem in calling them back, but googled the number and found this. I just thought that was an odd and fishy message to leave here. Anyone else get that same thing?

-Sarah

rastus · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:03 pm Subject:

they keep calling me too i just delete there # and let them go to hell where they belong they can ki$$ my @$$

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 6:53 am Subject:

rastus said

they keep calling me too i just delete there # and let them go to hell where they belong they can ki$$ my @$$

Why do you say this rastus?

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 6:57 am Subject:

I just got a message on my phone from some Miss something stating that there had been a "problem in her office" and I needed to call back immediately. No mention of what company it was or what it was about - just a problem in her office.

I have no problem in calling them back, but googled the number and found this. I just thought that was an odd and fishy message to leave here. Anyone else get that same thing?

Sarah, we can not disclose on a tape machine the nature of the call.

Been there · Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 2:57 pm Subject: Why all the fuss?

Just get rid of them with a Cease Communications letter sent certified mail and return receipt request. Federal law requires them to stop contacting you after that except to inform you of any further action they plan to take. And to "Academy Employee"... it's your kind of ridiculous statements "be a real man or woman" that give collection "agents" the name they have earned, thank you so much for reaffirming that for all of us!

CaptainJaneway · Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 9:30 am Subject:

David M. Gill · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 9:44 am Subject: call for unknown person

These people keep calling for a person who has the same last name as mine. Have told them on 2 occasions in the past that I don't know the person they are looking for and she doen't live here now and never has but they keep calling and leave messages on my machine. They are obviously incompetent and judging by the comments on this page are ruthless.
Plan to complain to any and all the governmet agencies I can to stop them.

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 4:51 am Subject:

We are not trying to be misleading Jane, the message is a seriuos situation. Our job is to discuss the debt with the consumer. Leaving messages is what we do 90% of the day. We do not want to appear as a telemarketing call, but also need to convay our message without disclosing the debt.

Dave, did you let the person on the other end of the phone know it was a wrong #, or did you just say "wrong #" and hang up. Collection agencies often use the same skip tracing tools and when an account moves from one agency to another, the 2nd agency will typicaly use the same skip tracing tools as the first. As a collector, if someone hangs up or is rude in relpy, it seams as though thay are hiding something and chances are that the # will not be removed. You catch more flys with honey. Take 30 seconds to explain that you have had this issue in the past with other folks calling for the person with the same name and ask that your # be removed. Handle yourself in a profesional manner and you will be treated likewise.

Tee · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 10:40 am Subject: oh no

well they just called my grandmothers house and said they were calling about a job i applied for....this is the first i have heard of these people...im scared now.

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