Hi, I have been contacted a few times by Academy Collections by phone, and just found out that they called my parent's house. They used their automatic message that gave my name and if the person listening to the message was not me to hang up, etc. I also got a letter in the mail regarding the supposed debt I owe. I vaguely remember owing something on a store cc, but nowhere near the amount they are trying to collect! How do I tell AC to stop the phone calls period? I am working on cleaning up my cc debts (and have actually settled some with other, much nicer, collection agencies!) but am really short on money now. I want to keep my family out of my debt business and make these people leave them alone. Thanks for the input

Has anyone ever received a judgement from Academy?
I contacted them in December to attempt to settle the account. I offered $8000 on a debt that was originally $15000. They refused. I tried talking to 3 different people with no luck. Now I have the sherriff hunting me down, they stopped by my old house a week or so ago. It is possible that this is in connection with another account, Amex, that I defaulted on but that is with another collection company. I have made arrangements with 2 other cards but currently have nothing extra to address these until I get these others paid down or find a better paying job...right now I'm just happy to still have the job I do!
I live in MN, does anyone know what happens if the sherriff is unable to locate me and cannot deliver the summons? I forwarded all my mail to a PO box but absolutely nothing has come through lately from anyone and the phone calls have stopped from Academy. I was hopeful that they decided I was uncollectible since I refused to call them back after they did not accept my offer, and that they sold my account off to another collection company.
TIA for any responses.

you cant sue them for western union or check by phone. all debt collection agencies use these as method of payment. as for the bad experience......... get the collectors name and fax a compliant letter to them. by law these people have to be fired. I know people that work there. They do go through extensive training on the fdca before they go into the call center. As to whether they choose to abide by them. Well thats up in the air. I do know that if you fax a complaint or contact a manager (not a floor supervisor) the person will get fired. My friend did.

Guest...there is nothing "by law" that says they have to be fired. Academy may go thru FDCPA training but they do not abide by it. In a reputable CA, you do not have a choice to abide by it and obviously Academy choose to turn a blind eye or encourage these violations.

I owed Chase Bank and lot of money due to me losing my job in '06. Chase didnt care about that fact and kept billing me month after month...I recently recd a letter from ACS and they told me I can settle for less than half..I called Chase to confirm that they were indeed the collection agency being used and was told yes
I dont care if they are rude or not, I just need to get rid of this darn bill that followed me from NYC to FL...Plus they gave me an option to use a money order....

Unless you have an agreement to the contrary, the remaining balance will likely be sold off to a JDB. Be prepared for this to rear its ugly head again sometime in the future.

Different company, same issues. Kept calling me every other day for almost two years about some 20 year old debt my wife had.

Just check with your phone company if there is "automatic call rejection option" available. I signed up for it about 3 months ago and every time they called me, justed added their phone numbers to the list. Have had no bothering calls for 2 months.
Best $2 a month I've ever spent.

Does anyone know which credit card they represent? CitiBank? Maybe?

I also get a computerized call ever 2 or 3 days. It says "if this is (2nd computer voice totally garbled) and you continue to listen to this message you are agreeing that you are (2nd computer voice totally garbled). Call this # and here is your reference #. I have called twice and no one ever answers. Annoying!! BTW, I am not (2nd computer voice totally garbled)

The law reads, that if they contact you on the phone
require they send you documentation of their request
BY MAIL.

They will refuse, the reason is: Under State laws in order to
be a valid debt collection agency they need to be registered
in the state they are trying to collect.

I am in FLorida, they do not exist in the Sunbiz.org web site
that I check Licensed business .

They refused to send me info, asked for ME to send THEM
a request. Which I will not do, because that will trigger
a connection on my side.

Request the State that they are licensed to do business in
that will stop them.
Thanks
propertee@comcast.net

The law reads, that if they contact you on the phone
require they send you documentation of their request
BY MAIL.
They will refuse, the reason is: Under State laws in order to
be a valid debt collection agency they need to be registered
in the state they are trying to collect.
I am in FLorida, they do not exist in the Sunbiz.org web site
that I check Licensed business .
They refused to send me info, asked for ME to send THEM
a request. Which I will not do, because that will trigger
a connection on my side.
Request the State that they are licensed to do business in
that will stop them.
Thanks

check to see if they are registered in the state which they
are trying to collect in. If not, tell them you will turn them in. That should stop them.

I just returned their calls and they were looking for someone with a name similar to mine. When I told her that the person she was looking for was not me and to please remove my telephone number from her call list, she hung up on me. Strange. Her name was Kim Mack and she's at extension 2551. When I called her back, she wouldn't answer her phone. Very Strange indeed. Desperate times cause for desperate measures, I guess.

doesnt it matter to these people that theres usually a statue of limitations in place for most debts? In AZ its 6 years for written contract
ARS-12-548 and 12(b)(6). I know that this isn t true for fed loans. I was called on my cell phone ( which is considered also bad practice by the fair dredit act) and when i called back I was not informed of the nature of the call or did they answer it with the company name. I asked about this call and was asked my name by what I considered a receptionist. I was still not informed that this was a debt or the name of company or an attempt to collect a debt. I thought I was calling the VA med center or something, and being transfered to a nurse station about an upcoming appointment. The Recept' got back on and asked If I was going to pay now for this past due dillards acct. I STOPPED her right there and said Oh that sure. what information do you need and you dont mind if I tape this do you...she turned very nice and said ok.
I have a DVR and did record this. I asked her the alleged last activity. I was told a LIE anyway and a bad one. She said March 2003.. Ha. I was "indisposed" that year and made no activity. and I gave her my cr number and told her even if I did make that activity the SOL ( statute of limitations is well beyond the debt being valid.

I am now sending a letter of that fact and telling them to lift this from my credit file as active. the debt is not longer valid but will still be on file till 2010.

you can do this Pro Se ( by yourself) or find a Probone lawyer through your economic security office probably.

Im in the process of a civil claim now under the same instances but Midland Credit management are idiots. Ive sent the reps Motion for validation and got only a copy of a "sample" agreement, no signitures, nothing. I sent a motion for Bill of particulars. A more definate statement to debt. just waiting now.

I will take this and academy to court. If sued you have the right to have the person involved in the collections at trial ( someone from academy), the original card finacial holder. ( someone from citibank) you also have the right to call the Custodian of record up to stand. and these people need top fly drive opr what not to get there. and its the plaintiffs responsibility to get them there. and usually they have no personal information about you or the file. Im not a lawyer but have been reading up. you should research too. of course if you lose...appeal.
i had Chse bank contact me for a debt that WAS id fraud. and I knew who did it. after the investigation. they aplogizzed to me but WOULD NOT go after the party responsible...it would cost to much. It was 1800.00 theft.

The best way to deal with them is if you have the time..keep them on the phone line as long as possible ask them to repeat what they are saying over & over. Also, always ask them for their name & address and each time they ask you a question, ask them two questions. The longer you can keep them on the line the better because time is money them. Never tell them anything about yourself at all and never pay them a dime. Waste as much of their time as you can.

Got my first call from ACS last night ON MY WORK CELL PHONE. Am virtually bankrupt/insolvent and I laid it right out to them. Foreclosure is in my future. Seemed like a nice fellow (David). I matter of factly told him that he can do what he needs to do. I've been to 'debtor's' court before and am scheduled again. I have can prove my situation. (Can't get blood out of a stone). Call ended. One hour later someone else called and wanted to rehash. I courtesly but firmly cut them short saying that I said what I had to say to David just an hour ago and will not go through it again. She said OK and hung up. Today while at work, again on my work cell phone, I got another call from a strange number. I did answer but no one was on the line. With a little research on the computer I found this site and thought I would give my two cents. Just because I can't pay does not mean that I will take any BS. So far so good but all you folks have given me the heads up for me not to feel guilty if return rudeness becomes appropriate. They have a short leash. 856-668-4530, 866-860-2708, 215-320-0424.