The Ted Ellis Crosby and Bass and Associates Connection

My understanding is that these two companies are not affiliated in any legal way. But that Bass hired a lot of the Crosby leftovers. In fact, I know that Bass hired at least a few Crosby leftovers.

While I think they are not affiliated, I noticed today on BudHibbs.com that when you click on the link for Bass and Associates under "America's Worst collection agencies," it actually takes you to a story for Ellis Crosby.

Does Hibbs know something we don't know?

I know for a fact that Bass hires people straight out of the hood with little or no formal training. I have an acquaintance who works for Bass. He claims that Bass is not affiliated with Crosby. He does not actually work in collection. He is very defensive of the company. I think he would have the knowledge of the company structure, but maybe he is lying to me. Maybe they are affiliated.

The problem with Ellis Crosby was that there was not a single thing about this company that was legit. From the top (owners and managers) to the bottom. They also hired people straight out of the hood with little or no training, and then they trained them how violate every law known to man in every way possible. They were not only the most egregious law violators, they were run by some numbnuts who was like 25 years old and his buddies.

The more I read about Bass, the more it sounds like Ellis Crosby. But apparently the company is actually owned by upstanding people.

I don't know. The BudHibbs thing made me think my acquaintance is full of sh*t, and that this really is the same company.

I have also heard that they hire people on parole, addicts, and like you stated, people with no knowledge and the "hood" with rough edges. There are may complaints flooding into the FL AG's office regarding this company.

And before someone suggests that my hood comment is racist, it really just refers to the word Steelers used which is "rough."

This company really needs to be shut down b/c they use too many scare tactics, such as threatening arrest for bank fraud, etc. Doug, do you know what they mean by "processing" someone? This is what they tell people if they don't pay within two hours. "I have no choice, but to "process" you. Whatever

Actually, I was going to thank you for the post, Doug. Good info.

Doug--Thanks for posting this information!

It could be that your friend doesn't KNOW that they are connected. Scammerific companies like this have a way of "training" their employees so that they don't know these things...That is a thought..I don't like to think someone is a liar straight off the bat...But yes, your friend could be full of it too.

Good Lord, is Bass and Associates using the "processing" term too? That's just one more connection to Crosby. I knew they used the same methods, but that is one of Crosby's stupid terms.

Essentially it means nothing. It was not even a specific department at Crosby. On various days or even the same day, processing could mean civil charges, criminal charges, sending you to an outside collection, or just nothing period. In other words, if the collector was asked what was meant by processing, all those answers were possible.

It's just a means of intimidating without saying anything that is a per se violation of the fdcpa, although you'd have to argue that this is still "abuse, harassment, and/or oppression" under the FDCPA.

Having buzzwords like "processing" is not uncommon for collectors. The difference with "Processing" and Crosby is that most collectors' terms actually have at least an internal meaning and may correspond to a department. I'm convninced that processing meant absolutely nothing at Crosby and probably at Bass as well.

Also, not that our company is a real gem or anything but we are not on the Worst Collection Agency List or even the Watch List.

One key difference between us and a company like Crosby (and likely Bass) is that these companies used the same harassment tactics for all their debts, even good debt.

I would say that less than 5 percent of our collection activity involves fdcpa violations and of that 5 percent most of it is not that egregious. Not that is really is a defense of any sort. I'm just clarifying.

Also, Crosby dealt almost exclusively with unlicensed lenders, whereas we deal with storefront paydays, retail debt, and other consumer debt.

For example, let's say that one of our unlicensed payday lenders sells us an account where the debtor completely defauled on a $300.00 loan. We are going to immediately send out a validation letter and fully comply with the fdcpa in every way to get the debt collected. And we will really go a long way toward working with the debtor to resolving the situation amicably.

Ellis Crosby's people didn't even know what the sh*t a debt validation letter was. If they got a $300.00 payday loan with no payment on it, they just start immediately harassing you over the phone and asking for something like $1,000 in made up fees. That is just asinine. There is not only no need to collect such a debt in that manner, but it is also counter-freaking productive.

What a bunch of morons.

Good info Doug. Thanks for your input.

I doesn't surprise me that Bass & Associates don't know what a debt validation letter is. What should we expect? After all, it's been said that they do hire people straight from the "pen."

I won't mention any names. And I'm not referring to Doug either. But they do hire people with no experience, records, and other issues, mainly I think anger management issues.

Here is a good read from FL AG's office regarding Ted Ellis Crosby

http://myfloridalegal.com/__85256222...0,ellis,crosby

Doug, thank you for posting such useful information. This is helpful to many.

I think GeovannaUSA has unknowingly uncovered a key piece of evidence in the Crosby/Bass Connection.

I quoted her post below. Notice the number and the name of the company who called her today. That number belongs to Bass and Associates and Bass has uses several variations of the word "United" for a collection team that works out of a different office and consists primarily of people of Indian descent/heritage.

Now notice also that United/Bass claims to be working for Astro Lending. And Astro Lending says "we sell our debts to ICollect and Ellis Crosby collects for ICollect on our accounts." WELLLLLLLLLLLLLL, really??? Because it sure looks like Bass and Associates under their United front is collecting Astro accounts sold to ICollect.

Is this a mere coincidence? Perhaps, but I think it's another key piece of circumstantial evidence suggesting that Crosby and Bass are basically the same company.

GeovannaUSA's quote:

I

I have always thought the two are one in the same. Crosby goes away and another company using the exact same tactics shows up almost over night in of all places Jacksonville? But Bass will probably get the same fate as Crosby and then steal another honest company's name and reopen for business. They really need to put these people away.