Genesee Valley Associates called from 800 392 3100 & threatened to sue

OK....there are a few things that debtors always tend to forget. We are only calling because you did not pay your bill. I am not sure why any of you are on this board, because according to all of you, "I pay my bills". Are there mistakes made by collectors calling the wrong people, yes. It happens. But you cannot expect a debt collector to always be nice considering what your fellow debtors put us through on a daily basis. You feel comfortable sitting back being able to blame everything on CA's and "JDB's" but a lot of the balme needs to be put on yourselves. It is called personal responsibilty. Are all collectors nice? NO. surely not. But I can assure you neither are most debtors.

As for contacting relatives, associates and neighbors you can complain about it all you want but it is perfectly legal. Read your credit card contracts and the fdcpa before you speak.

alright collectorman...lets get some things straight.

1--there are far too many CA's calling the wrong people. I dont care what you or anyone else has to say about this....that is obvious by looking around here. I also happen to be one of those people.

2--you couldnt be more full of it when it comes to "why is anyone on here?....would you like examples of people who post about debts that they freely admit are theirs? There certainly are enough of them....so if you cannot be honest here, then go back to work and get off this forum. At leasr when you are at work, you get paid to lie...here, all you do is piss people off.

3--regarding relatives...if you collectors knew how to contact a third party according to the law, you would see so many complaints. As we speak, a member here just filed an answer to a suit by a CA....they contacted her mother in law numerous times, didnt contact her once, even sent the summons to the mother in law, who lives in a whole different state! FOLLOW THE LAW AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE A REASON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU.

"do collectors make mistakes? yes...."

Tell me something--why are there so many lawsuits against CA's recently? Why is that number on the rise? Then again, why do we even have a law like the fdcpa?? If you people didnt harass, abuse, and treat people like crap all day long, there would have been no reason for that law to begin with.

There is a difference that you, like most collectors, fail to understand....there is a law that requires you to use a certain amount of politeness when you call me. There is no law that requires me to do the same. And while you think that may be unfair, let's face facts--the reputation that the collection industry has today is not OUR fault...its YOURS--the collectors. Collectors did the things that make people hate you....not debtors or consumers. Why is there no law, just like there is for you, that requires consumers to treat you politely? Simple--because there clearly isnt that big a problem on the flip side of this coin, as you would like to whine about.

I think that if most of the people on this board had to actually sit in our (collectors) seats for a day and call debtor after debtor and have them lie, whine, and curse at you for no other reason but I am doing my job, most would not be able to handle it. After people curse at you for calling them 3 times in a month-calling that harrasement-and attempting to sue you over that. After enough debtors bounce checks and then tell you they had to buy something not necessary (I just got off the ohone with a debtor who bounced a payment so he could buy a pinky ring) you become a little more callous. When debtors start treating collectors with the same respect they want to be treated this industry will start to clean itself up. I personally pride myslef on how patient I am with debtors, and there are many other collectors out there doing the same. Instead of just ragging on us all the time, maybe some positive feedback would help.

I gotta say. debt collectors Prey on the shameful feelings most of you feel by not paying. FREE yourself of that crap. Money is only an object of winning or losing. I slep very well at night knowing I have accumulated $100,000 plus in debt......why don't you people wake up. DEBT IS GOOD-YOU ARE AHEAD when you are in debt. Here's a simpe example,lets say you loan me $100 and I don't pay you back-NOW WHO's AHEAD and WHO's BEHIND??? wake up people.

You gotta really change your mode of thought. The worlds most financial successes are millions and billions in debt all over the country. Wake up. I have zero shame.....actually more pride if anything. I took, now you will have to break it from my talons in order to get anything back. I once maxed my business credit card and told the credit card company that if they didn't extend my credit line by another $7 grand, that I won't be able to pay what I owe. I convinced them the $7000 would assist me in recovering the my initial lost and that all future payments would be made on time-WOOLAH-they did it. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. Once you get over the shame....you will be free.As I mentioned previously-I can't see why people say debt is bad?? As far as personal goes-ALWAYS pay back a friend on time, but in the business world, money is never ever personal. To the credit card company you are nothing more than a risk, or an investment. They are in the businesss of taking risks,and just like any business they will have to win some and lose some....but it is NEVER PERSONAL.They will put on the act that it is, but remember that debt collector could really care less whether he collects or not.....what the hell does it matter to him?

I got suckered, They called my parents, I got mad and sent in a payment that was in dispute. Now my parents are getting calls from Huffman, Weinberg, Obrien for the same paid off debt, threating summons on all, NY State does nothing to stop these preditors. They and Huffman, Weinberg, Obrien are in violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Don't even return their calls, Get an Attorney....

Hi Friends,
I just got a message from GVA, from Marie Jacobs with the same return 800 number, and a case # 555____. I returned the call, but it was after hours apparently. I am so grateful to have found this website. I will call them on monday to see what this about, but it all stinks to high heaven, esp. since I have amazing credit, and have always payed all of my bills on time, in their entirety...and what is really fishy is they contacted me at my Mother's home...I have not lived there in over 25 years! Any advice for when I talk to these creeps? Anyone for a class action lawsuit? Thanks to all who may have some advice for me.

Cheers

Offensive post removed as per forum rules - Mike

You debtors need to learn to be accountable! Having an unpaid credit card balance is the same as walking into a store and stealing the items. Instead of sitting on your butts and complaining you need to be proactive in paying this off! Stop crying victim!

Oh...REALLY !!!!! LOOK WHO IS TALKIN??? We know that it is our moral obligation to pay off our debts. You better not give us lectures on morality and responsibilities. Neways MORALITY is a big word, and I think this does not exist in your dictionary. What say now???

I will learn morality when my bankers and creditors do.Debt and credit is a strict business decision and don't ever let anyone guilt you into a moral discussion as it is pointless. All credit is based on risk models and come with inherent risks. Since no creditor that I have ever heard of bases credit on a moral decision,why should a consumer be making a business decision based on morals!!Really dumb idea in my opinion.

A credit card company signing somebody up for a credit card at 30% interest with an annual fee that has no job or works part time making 6 bucks an hour is a poor business decision on a CC companies part. Then the CC proceeds to financially **** their victims by charging horrific fees and penalties when that person can not pay and they try to strong-arm the person into paying by trashing their credit or using the legal system. I submit to you that this is as much stealing as your example Michelle.

****Adult term removed - Jason

For the record, debtors are not forced into taking a cc with 30% interest and then being charged the fees that are in the contract they are signing. That is there decision. If they can't afford that card I have no sympathy for them what so ever.
Bullgog, I agree with you that there is no morality in the situation. But explain to me why it is ok for a debtor to scream and yell and curse at a collector on the first phone call just because he is aking them to pay for what they are obligated by contract to pay? How can that debtor expect any courtesy in the matter? A collector is NOT a customer service agent!

I just started getting calls from this Genesee Valley Associates myself yesterday. It is funny that one poster pointed out "6 years and 9 months", as that is about how old the particular account they say they are calling about is! I have not heard a thing since the statue of limitations for the OC to sue passed, and all of a sudden, when the account is about to fall off of my credit report, I am getting these calls? I have heard that there is a new scam going on where agencies are buying up old debts for pennies, and pressuring people into paying something...anything. They are making a killing doing this!!! I've also been told by a friend of my who works with people to help repair their credit that some of these companies use tactics to "re-age" your account, and start the statute of limitations over again, opening the door to sue. She advised that the best thing to do was to not talk to them, but what do you do when they call you every single day?

For the debt collectors here, I did default on some debt years ago, soon after my divorce. My ex-husband ran up a bunch of debt in my name. I paid on these as long as I could, but it finally came down to pay the debts or feed the kids. I then worked with a company to help me get back on track. I made settlements with all but this one creditor that Genesee is calling me about now. I tried to make a settlement with them...an amount that was more than the actual principal amount of money they loaned me...and they very rudely turned me down, insisting that they would only settle for the FULL amount on their records, which included outrageous interest and fees. When this creditor became unreasonable, I just cut off contact, and decided it wasn't worth it. Now that the account is about to fall off of my credit reports, they sell it off to this Genesee, who I'm sure is going to harass me for days to come! I refuse to play into their scam!

I didn't read all before posting, but strange...the same Marie Jacobs called me! I, too, was concerned when I looked this company GVA up, and found nothing but this forum! I was trying to find their address to send a letter requesting that they validate the debt, but I am not able to find a definite address!

I think I will do as some have suggested. In Texas, it is legal for me to record my calls. I think when they call tomorrow (because I know they will), I will record it, and ask for an address and such as another poster has. I have not received a single mailing from GVA...the phone call yesterday was the first I've heard of them having the account, and they sound pretty fishy. I will post tomorrow and let ya'll know how things go. I have a feeling I may encounter the same defensiveness and backpeddling. My husband was thinking that maybe this GVA didn't "buy" the debt at all...that he heard somewhere that some of these "scam" companies are pulling folks credit reports and looking for old debts that the original creditors may have forgotten about or decided were not worth the effort. These "scam" companies start calling claiming they bought the debt and threatening people to pay...telling them they will accept a lesser amount. They get away with this, because there are enough people out there who do not know the law or their rights, and just hand over the money out of fear!!! Scary, but with all the stuff going on these days, it wouldn't surprise me if this is exactly what is going on!!!

My suggestion to anyone reading (and I plan to take this advice myself), if contacted by a "collector" on an old debt:

1. Search the web. This was my first step, and all I found on these guys was this post. RED FLAG!!! If you find a web site and address, respectfully send them a letter requesting that they validate the debt (I know what the CA's will say, but this step is essential to protect from scammers). If you cannot find anything on the web, proceed to #2.

2. The next time they call, as them for an address to send a request to validate the debt. If they are legit, they should (and are required by law to) provide this information to you freely. Write them and do not give them any money until the debt is validated. If they refuse to provide this information and/or get defensive about it...RED FLAG!!! Proceed to #3.

3. Inform them that by law (Fair Debt Collections Act), the are required to give you an opportunity to validate and/or dispute the debt. As such a request must be received in writing, they are required to provide their address information to you. If they continue to be defensive and refuse you the information....REALLY BIG RED FLAG!!! Proceed to #4!

4. Advise the caller to cease and desist all phone calls, and advise that you will only accept further communications in writing. Start keeping a record of any phone calls after your request to cease and desist, and notify your local attorney general if they continue. It does not matter if the "collector" is from your state or not. Your local AG can pursue the matter for you if the "collector" continues to be in violation. Many states also have local collection laws which may come into play,

If you are in a state that allows the calls to be recorded, go for it!! I do know for a fact that in Texas, only one party to a conversation has to give consent, and that party can be the person recording the call. I've got my shortcut button on my phone, and will definitely be recording tomorrow!

I see some collectors here saying "Just pay your bills"; however, stuff happens! Divorce, death, illness, job loss, etc. Not everyone who defaults on a debt is a bad person just out to open accounts and not pay them! I see one person here said that after a divorce "it finally came down to pay the debts or feed the kids". As a collector, put yourself in that position! If you lost your job tomorrow, and you had to choose between paying your credit cards and feeding your children, what would you do?

I also saw comments asking why do people feel that they need to validate a debt...they know what debts they have...just pay them. Well, as has been pointed out, there are people out there committing fraud. Creditors sell debts all of the time. At the same time, there are alot of scams out there. One should always validate a debt claim before just handing over the money! Credit reports only carry so much informtion, and if the person asking for the money cannot provide more information on a debt that is on the credit report, chances are they really do not own the debt in question and are just a scam. If I make a payment, I want to make sure it is going to be to the entity who really owns the debt. Other wise, I am just throwing money away, because I will be paying someone who will take the money and run, while my debt remains unresolved!