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hngboyuc27 · 02-09-2007, 08:46 PM

Genesee Valley Associates at this number 1 800 392 3100 is planning to sue us for the amount we owe of seven thousand seven hundred dollars ...This is for an unpaid bill that we had with union bank credit card. IT started in collections in may of 06 and we did not respond to their repeated calls and now in febuary 07 we are being sued..An attorney named Douglas Radcliff is suing us he wants us to pay them the 7700 dollars we owe by the 19th of febuary...This is not possible. We are willing to make monthly payments i told him but he does not want to hear it..Do you think this is legit? Do you think Genesee Valley Associates really are going to take us to court? They said that someone is going to show up at our house in a few days...We do want to pay this i lost my job in may and i was the one paying it..Its my fathers account though he is disabled from a stroke and he has a pension he gets every month for 1400. THey are really scaring me...What can they actually do? Can they touch his bank account? We are willing to make payments in increments montly but they dont want to hear it...He sounds very threatening...I feel so bad for my father since i got him into this i kept putting it off till now...The collection agency, Genesee Valley Associates, was atlantic express who gave it over to this attorney...My friend says its a scame that they are all the same thing...i need feed back please..If we show up at court what can they actually do to us? Any info is appreciated thanks

texaslawyer · 02-10-2007, 09:21 AM

What state are you in? What they can actually do after getting a judgment depends on state law.

I would first check with the state bar of your state to see if Douglas Radcliff is really a licensed attorney. If not, he committed a fdcpa violation.

If Genesee Valley Associates does show up to serve papers, make sure you accept them so you know exactly what they are asking the court to award and why. Make sure the amount is not inflated. You can't fight anything if you avoid service.

Debt Padawan · 02-11-2007, 04:48 AM

First of all, Genesee Valley Associates can't seize anything from you, bank account or otherwise, unless and until they actually get a judgment against you, so try not to worry about that for the moment. (I know, easier said than done, but try.)

Have they sent you any documentation proving that you owe this money? If not, send them a letter asking them to send you all the documentation they have proving that you owe this money. Inform them that they are not permitted to take any further collection activity unless and until they give you the documentation that you require. Send the letter Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Genesee Valley Associates so that you have proof you sent it and that they received it. Their February 19th deadline is probably a bluff (a scare tactic), but just in case it isn't, you might want to send the letter Priority Mail, or even Overnight, to make sure that they get it ahead of the deadline that they've set for you.

If they receive your letter and sue you anyway, they are violating federal law, and you can countersue. If they receive your letter and don't validate the debt, federal law prohibits them from taking any action against you. Finally, if Genesee Valley Associates *do* decide to validate the debt, it typically takes a few months for that to happen, during which time you can start learning about the laws regarding all this, reviewing ways you can handle the situation, and so on.

Don't be scared of people like this. Once you've learned about all the different ways you have legally of protecting yourself from Genesee Valley Associates, you'll be amazed that you were ever afraid of them. Good luck.

02-27-2007, 03:00 PM

Yes I was contacted by comypany called : "Genesee Valley Associates" yesterday(2-26-07) about my money I owe, they told me they are going to file a atterney on me, they say they will settle for lower amount right over the phone right now, I told them I dont have it!
They that this can take place at my home or employment, some will come to me to proceed with me going to court!

cajunbulldog · 02-27-2007, 03:22 PM

Genesee Valley Associates is coming up as being from New York. Phone number not giving me squat.Let me dig deeper and we'll see.

cajunbulldog · 02-27-2007, 03:25 PM

Courtesy of www.bbb.org.

Quote:

Better Business Bureau, Inc.
741 Delaware Ave., Ste. 100
Buffalo, NY 14209-2201
BBB Reliability Report
May Not Be Reproduced for Commercial or Sales Purposes
Printer-friendly

Genesee Valley Associates
333 Metro Park
Rochester, NY 14623
Monroe County
MAP
General Information
BBB File Opened June 07, 2006
BBB Member This company is not a member
Type of Business Collection Agencies
The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.

Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaint(s).
Customer Complaint Data
The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgement on the validity of complaints filed.
Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in June 2006: 7
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 12 months: 7
Complaints Concerned:
Service Issues (5 complaints)
5 Company did not respond
Credit or Billing Disputes (2 complaints)
2 Company did not respond

Additional Information
This Business Operates under the Names Genesee Valley Associates

Addresses
333 Metro Park, Rochester, NY 14623, Monroe County MAP
Phones (585) 278-1370

cajunbulldog · 02-27-2007, 03:28 PM

Courtesy of secretary of state New York.

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03-07-2007, 06:40 AM

They also have called and threatened us as well, they have gone as far as contacting the neighbors around us continuing their harassment, we have turned all this into our attorney, we agreed to a payment with them and Genesee Valley Associates ran it through our account for 6 times the amount. Now they will deal with our attorney.

03-07-2007, 05:09 PM

Saying that you want proof of your debt makes me laugh. I'm a bill collector with a well respected company. I don't have to threaten anyone or use unlawful tactics. It makes me laugh to think Genesee Valley Associates you owe the debt to sent you numerous statements and letters trying to resolve the debt and you wait until an attorney's involved to scream foul play. Just pay your bill!!!

cajunbulldog · 03-07-2007, 05:30 PM

Oh what a riot! How about I pay the original creditor and cut out your commission completely!Genesee Valley Associates you can go flip burgers,you might earn more money there! :lol:

03-28-2007, 06:14 AM

Credit bureau information is now being used for a fake debt collection scam. If you receive a call for an alleged debt that they claim is nearly 7 years old or more for a loan of many thousands of dollars possibly from a Utah credit union. Warning, this is a scam. If the caller is calling from Genesee Valley Associates with a phone number of 585-278-1691 and the caller uses the name Mike Rush and leaves a call back number of 1-800-921-0001, be aware. He will tell you that you owe $10k or $15k and he is willing to except $8k or $4k to settle the debt, hang up and call the federal trade commission or use this link, FTC.gov and file a consumer complaint. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you are entitled to verification of the debt. A phone call is not verification! Also if the debt is over 6 years & 9 months old they can not collect it, even if its valid, except in rare circumstances and then only as directed by your attorney. In other words this type of scam is the last desperate act of a collection agency (Genesee Valley Associates) that is powerless to get some free money or a scam by someone that has your personal info.

SOAPLADY · 03-28-2007, 07:28 AM

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Cajun...not to defend Genesee Valley Associates but when you are dealing with contingency collection, the CA gets paid even if you send the $$ to the OC. It is called a Direct Pay and is basically a gift to the collector since he gets credit without doing any work.

Contingency collections work under a contract for a specific period of time. During this timeframe, any payments made to the account are credited to the CA like Genesee Valley Associates.
Now if you are dealing with junk debt buyers, sending payments to the OC will get you nowhere since they no longer own the debt.

cajunbulldog · 03-28-2007, 07:33 AM

I know that Soaplady! In that case he gets his money and my blood pressure stays right at the normal level it should. I just prefer not to deal with a CA (Genesee Valley Associates) unless a person has absolutely no choice in the matter. The reason being is I am just like you,if they can't follow the rules,we are going to court!!

03-29-2007, 12:44 PM

A debt in most states never becomes invaild. It will just fall off your CBR starting after 6 years 9 months. That does not mean you are obsolved of the debt. Also, most accounts will continue to gain interest after the chargeoff date. The only thing Genesee Valley Associates cannot do, per the contract signed for the account, is change the rate of which the interest gains. The verification you ask for should be able to be provided by either your own records, or your CBR.

To respond directly to the Cajunbulldog: A CA will usually respond to what the debtor gives them. I am a debt collector, I have had many good experiences with debtors on the phone as well as many bad experiences. The debt collector will never state that they are going to sue someone who is wanting to take care of the bill. So pay your bills or pay the price!

04-11-2007, 10:04 AM

It seems that collections agencies (like Genesee Valley Associates) have a reputation - one that has been reinforced in my view by the comments made from an employee of such an agency. I will not pay a debt created by my ex-husband and I will not respond nicely to illegal methods of collecting. Harrassing and threatening to sue me are not methods to which I respond to - but my attorney will be happy to assist you.

I also have been contacted by the Genesee Valley Associates. They have called my family and my workplace demanding that I answer due to a "time sensitive" matter. My office manager has told them to contact my attorney and *SURPRISE* - my attorney has heard nothing from them.

Good luck to those having to deal with similiar issues.

cajunbulldog · 04-11-2007, 10:29 AM

Guest,you tell me to pay my bills or pay the price.Believe it or not,I have no overdue bills.I simply volunteer my time to help people here that are harassed by the 99% of collectors that do not follow the law. My last experience with one of your kind thankfully fell into the 1% that are good at their job and can collect without insulting people.Needless to say,she verified debt and was paid in full on the spot. I have no qualms with people paying their bills as long as collector,attorney,or even creditor follows the law. I am dog tired of companies taking advantage of their customers. All the harassment,judgements,and inflated bills accomplish is pushing that debtor into bankruptcy and then everyone loses.