I am very disturbed by the practices of BCR. I am also getting numerous phone calls for debt that is not even mine! The phone numbers that come up on our phone through caller ID are bogus numbers (area code 202). I have told them each time they call that the debt belonged to my niece that used to live with us. They obviously do not believe us because they keep on calling and then hang up when we try to tell them that she no longer lives here. I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and I encourage all other victims to do the same.

A bill collector by the name April Foster calls me daily and keeps harrassing me by swearing words and using profanity,sometimes threatening me to disclose the debt to my neighbour and relatives if i dont pay it up by october 2008.I need a lawyer to file a case against this bill collector call April Foster from Bureau of collection Recovery.

File a complaint with the FTC and your Attorney General's office!

BCR really taken my life to hell with disruptive calls,harrassing me day in and day out.I have come out a step to seek help from this uneduacated people who keep calling me for something that i dont owe.I spoke to the so called Indian manager he named himself Hanky Panky Sing,then after confirming he id himself as Manager Hermendar Sing who cant speak English at all,cant understand what he speaks....damn need help plzzzzz.

Does anybody have the contact info for BCR? Thanks.

I too, am being harrassed by BCR, for a bill I owe to AT&T. This morning, after explaining to this "gentleman" why I can't pay at this time: (I'm unemployed, my benefits have just ran out, and my husband is lucky to work two weeks in a row), he had the AUDACITY to ask me "why I don't go out and get a job?" I then told him I would if there were any jobs to be had up here in Northern Indiana, I WOULD BE WORKING. I then stated if they'd do something about the illegals in my state, I might be able to get a job, and then he hung up on me. I then called their Minneapolis office to complain, and the woman I spoke to also hung up on me. This is a piss poor way of treating people, especially with jobs being so scarce. I would LOVE to be able to pay ALL OF MY BILLS, on time, but the way things are now, I'm lucky to pay ANYTHING. I'm starting to get really stressed about the whole situation, but I need to know who to complain to about it. My blood pressure is way up, more than it should be, and I'm afraid of having a stroke because of this harrassment every day.

I have the same problem with T-mobile, I paid all my bills on time yet they send me to BCR stating I owe $28.50, when I actually have a credit in that amount. The people at T-mobile are extremely rude as well as the representatives at BCR. I am the consumer so, suing both entities will solve things.

LOL this is soooo funny reading all this stuff about BCR. I collected for them for about 4 months. This was about all I could handle.
Here is how one of their ways work to get people on the phone. they have a seperate call center filled with indian and somalian people. They make calls all day long, andd when you answer and confirm that you are who they are looking for, you get transferred to a bill collector.
As for when a bill collector can call???? 8am-9pm your local time.

BCR has been calling my number 4-5 times per day seeking someone who doesn't live here. After numerous attempts to try and tell them that the person that they seek doesn't reside at this number and being cursed at by the person calling, I've filed a complaint with the FTC about this company. Next stop is a lawyer and a lawsuit.

1. If you recive a letter at your address but is not addressed to you don't open it. The postal service has laws against opening someone elses mail. Just return it to the post office as a bad address.
2. Federal laws says a collection agency has to give you 30 days from when they recive the account to dispute it. They have to follow federal law.
3. Yes huge companies do have small companies like this collect on accounts that are usually 6 months or more overdue. They usually do not purchase the debt and it really does belong to the company listed and yes you can call them and confiem the collection agancy
is handling the account.
4. Federal laws prevent them from talking about an account with anybody other then the person who's social security number appears on the account. So if you call and say it's not you and then wonder why they won't talk to you about it that is why.
5. Don't complain when a collector calls for a son or daughter at your home because it is your child still giving out your info with the intent to commmit fraud. Give them your childrens number and let them handle it.
6. If you call and yell at someone who works for a collection agency they have a legal right to terminate the call. The gold en rule applies. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
6. If a collection agency calls you for someone who you don't know and doesnt live there politely take the time to explain it is a wrong number. Write down when they called and if they call again explain this is the 2nd time telling them the wrong nmuber. If they call again get a lawyer and sue them for haressment.
7. Some nice people usually work for a collection agency so call back a couple of times till you reach someone knowledgeable and nice iy your having issues with someone.
8. Collection agencies have multiple numbers because each of their cleints are assigned a different number.

Dear [Too] Legit [to Quit] company [shill],

DISCLAIMER: The following is my personal opinion. When I say "you" whilst mentioning a collector, I mean the type of people that this Community exists to fight, not necessarily you personally.

Point by point response:

1. Non sequitor. People are talking about harassing PHONE CALLS.
2. Yes, they do. But in actual day-to-day practice, they often DO NOT, emboldened by the fact that so few people take them to task and sue them for statutory damages.
3. Correct. I consider this to be the equal to an urban legend. I cannot understand why so many people assume because an outside agency is collecting on a debt, it must therefor be sold to them. However, instead of showing unfounded contempt for your fellow human beings, you should get down on your knees and be thankful that the education system has failed the present generation, because that is the only way you can get away with your primitive and blatantly illegal tactics for even a moment - at least until an educated and empowered debtor smacks you around like the mangy rabid cur you act like whilst engaging in such acts of savagery.
4. Indeed. BUT YET THEY **DO**. That's why we are here. Please point out to me evidence that many people claim that collectors call the wrong person but yet the wrongly ID'd person insists on knowing the details. From what I've heard, they want you to go away and STOP CALLING THEM!
5. Correct on the surface. If only reality worked so simplistically, but the fact is that creditors often harass relatives, etc. You can only call a 3rd party to get present contact info of the debtor. If you know the debtor's current contact info, then there are other legal remedies you have available to you, including filing a lawsuit against the alleged debtor. However, you do not have the right to harass relatives by calling them numerous times a day. Period. Section 804 of the FDCPA [15 USC 1692b(3)] states that you are to "not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete and that such person now has correct or complete location information". PLUS, if you are going to try to be a Big Boy and spout out such completely unfounded criminal allegations such as Fraud (amounting to slander) then you'd best back it up by PRESSING CHARGES. (Which you can't because this is absolute NONSENSE.)
6 (a). WOW! HAHAHAHA!! So the "golden rule" rule applies when *you* want it to, but it doesn't apply the other way around? Come on, man! Wake up and smell the coffee! If a debtor can't pay the original creditor, what makes you think they can pay you? This seems to me to be such a basic point that a child can understand it, but collectors still act like 3rd grade bullies demanding full payment or nothing. What is wrong with you?
6 (b). Easier said than done. Filing a lawsuit for something so lightweight is a waste of money and the court's time, not to mention extremely annoying to the wronged party. Why does one have to run ragged trying to defend themselves against an idiot who is too brain dead to understand "THIS PERSON DOES NOT LIVE HERE!"?! Ok. Most people say "you have the wrong number" and hang up. If the person just hangs up on you, doesn't respond to your voicemails, doesn't pick up the phone, etc., please tell me what is solved by calling them 20+ times a day? If they refuse to speak with you, and they do not dispute the debt, then *you* go get an attorney and sue them as is your legal right. Otherwise, push off! YOU HAVE LEGAL REMEDIES, there is *ABSOLUTELY NO* reason to resort to blatantly ILLEGAL tactics like a spoiled brat. MOVE ON.
7. Non sequitor. PEOPLE AREN'T COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NICE ONES!! Please use the last two brain cells you have for just a moment. Collections is a HUGE multi-billion dollar industry! How many of them are frantic and searching for a defense against such illegal tactics that they come to boards like this? A VERY SMALL percentage. If you act like a stalker, expect to get treated like one! If you act like a human, expect to get treated like one! You record all conversations. If the debtor is being rude and unreasonable, then you have evidence against them in a court of law. Sue them. If you can't sue them, then BACK OFF!
8. If the account number has changed, it is well within the rights of the alleged debtor to request that you explain the reason for it, capish? "Because I said so" is NOT a valid reason.

To any debtor or alleged debtor reading this far, if someone calls you screaming and yelling about sending you to jail if you don't give them money *now*, or berating you, or harassing you - then they are acting like an ILLEGAL SCAM and should be treated like a scam, with properly filed complaints and if they provide an address, a Cease & Desist letter. If they cannot act like a CIVILIZED HUMAN BEING, then do not engage with them any further.


And to dallas0501,

Such racism & xenophobia is beneath human dignity and is not tolerable. Who cares if they're from Mars and they have a big mole on their nose? Why sink to such a low moral morass, does it make you feel better than they somehow? Someone with a lack of respect for human boundaries and society is someone with a lack of respect. Period. It doesn't matter what "nationality" they are (nations are only contrived concepts anyway) and to point such out only proves you to be an unenlightened boar. Grow up.

Oh, and one more point to any collectors. People in debt are stressed out. If you can't handle the heat of them yelling at you and hanging up on you, then get out of the kitchen! The same goes for a waiter/waitress. I don't care how many customers treat you rudely, if I order a cup of coffee, I expect a cup of coffee, not your attitude. If you don't like it, GET ANOTHER JOB!!!!

Somebody is going to hate me for posting this but I think they deserve it, the only thing they have to do to stay out of trouble is comply with the laws, I don't think that is asking too much.

There is two ways to retaliate when this people start to mess with you.

First, use the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Write them a certified letter under FDCPA 805(c) asking them to cease and desist of all communications with you. Save the letter and the USPS receipt, the green card you'll get on the mail signed by somebody at the company.

Get an answer machine and a tape recorder. On some two party states recordings are not admissible in court but if they leave a message in your answer machine it will be admissible. After receiving this letter they are allow to call you only one more time

Wait.... It may take months but chances are they will star calling again if they do take the answer machine recording, the letter and USP proof and sue them in small claims or district court, you'll get $1000 per call and the best part they won't touch you again.

The second way... If they are reporting some crap on your credit report.

1- Dispute the account with the credit bureaus, chances are they will verify and you'll get a letter from the bureau saying that the accounts stays as it is or it's been updated, save that

2- Send a request for investigation under FCRA § 1681s-2(b) / [623(b) to BCR, dispute everything listed by them in your report and ask them to send you copies of everything they have, contract, statements, assignment or proof of ownership... The letter must be certified. Do not dispute or request verification under the FDCPA as many websites and template dispute letters recommend.

3- wait 30 days, they will either ignore the request or send you some bull about what constitute verification/validation of a debt under the FDCPA, they may also name some FTC opinions or even some case law.
If they answer it may be with copies of all documents requested (Not a chance) or more likely will be with the only intention of getting you confused, but you didn't use the FDCPA, remember? Collectors usually have no idea of the FCRA requirements. If they don't send you the papers send a complaint to the BBB. I wouldn't complaint to the attorney general, the AG sues collectors so they will try harder to solve it, in the other hand the BBB only keeps a report on the company, they may feel that is OK to ignore it.

4- if they ignore the BBB or the complaint is not solved at your satisfaction (They send you all docs or delete the account) gather all paperwork and file suit in small claims under FCRA§ 1681s-2(b)
Most suits under FCRA fail because the plaintiff fails to prove willingness or negligence, you will have a private right of action under 1681s-2(b) only if you can prove in court that they willfully or due to negligence violated the statute, good faith mistakes doesn't allow private citizens to sue only the FTC can do that.
If you follow this steps you'll be able to prove in court the even thought you gave them every opportunity to comply with the law they choose to have it in their way.

Your statutory damages are $1000 per violation


Hope this helps


Carl.-

Jesus! I'm so sorry for the multiple posts, I don't know what happened and I can't find a way to delete them, I guess a moderator will have to do that, my apologies.

Carl.-

I have been receiving call from BCR for the past week. However, I have not received any letter or documents from them. They just claim that they are trying to collect on behalf of ATT. I do not even have and never had ATT service. My service has been with Verizon as long as I remeber. Is that a scam? What to do?

Have you actually talked with them? Go ahead and verify your address (but DO NOT tell them if they don't already have it) and wait for the legally required dunning letter which will have dispute info on it. Offer them NO info except to tell them that you will be waiting for the letter.

When you receive it, send them a Cease & Desist letter, Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. If they call you again, sue them for the FDCPA violation and collect your $1,000 plus possible court costs and attorney fees.