609-570-3039 - Has anyone heard about Hecker law firm?

I received a call from these scum last week (7-9-09) alleging a debt I know nothing about! I am even in a DIFFERENT city 150 miles from the alleged debtor who *may* have made this "debt", in an entirely different area code!!!!! I REFUSED to pay, and refuse to give them my SSN. I've gotten two calls so far with NO written correspondence. Could this be a scam?
I've ordered my credit report; if it's tampered with, we'll be in court. I've NEVER lived in the city in question, never done business with the company they claim to represent!

Tell these people NOTHING! They are FRAUDS!

Send them a Cease & Desist letter via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.

It's a total scam. Just like Fotcio and Assoc. I don't know how they get their information but someone needs to stop this kind of thing. As soon as the government gets hold of who they are they up and change their name to another law firm. I hope that one of these days they get caught once and for all.

I received a letter from this group in August 2009 stating that I owed a ridiculous amount; however, there was no creditor listed only Account Portfolio Management, LLC and that they were the law firm of Lawrence Hecker. I proceeded to call them and find out what this was about and they went on rudely to tell me that this was an account opened back in 1977 and that the bank was probably not the same bank anymore, that it had probably been sold but I indeed need to pay this bill. When I told them there is no such bill or outstanding bill I wanted to know who the collector was. They immediately switched me off to another rude man who told me that if I did not pay this they would inform the attorney that I refused and would ruin by credit. I called back and wanted to know who this Account Portfolio Management LLC company was and I was told after being switched several times to different people that they would not speak to me and that this was not important where they were located. I was told that they were the group that sent over this collection bill to the attorney. Then I switched over to a manager and after much screaming and yelling I was told that Account Portfolio Management LLC is another part of this fake attorney company. This is a scam -- do not pay these people anything. Stop them in their tracks. I have nothing outstanding from 32 years ago and totally resent having all this nonsense being sent to me and being interrupted with their rude phone calls and letters.

I just got the phone call from Hecker's law firm, they keep on calling for 5 times, I hung up each time, and they neve give up, is there any way to stop them from calling.
are they legal to call us?

thank you ChrysHenderson

I have filed a complaint to FCC. and I think you are very
helpful. the list of complaint to goverments is great, it
should show up on this forum more often, so people knows
how to deal with those problem.

FRAUD: RECOGNIZE IT. REPORT IT. STOP IT.
Rip-off companies - FTC.
Phone harassment by Debt Collectors - FCC.
Banking issues, like ACH problems - OCC.

NINETEEN SEVENTY=SEVEN? Are you KIDDING me? Most states have statutes of limitations as to the length of time they can wait to collect. IOW, they must be able to show that continuous attempts have been made to collect a debt or they are S O L ( Statute of Limitations or SH** Outta Luck!!! Send these scum a registered letter disavowing this debt and advising that you owe no such debt. Advise them that you are ordering your credit report to verify that there there has been no tampering with it (you are entitled to one FREE per year). Let them know that if you find any suspicious or adverse marks to your credit that you will file a suit in Federal Court for financial fraud and identity theft. I De-double Dog Dad-damned dared them to **** with my credit because I was NOT the one they were seeking. IF they were wanting to **** with ME, I was LOOKING for someone to SUE because I needed some money! LOL! They haven't contacted me anymore since my state attorney general's office contacted them!

They are FRAUDS and SCAM artists. 1977, INDEED!!!!! NObody waits 30 years to collect a bill!~


J

These fools just called my Mother this morning threatening her about an old debt that was actually MINE and has long since been adjudicated through a bankruptcy. They threatened my Mom and called her a liar among other things. She called me extremely upset. At first I just thought it was an error regarding the old account since it went through bankruptcy. So I got on the Internet to try and find a direct number to Lawrence Hecker. LO and BEHOLD I find THOUSANDS of complaints against this idiot! Then it hits me that my parents have just been scammed! Both my parents were upset and very shaken. Then are over 75 years old and don't deserve to be treated like this. Worst of all? They contacted my Mom on her CELL phone! What happened to cell phone numbers NOT being on telemarketing lists???? I DO NOT BE FOOLED PEOPLE! NEVER give ANYONE any information about yourself and NEVER verify what they tell you. Ask for THEIR phone number and call THEM back, THEN tell them they need to send you something in writing PROVING you owe the debt. When you get a letter from them put it in an envelope addressed back to them and send it with a huge CEASE and DESIST written on the letter AND the envelope. Make a copy of both of them for your records and then send the letter as RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED.
Stay aware of this company and it's fraudulent practices!

I just got a call about a $2000 Citigroup bill outstanding from 2002 - Joan Price and her assistant STeve were both rude - telling me that my ignorance was not going to get me through this. As I repeatedly asked for documentation on the account as I was not familar with it both Joan and Steve started yelling at me.

Got a letter from these people claiming I owed on a debt, which I settled in 2008 with Redline Recovery. Now I need to find this old paperwork to get these jokers to go to hell. Will keep everyone here posted. thanks everyone for posting here, good info.

As an update, I just received a letter from my state's Attorney General (Consumer Affairs Office) with a copy of a letter from Hecker back to them! They acknowledged that they had "made a mistake" (yeah, right!), but at the same time wanted to know why I had called them BACK if I wasn't the person, or how did I "know" to call them back! That's simple: I didn't recognize the name or the phone # in my caller ID, and I "knew" to call them back simply because of that! Buncha stupid &^%#@ scum! So, this ((I assume) is settled, and I have proof that I am not the person they were looking for to start with! I don't take kindly to being smart-mouthed and the only way these low-lives can talk like that to ME is to do what they do: hide behind a telephone. In my case, I was a totally innocent party who owed NO outstanding debts or past-due accounts. They picked up MY name somehow for a guy that lived in a DIFFERENT area code, 140 miles away from me!!! Yet they were calling/harassing ME! Despite the fact that i have lived in the same town for 40+ years, had a credit rating of 840-something ( I ordered my credit file to see that they hadn't pulled something shady), *I* suddenly "owed" a debt in a town where I had never lived, owed for a car I never bought-----in 2000 of all things. Nine years is WAY past the SOL!!!!

SO! The point of all this is, keep ALL your papers beyond the statute of limitations. Stand your GROUND! Let these b*****ds know you will NOT be intimidated, and you are willing to turn them in to the proper authorities, especially if you are an innocent party! That's what *I* did by turning them in to my state's AG. Even if you *DO* owe money, you have RIGHTS and they don't include being jerked around by some snot-nosed little punk or being smart-mouthed by a little cowardly yellow-belly! Oh, they didn't like getting that letter, but I don't think I'll be hearing from them again!

Excellent! It's terrible that you had to go through this but at least you stood your ground and defended yourself. Hats off to you!

I got a call from my step mom yesterday and there was a message left by a "Sandy" that worked for this Lawerene Hecker. I live in Alaska now so it was too late to call them back but I tried googling the number "Sandy" left and I couldn't find it anywhere!!! At this point I'm semi freaked and then I see all of this!!?!?! I talked to her this morning, well at first it was some receptionist, then some assistant then all of a sudden it was her. She asked a lot of weird questions, like wanting me to explain why I didn't pay (oh and it is an acct that I'm completely aware of but I'm still hesitant because of all the negative feedback on this "firm" and the acct is about 5years old) wanted to know where I work, what type of work I do, and if I had any small children??? Then she went through the whole spill of "you owe this much, you could settle for this much, or you could pay $385 now w/ a postdated check and $50 a month blah blah blah." But here's the kicker!!! When I told her that I don't have a checking acct that it's in my husbands name ONLY she still wanted the info?!?!?! N granted she didn't get overly irrate when I said I wasn't comfortable doing that but she's expecting my phone call tomorrow and she now has my house number (oh n I didn't give it to her!! Obviously they have caller id there so note to others, block your number!!) I did request the written info n although she was semi pushy about taking care of this before I got the letter, she hasn't been obnoxious yet.....

Ok so is this guy legit or what. He has been calling me about a debt i had back in 1998. He asked me all the same questions about kids, wife, social,blah blah. So at first i gave in and payed 500$ to get it out of a "LEGAL STATUS". He wants another 500 to get it out of the "LEGAL" status. With everything being said, is this firm, legit?

no this firm is not legit.next time demand details in writing before giving anything.btw.what state are you in,and what kind of debt?1998?sounds like it passed the SOL.if this bottomfeeder won't send anything recoup the 500.00.if you gave a cc# dispute it.if you gave bank info.go to your bank,and file a fraud affidavit.this scammer got you to pay on a debt more than likely past SOL.meaning there is no status as they can't sue on it.get that 500.00 back if you can.then i wouldn't speak to him again.

I am sorry more people don't challenge these collectors more fully and more often. Do NOT pay a debt simply on a telephone call. The average time and statute of limitations is 3 to 5 years. After that time, they *CANNOT* force you to pay. It will remain as a mark on your credit file for around 7 years after which time it will drop off your file. If you ARE a debtor, you STILL have rights under the Federal Debt Collection Act. It, however, does not mean that you DON'T owe a debt that is presented in a timely manner, and it doesn't mean that you can "get out" of a debt just because you refer the matter to the authorities. These people "buy" old debts and attempt to collect with threats, bullying, and intimidation. If they can scare you into paying it, it is all profit for them. They will even go after people who have NO such debts and attempt to bully them into paying a debt they never even made! They will find similar names in other towns and run their mouths at you (because they are cowards and hide behind a telephone receiver) and try to get people to pay debts they don't even remember making!!! Some of their minions will even come here and make disparaging comments towards posters. There are some scummy collectors that will go after the elderly (scam) and try to make them pay a debt they never made (hospital bills, phone. Many people don't know that there's a statute of limitations or that a debt will drop off a credit file after a period of time. They prey upon old people, and these are the scummiest lowlives of all that would do that!!!! People simply don't remember such a bill and sometimes pay anyway after being frightened out of their wits by these a-holes. Sorry boys..........this burly old railroad man don't intimidate!!!!
SO! NEVER JUST PAY A BILL SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMEONE CALLS YOU ON THE PHONE! How do you know it is legit? They MUST present you with a written bill of charges stating the debt, goods, or services that you "bought". They CANNOT threaten you with legal action without it. They might TRY to bluff (their whole thing IS bluff and fluff) but if you refute the charges, they can't force you to pay it. IF the debt IS legitimate and within the SOL, you still have rights. Do NOT reveal your personal information under any circumstance. NEVER give them your SSN! How do you KNOW that this IS a legit collection agency; it could be ANYBODY!!! *I could just invent a name, call you up and claim you owe a bill, get your info and STEAL your ID and your money.
I am one of the people they tried to collect from who HAD no outstanding debts, ZIP, NONE, NADA-----just a similar name in a different city. Still they tried to come after me about a bill I never made, a city in which I have NEVER lived!!!!
I wish you the best of luck, and if this debt is the result of a trick, I hope you can haul this b*****d into court and get him put in prison!!!! He's had plenty of legal cases placed against him, at least one of which he settled before it got to court! What does THAT tell you?