[tippy1959]

Hello, received a call from this number....I think it is a collection agency, but I have been unable to identify it....can anyone help? Blessings, Melissa

[Jessi]

I called it for you...It sounded like it said, "CVE"

Anything on your credit report to that effect?

[tippy1959]

Thanks for checking,Jessi. I went ahead and called them back....the company is cbe group, and they are a collection agency. They are based in Waterloo, Iowa, and are collecting on my Citibank Shell account. They also have a website, which they were willing to give me, cbegroup.com. They did hassle me somewhat...proposed a 2 payment proposal, which I told them would not fit our budget, then they took a bunch of financial information so that they could work out a stretched-out payment plan...when the first rep went to crunch the numbers, another rep came on the line to work out payment arrangements, just as large as before. I asked what the financial information was taken for, and he said this is how they came up with the alternate payment plans, none of which were what I had in mind. We finally settled on a 4 payment repayment plan. All in all, they seemed to be a typical collection agency. Blessings, Melissa

Link made inactive as per forum rules-Mike

[Not so Lucky]

tippy1959,

cbe group needs to vaildate the debt. Never give a collection agency your financial information. I have had trouble with them because we couldn't pay the payments they were wanting and I wouldn't agree to the amount they were proposing. I told them I have no desire to work with them, I would work with the original creditor and I am and the payment is alot cheaper than what CBE Group wanted. Did they send you a letter within the 5 days of talking to you? IMO, go ahead and send them the debt validation letter by certified mail with return receipt requested.

The real reason for asking for the financial info was to see if you have anything they can put a lien on,etc. Be real careful giving out any extra info such as bank account info, cars you own,etc.

[Virginia-Legal-Defense]

Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in a court of law.

Search this website (lower left of the page, under "forums") for information about "demand for validation" or "demand for verification" or "fdcpa". Lots of good advice available.

Also they may ask questions about bills you have such as cell phone bill, cable bill,etc. Do not give them that info if you have that stuff...they will use that against you in court. CA's believe if you do not have the money to pay them ,that you should not have a cell phone or cable bill. This will look bad on you in court. So, be careful. I would not give out ANY info to these people other than verify what they already have on file. They do not need all that info to work out a payment plan...they just want it to use against you.

[Not so Lucky]

You are exactly right guest. They intimidate people to the point that the debtor thinks they have to give all information. When they call here and want personal information, I tell them that they must not actually have the account if they need personal information and they hang up.

[tippy1959]

Thank you to all for the good advice. I went right along with them and answered their financial questions, and I now see how this could be used against me if they so desired. I won't be so stupid next time around. Thanks to all for your wisdom and experience....it is such a good feeling knowing I can ask anything here and not be ridiculed or made to feel like a loser.....you are a wonderful group of people. Take care, Melissa

[Not so Lucky]

We are all here to help people. Not judge them or make them feel like a loser. If you have a question, post it and someone will answer or try to answer it for you. Just remember we have all been in the same situation.

I don't know what the business is, but a male named Matt leaves messages.

[FYI]

I'm sorry but not all agencies are out to get you and ruin your life by making you honor your debts.

If your credit card isn't charged off yet but in collections and you have an agency calling you then you need to contact the credit card agency and ask them where your card is place. Contact that agency, write your letter of validation if need be.. but you should also keep in mind that while waiting for them to reply you are collecting intrest late fee's and possibly an over the limit fee. Depending on the balance of the card you could be collecting fee's from 30-200 dollars a month if not more.

Most agencies who actualy follow the rules are apart of the BBB. Do a little research. You obviously have access to the internet so do a search on the company. Pull your credit report as well if you haven't gotten your free one or go to the CBR websites and purchase one.


If you are not satisified with the information you have found out about the company write them a cease and desist letter which they will forward to their client and place it with another agency.

I'm not saying the debt validation letter is a bad idea. It's not. But durring the thirt plus days you get one (allowing for 3-5 business days of mailing time from you and them from them) it is higly likely that you are going to be hit with a shot of late fee's along with a side of intrest with an over the limit fee to follow as a tastey dessert.

And I'm not talking about credit cards that have been charged off already. I am talking about precharge off. There is a HUGE difference.

If you are in entirely too much debt your best option then might be to go with a credit counseling service when they dispurse payments you make to them to each agency owed. But the most important part of this is to be sure, 100% sure you have an accepted proposal. Not all but most companies will work with you.

This number 319-274-1902 appears on the caller ID as an "Iowa Call", but you are given the number 866-239-6098 as a toll free return number. The 319-274-1902 is a land line unlisted telephone number from Waterloo, IA.
Matt and Erika have left messages.
Turns out it was a BP/Amoco, now Citibank balance of less than $30 from over six months ago when we changed addresses.

I Have been called by CVE Group numerous times and harrassed somewhat on an account I have already "settled" by a third party. They clearly have broken Texas state law by continuing to call and harass me and will be reported to the Texas state Attorney General's Office.

I posted this somewhere else, and I thought it would be fitting here.

[img]/forums/attachments//bsm1_150.jpg[/img]
[img]/forums/attachments//bsm2_510.jpg[/img]

I'm speaking as a former collector, and a current debtor. Ironic huh?

****Adult term removed - Jason

I get called once a day for someone who moved from here 2 years ago. They say to hang up if you are not the one they say they want to speak too. Their website does not give you an email address to let them know this. They say email is illegal for debt discussions but I do not owe anyone. I guess I will send a registered letter but that should not be necessary as they should have a way to contact them if they are calling the wrong number.