We received a message from a Mr. Rodriguez from Burgess Law Office back on July 25th 2007. The message was left on our answering machine. Mr. Rodriguez claimed he was calling us regarding an "urgent" law suit with case number ***-*** filed through our County Clerk's office. We had no clue what he was talking and had never been informed of any pending law suit. A friend of ours whom my husband had worked with was seriously injured on the job in a company vehicle in a multi-car accident on the freeway caused by somebody else. Traffic was stopped on the freeway while an accident was clearing up ahead and some guy in a large pick-up dropped his cell phone, bent over to pick it up, and in the process smashed into the stopped traffic. Our friend was in the very front of the line of five cars. The woman in the car behind her died at the scene and my friend had to be rushed to the hospital. She was out of work for several months due to her injuries. We knew that she had filed a suit against the driver. We thought perhaps this was the law suit in question, so my husband called Mr. Rodriguez back and left a message at his extension asking him to please call him back on his cell phone.

It was after my husband had already left his cell phone number that we decided to do an internet search of the law office's phone number and also to search for that case number he had given us. We were curious to see what was going on. First off, we could not find anything under the case number he gave us in our message. As far as we could tell it did not exist. Then we found this thread. A lot of you have mentioned that the law office called regarding some old unpaid debt you once had that may have gone to collections but it had been taken care of in some form or another. In our case we have no unpaid, overdue debt. My husband has never had a credit card or anything to that effect. I've never had an outstanding debt. In fact, our credit is rated as excellent. We even checked our credit reports after hearing about this scam and there were no outstanding accounts in our credit report either. We were awaiting a call back from this law office to hear what b.s. story they had for us, but never heard a word...until today.

Mr. Rodriguez called my husband's cell phone this morning and told my husband that he had been speaking with ME at that number for the past week about a "Mary (insert my maiden name)". Mind you, my cell phone account is still under my maiden name. I had added my husband to my account prior to us getting married and have just not gotten around to getting my name changed on the account. Not only that but I do not have any relatives by the name of "Mary", nor had I ever spoken to this man at all. My husband told him he was full of it, that there was no way he had been speaking to me at that number as it was HIS personal cell number. The guy abruptly hung up. So we still have no info as to what this supposed debt/lawsuit is about. I am prepared to file a complaint with the FTC, our state Attorney General's office, and the NY State Attorney General's office. I'm just waiting for this guy to give us more than just a bogus case number. I want to find out what this bogus debt/lawsuit actually is, so I can file my complaint with more meat to it.

These guys tried to make me shell out $6000.00 for a credit card I had that had a $300.00 limit. I did have a bit of fun with them. My advice is demand proof. They will not give it to you. For instance I supposedly owed Citibank all this money. I called Citibank and they could not find me on any records as far as even applying for a credit card. Don't worry

I have been receiving calls from this law firm off and on for a week or 2. They call at late hours or just strange times. They actually gave me a case # today and told me I needed to call them or have my lawyer call them at the 800 # extension 25. I thought she said Vergus law firm and after listening to teh voicemail several times I finally made out the actual name and here I am. I've read all the pages of this thread and a few other forums and I'm still confused on what to do. All of my outstanding debts have been settled or charged off and I haven't had any credit cards for several years. I've never seen anything in writing. Who should be my first contact with help? I have an uncle who is attorney I may start with him. any advice is appreciated.

I too have been receiving messages on our voicemail from this "Law Office" concerning a perticular file #. She left the 800 number and that's how I found this forum. She mentioned that this message was for "William (with the same last name as me)." No one here by that name.
I thought about calling back, but now I'm thinking that I don't want them to know that my phone number is a good contact point.
This sounds like the same issue that KM had. I think in our case it's a scam. I plan on continuing to delete any messages I get from them. (there's only been two so far).
I like the Cease and Desist letter idea though. If they keep calling I may go that route.

why is someone calling and claiming to be calling from the Burgess law firm and the number comes back to this...
Portfolio Partners
Job title: unavailable
Company: Portfolio Partners
1625 Buffalo Ave

Niagara Falls, NY 14303-1545

(716) 282-3300


is that legal?

Theeerrreee Baack...

It had been awhile since I had heard anything from these clowns, but there was a message on my answering machine when I got home from work today. Still looking for a Mary (insert my maiden name). I find it very fascinating that they use "Mary" and "William" like in SMC's case. Two very popular names. So anyways, Aaron called me this time saying he had received a file on his desk concerning Mary so-and-so and that they have been trying to contact her many, many times. And to please call back or else legal action would be taken.

Now what I find very interesting is that about two weeks ago a different law office, this one based out of Utah (Riddle and Associates or something like that) called my number looking to collect from a Mary _____ as well. I don't know if these two places are in cahoots together or what their deal is, but after doing an investigation into this Riddle and Associates place it appears they do the exact same scan as Burgess. So my guess is they are some how connected. Either that or some woman by the name of Mary found my phone number out of the phone book and has been using it. But what it really sounds like is that these guys just grab your number from somewhere and start trolling to scam people. :roll:

These collectors are idiots they threaten law suits, most states require the suit be filed in the debtors home city meaning the attorny must be licensed to practice in that state. In Ca. they cant charge for more than the debt plus 10% so the case will cost more than they collect even if they file a case in your town go to court they wont show up but if you do you can request the case dismissed with prejiduce and it goes away most judges hate any lawyer who fails to appear for a case they brought.

I picked the phone up and said nothing. A male said they were getting a warrant for my arrest that day. I started laughing and told him to get it. From now on I will just pick the phone up and waste their time.

it's simple burgess law office is assisting another company in debt recovery from what i can tell and this site is a pathetic attempt to help absconders

[JCEMT]

Welcome to the forum guest.

This site is simply for consumer advocacy. We highly back the concept that a person should pay what they owe. However we also help educate people to their rights, when a collection agency violates the FDCPA/FCRA then we let them know about it. People should be educated to their rights afforded to them by state/federal law, be it regarding collections or anything else like property taxes. People should know these things.

Also, speaking of absconders... which is a more articulate way of accusing people of theft. Check out the sites debt consolidation options. We not only give people advise but can also help them pay their bills.

That is after all where the debt consolidation care aspect of the web address came from. Not sure how you missed that.

[sdchargers_63]

I did a 'Google', on this Burgess person. ALOT came up, "illegal practices, fraud, etc." I don't remember the exact words. I'm sure someone can look them up. It ALSO said, ( on Google..) 'if you come in contact..phone or e-mail..contact the New York City Senators Office. Had ALOT of different numbers and names (alias'...I guess) that this Burgess is 'claiming'. Hope this helps someone.

I have just been contacted by these people also. Are they a real company. I am not giving any bank number out. They say they have contacted me over 30 times and they have only left 3 messages so far.

I have just been contacted on my answering machine by this office. They used my county name I suppose to scare me which it did but I then came to my computer and googled it. From what I have read I will not contact them. My fears are they will start harrassing my job and family. I think if I ignore them they will eventually stop harrassing me. Like everyone else nothing in the mail. I refuse to let them bully me. I'm not paying anyone off to harrass me.

Hey all these people are riduculous. They scared my grandmother have to death what they are doing is so wrong we all need to do something about this. any suggestions? They are truly fake I contacted them and gave them a piece of my mind.

[sdchargers_63]

I received a call from Burgess, at one time. They called with a 'Private Number' and were VERY rude. Actually....it was the 'secretary' who called me. When I asked to speak to Mr. Burgess, she said that "she handles all of the 'issues'. Oh, well. I asked for a number I could call back. She never gave me one. I 'Googled' the 'law office'........SOOOOO many complaints and "illegal activity ( according to what I found).

Sean Bowman
Office Administrator
Burgess Law Office
4246 Ridge Lea Rd. Suite 1
Amherst, NY 14226
1-800-976-0890
716-833-0188 Ext. 10
716-833-7066(fax)