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I found a website that is very disturbing, and possibly...

Date: Fri, 10/26/2007 - 16:52

Submitted by JCEMT
on Fri, 10/26/2007 - 16:52

Posts: 2934 Credits: [Donate]

Total Replies: 66


After viewing a post on this forum that a flamer posted about us being "professional debtors" I decided to look it up on the internet and it came up with this website:
professionaldebtor.com/view_debtors.php
This website is very disturbing as it is a database that lists by state what debtors they have on file as well as other information, here is an example from the website. If I select Colorado and select the name Mary Williams it comes up with this:

Business Name:


Colorado Telephone Inc.


Responsible Party:


Mary Williams


Address:


3000 S. Jamaica Ct Ste 340
City: Aurora

State:


Colorado
Zip Code: 80014

Amount Owed:


$4,165.00
Date of Default: 9/29/2004

Resolved?


No
Date Resolved: 0000-00-00

Someone is posting the names of debtors in a public place as well is the persons address, how much they owe and whom they owe it to. This has got to be a major fdcpa violation. Not only for that but that would allow any JDB to just pick up the info from that site and try to collect on it even if they have no right to do so. Who should this be reported to? FTC perhaps? Also I think some people on that list need to be called.


Actually it did list original creditors on the site. It also violates a few privacy laws and opens the sites operators to a big (or many small) civil suits for slander as it lists this alleged public information under a site that lists people as professional debtors. Perhaps (and this is a bit of a stretch) if the site were labeled as something non slanderous then there may not be as much a problem. How would you feel if your name was listed on there (someone knew of the site and decided to pay the $45) posted your name since no information is needed they could state that you owe xyz company $14 million and then you would be known to people across the internet that had knowledge of this site as a professional debtor. Would you be angry/upset or would you just say "it's public information, oh well"? Just some food for thought.


lrhall41

Submitted by JCEMT on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 14:13

( Posts: 2934 | Credits: )


Quote:


I have a question for everyone. People can report businesses to the better business bureau if they don't treat their customers right, and that's ok. But if a business tries to warn other businesses about doing business with someone that doesn't hold up their end of the bargain, that's an outrage. Why the double standard?


This is easy to answer. The BBB is a national organization with rules and procedures. Where are the procedures with this slanderous site? When a CA or company puts in this 'hearsay' does this company send a request to the debtor for their side of the story? Do they investigate? No on all counts.


lrhall41

Submitted by goldenbast on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 15:34

( Posts: 2884 | Credits: )


It would be a sad sad world if creditors send out list to other creditors about broken contracts and unpaid debts. Wait.. What? They already DO! It's called a credit report. It's not a public record and debt should never be a public record beyond, bankrupcies, leins and judgements.


lrhall41

Submitted by FYI on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 23:01

( Posts: 1950 | Credits: )


The main problem I had with this site is privacy laws.The Better Business Bureau and the Credit Reporting Agency have procedures in place for dispute resolution.This site did not have this. The two agencies I mention also have disclosure procedures in place as this site did not. Regardless of if a consumer pays a bill or not,their privacy should be protected by our governing laws.


lrhall41

Submitted by cajunbulldog on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 04:11

( Posts: 4850 | Credits: )


No, I'm just a small business owner who has been burned in the past by a few dishonest people Oh, and JCEMT, I hate to tell you this... You're wrong! The creditors were not listed. I know someone that was listed too, the business name was theirs, not a creditors. You don't know their policies, none of us do because they weren't posted. They may have polices like the BBB, you don't know. That's my complaint about the site, their policies need to be posted.

Not all businesses have access to credit reports. Mine doesn't, the last timne I checked into subscribing to one of the services, it was cost prohibitive for the amount of use I could have got out of it.

So it's ok to not honor contracts?

Hmm, imagine you're a small business owner and you have people that take you to the cleaner by not paying you, and you've invested alot of time and money into their project. Now how do you feel?


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 13:33

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I'm sure I can speak for everybody here saying that nobody is stating that it is OK to dishonor a contract. It's just that there should be a process (verification) to submit information like that (and by the way there is no reason to get upset/angry/hostile but the creditor was listed in the top left hand corner of the entry, such as Mary Williams who owed Colorado Telephone Inc.) There was nothing in the submission requirements about submitting any supporting documents. Which would allow people to enter whatever they please, pay the $45 and bam, you are now a professional debtor. I would have much less problem if there were a verification process and it wasn't labeling people, it's so derogative.


lrhall41

Submitted by JCEMT on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 06:14

( Posts: 2934 | Credits: )


Guest..I can appreciate the problems small business owners have with people not honoring their contracts. In this country we have many small claims courts. That is what they are for..sure it costs money...but do you honestly think labeling someone " a professional debtor" is going to remedy that situation? What is the purpose of this site other than to vent someone anger???


lrhall41

Submitted by laura19544 on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 07:26

( Posts: 456 | Credits: )


JCEMT, if you go to the Colorado Secretary of State's web site, the person you mentioned is the registered agent for the business that you mentioned, you can't be both the creditor and debtor. The creditor was not mentioned on the web site. I rest my case.

Laura, I currently have court judgements against 2 individuals, one for over $17,000.00 and I spent a lot of money to get the judgement, attorney, filing fees, service fees etc. That was a year and a half ago, and I still haven't seen a penny. Just because you take someone to court, even if you win, doesn't mean you'll ever see the money.

I think their web site is less about collecting the money owed and more about informing other businesses about individuals they may not want to deal with. Like they say on their home page a reverse better business bureau.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 08:39

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Surely you can not believe this site would not be used to for a personal vendetta against someone. The administrators of the site will not be investigating to see who is reported the whole truth. If one site like this is allowed then where will it end??? As someone with a reputation to uphold...how would you like it???


lrhall41

Submitted by laura19544 on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 09:03

( Posts: 456 | Credits: )


Once you secure a judgment against the debtor in question that finds that they are indeed indebted to you for said amount and for said reason. Further collection activity on your own part may require further court action. As the rightful owner/creditor of said debt you may need to request garnishment of their paycheck, a levy on their bank account, etc.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 09:03

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