832-476-1740 - Has anyone dealt with Avante USA?

Here is their info from BBB.org

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Thank you!

Their address is 2950 S. Gessner RD, Suite 265
Houston,TX 77063
Phone # 832-476-1740

do not use your credit/debit card-overcharged my card-won't return phone calls been trying to get resolution for 6 weeks now!

My son 18 at the time joined Ballys the sales person who signed him up new he was joining the Army and told him not to worry that the contract would cancel if he sent in the deploy papares which he did..1 year later mu hubby and I signed up for a month to month with Ballys they have got my husbands name and SS# and have pinned 3000.00 dollars on him because my husband and my son have the same name except for the middle name/We have explained this to Avante many times and they said they do not care they will ruin my husbands life and credit they have have been calling my husbands work place and cell# saying its him and they keep repeating the ss# and threating they will keep harrassing till we pay them 3000.00 can anyone let me know if I can get a lawyer for this?

CAUTION!! Avante is NOTORIOUS for NOT being licensed & bonded to collect debts in various states. Before sending off your letter, be sure to check & see if they are in fact licensed & bonded (if your state requires that). If they are not, add that info to your letter. Add something like, "Despite that fact that you are not licensed or bonded to collect debts in (state), I am sending this letter to protect my rights. You have been reported to the Department of Commerce in (State)."

You can check if they are licensed by going to your state's Secretary of State website. Also, a quick google search will tell you if your state requires licensing. Hope this helps.

I worked for this company a couple of years ago and I can tell you that as a company they do, in fact, try to follow all the rules and work with people on their debts. Some of their collectors are inexperienced and believe that the best way to make debt collection calls is to threaten and talk down to people and that is unfortunate. If you have a problem with the way you are being treated my suggestion is to ask to speak with one of the managers and explain your situation to them. Jeremy Moore is the manager over all of the collectors and is always willing to listen and help.

My newphew went to Ballys just as a visitors and wound up getting harrassed by Avanti by a Mr.Williams which keeps telling him he owes Bally for the contract he signed and he did not sign any contract with them all he did was to attend the courtesy for the week Bally had given him and signed the week notice they require. We are not going to be harrassed at home because of Avante USA trying to collecto on some person who ever that maybe get your information correct IDOITS!!! Because you are not collecting one Penny I'm reporting you to the BBB.

[QUOTE=Anonymous;431147]My son 18 at the time joined Ballys the sales person who signed him up new he was joining the Army and told him not to worry that the contract would cancel if he sent in the deploy papares which he did..1 year later mu hubby and I signed up for a month to month with Ballys they have got my husbands name and SS# and have pinned 3000.00 dollars on him because my husband and my son have the same name except for the middle name/We have explained this to Avante many times and they said they do not care they will ruin my husbands life and credit they have have been calling my husbands work place and cell# saying its him and they keep repeating the ss# and threating they will keep harrassing till we pay them 3000.00 can anyone let me know if I can get a lawyer for this?[/QUO

Be aware that under Privacy laws they cannot be repeating your husbands SSN#. They can get fined big time for that. You can probably google Personal Identifiable Information laws to learn more about that. Also contact you state District Attorney's office and the BBB to report they are using your Husbands SSN during calls repeatedly.

One more thing there's always information on these people on a website called Whocalled.us. Just put in the phone number from. I always find alot of information from others like you and I who get harrassed by unrequested callers that usually turn out to be debt collectors or some type of sales mostly like pharmeceuticals.

Im getting calls from this company like 3 or more times per day! And now they started calling to my job. It was because of a bally "3 yr contract" that was suppossed to be a month by month contract. At bally they never explained why they change the contract terms. I could never get a hold of bally. I sent letters and more letters to cancel the contract and they never answered. Even my 14 year old sister was included in the contract without permission of parents under the responsability od an 18 year old. I really don't know what to do. They are charging me $2300!!! It is just unbelievable!

Called me today and informed me they were collectin g on a debt from Radio Shack - opened in 1994 and closed in 1997. Told them to contact my attorney as all debts were included in bankruptcy in 2004. Manager tried to tell me that unless it was specifically mentioned, it wasn't and I needed to pay the bill. He called my attorney and told them it was closed in 1999. Can't get dates right on the account. Would not tell me any information as to the account origin. Pulled Experian and Equifax - not ONE mention on either of Radio Shack OR AvantUSA. If my attorney find out what I think they will find, I will have a HUGE lawsuit for these people.

How bout I have perfect credit... no credit cards or loans and just got my number last week and these people start harrassing me!?!?! And they don't talk to you, I answer and it's automated saying call me at this # then that's another automated POS...

I just received a call from these people and the message that was left on my answering machine was totally aggresive and rude. That is not good customer service and i work providing customer service. Our agency just received a certificate for a 91% and that's pretty high. I keep calling these jerks to complaint because i am going to complaint and I get forwarded to a Voice Mail machine. Nice customer service Avante.

A debtor is *not* the customer. The collectors' customer is the original creditor. However, it is against the FDCPA for them to behave rudely towards debtors, so you should file a complaint with the FTC.

Avante is the Lowest of the Lowest. Pure Scum.

Here is the contact info:

Avante USA, LTD
2950 South Gessner, Suite 265
Houston, TX 77063
Phone - 832-476-1740
Fax - 713-785-4467 (Great for Sending Cease and Desist Letters)

Getting rid of them is quite easy though. Follow these simple techniques.

If they call you, proceed with the following:

Step 1 - Tell them they need to validate the debt in writing otherwise you are unable to proceed any further with them. If they try to validate over the phone by rattling off your name and address and social, thell them that's not good enough. Tell them you need it in writing and you want it mailed to you. Debt collectors have to validate a debt within 30 days otherwise they can't legally proceed. If they don't back down, proceed with step 2.

Step 2 - Order them to "Cease & Desist" all communications with you effective immediately and that you will only deal with the original creditor. Tell them you will be faxing a Cease and Desist Letter to their Fax number which is 713-785-4467. Tell them you have also mailed them a Certfied Envelope containing a "Cease and Desist" letter ordering them to cease all communciations with you and to return the debt to the original creditor. You can give them the following Address of Avante Usa, LTD, 2950 South Gessner, Suite 265, Houston, TX 77063. If they continue to argue, simply state "I'm aware that you are recording these calls, so I formally request that you "Cease and Desist" all communciation with me. You have been legally warned. Then hang up. They are not likely to call you back, so long as you proceed with Step 3

Step 3 - Send them the following letter

Avante USA, LTD
[SIZE=3]2950 South Gessner, Suite 265[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Houston, TX 77063[/SIZE]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]Re: Account (Account Name or Number)[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]Dear Sir or Madam: [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]I request that you CEASE and DESIST in your efforts to collect on the above referenced account. It is my personal policy not to deal with collection agencies or debt collectors and I will only deal with the original creditor of this account which is (Original Creditor Name). [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]You are hereby instructed to cease collection efforts immediately or face legal sanctions under applicable Federal and State law. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]GIVE THIS LETTER THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IT DESERVES. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]Cordially [/SIZE][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]Your Name [/SIZE][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black]You can also send them this second letter attached with the Cease & Desist Letter to really shut them up. It's called a Debt Validation letter and most debt colletors don't like to see this letter, because they usually can't verify the debt and send it back just because of the extra workload.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black]Avante USA, LTD
[SIZE=3]2950 South Gessner, Suite 265[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Houston, TX 77063[/SIZE]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3]Re: Account (Debt name or #)[/SIZE][/COLOR]

To Whom It May Concern:

This is an Attempt to Validate a Debt.

This letter is being sent to you in response to a phone call on (Enter Date). This is a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for ???verification??? or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.
Please provide me with the following:

[SIZE=3]?? What the money you say I owe is for; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Identify the original creditor; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]?? Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent [/SIZE]

At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the 3 major Credit Bureau???s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) this action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:

• Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
  
• Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
  
• Defamation of Character
  

I came home to a message on my machine. It was a "Tom Jacobs", then a swift comment about "debt collector" and the phone number 832-476-1740 and that I needed to call them. I have called THREE times, once last night, once this a.m. and just now (early afternoon). I hit the key for a "customer service" person and all three times it rolls over to Kathy Brown's voicemail. I do not have a debt that is in collection, period. My message was, call me at home or the office - gave both numbers - and if they did not call this was the last time that I was going to call them. If they want to talk to me, call me or answer the telephone. I had a collection agency call me a few years ago and found out someone had given my telephone number. That caller was very nice, apologized and promised to have my number removed with a notation. I'm assuming this is yet another error, but will not know until they decide to call me when I am either home or at work. They cannot say I have been avoiding them.....

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you need to look at your son's contract and send bally's a letter with a cancellation fee (50 bucks I think) with the clauses highlighted of why you can cancel teh contract. send it certified by mail, make sure you quote the clause in teh contract, i.e. if there is no Bally's within 50 miles of where your son is stationed...etc.

I got a call from a Muhammed today from Avante USA regarding $210 debt from a school I enrolled in but never attended. It would have been awesome if this school called me themselves prior to sending me to a collections agency and perhaps we could have resolved it!
So this Muhammed of Avante USA got ripped a new one from me because I am quite sure this is debt that I didn't incur but I'd prefer that my credit score decrease over $210 so I just paid it. The guy was actually nice to me, kept his cool even though I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo mad and yelling at him.
I understand people get pissed at these guys because they are debt collectors but the truth of the matter is, if you incurred the debt just pay it. They aren't the bad guys, they are just the messengers.
Now, if they are rude to you then that's another story because it's not THEIR money they are collecting.

Oh and somehow this company got my fiance's phone number who gave them my number. Shouldn't the person claiming debt is owed been able to do the same?!?!

These people have been calling my job daily and has not stopped. they claimed this is the only number they have on me and thats not true. I am filing a complaint and a law suite as we speak.

And about being overcharged- that is probably from you using your credit card because they apparently charge $9 for processing and $1 for Avante to process. Which I can't get upset about because I know companies charge a lot to process credit cards- I just dealt with that at work.

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This company recently contacted me about a class I took in 1999. At the time, this was a work related course and my company was supposed to pay 100%. I assumed they did because I never heard another thing. Last week Avante contacted me and said I owed 300 dollars and they would wreck my credit if I did not pay it. My attorney told me that the debt (a) is over 6 years old and cannot be collected if I was never contacted (b) my company at that time is responsible, not me and (c) I can request that they stop calling me. I hope this helps anyone who is being subjected to scare tactics by this company.




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Mike Moore is Registered Agent. He can be reached by asking for him from a csr. Jerkoffs kept calling years after my Bankruptcy was discharged. Bunch of morons I think.

I just had to call Avante usa, asking why they are calling my house. I don't want calls recieved on my parents home phone, for something that is my issue. I have a loan out for school that I cannot pay back because I have not found work. he told me I don't pay because I think it's a joke and "haha now it's going on your credit report". It's already there, they are not the first to try and collect this debt, yet he claims they are. he gave me an attitude, and I told him "do not patronize me, nigger", and hung up. I am fucking fuming.

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i have student loans that maybe or may not be legit... avante has been calling me like crazy! i live above a business and they've even went as far as to call the business downstairs from me and ask for me directly! i have record that i owe money for my loans but i dont see how it could be in collections when a) this loan is 10 years old and b) i have no had any contact previously, in ten years) about oweing anything - let alone allowing a debt to be placed in collections. However, i began paymetns with them and now i dont know if i should cancel my account and stop payments! they could potentially be fraudulent.

these guys are bastards and talk to them how you may because they don't give a shit. they called my house and would not give me information on what or why they were calling. im working up a harassment suit against them right now.

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I love sites whre you can post and you can hide behind ananomity :) yeah yeah those people are bad b/c i didn't pay my bill. how about living up to a contractual agreement.
I live in NY, NY and people are always crying about collectors. I just say " did yo pay your bill?"





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Looked at my credit report I just got a few weeks ago, and surprise, neither name this shame company goes by are on my report. I have never had accounts with Bally's, Radio Shack, or Household Bank. I looked it up. I tried for a card with Orchard, and was declined so none of their clients I have an account with. Also, they never leave a message and I have not been anything but passing through Texas in a few years. There is no web site for these people either. Smells funny to me.

I got a new phone number in July 2008 - more than 1.5 years ago. The person who had this number did not pay their bills for whatever reason, but I cannot convince these people that I AM NOT THIS PERSON. I had to research on the internet to find the guy who had this number before, and even though I give everyone calling the other number, they keep calling me.

Just now I got a hang up call from Avante 832-476-1739. Called them right back and asked to be removed and gave them the new number AGAIN.

I'll expect their call next week....

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when they left me a message he just laughed and laughed and laughed and said give me a call......its pretty creepy

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Has anyone that had to deal with this company actually seen them on your credit report after they have talked with you? They are calling me about a 5 year old debt that I do not have any knowledge about. THey told me that it will go on my credit report if I don't pay and offered to pay the settlement amount. They're saying its from a school I went to 5 years ago and my loans never covered it. I might have screwed myself because I did talk to them because I'm hopefully buying a house soon and am scared about not getting a loan if anything "bad" is on my account.

ABSOLUTELY get a lawyer, and also file a complaint with your state's Attorney General. They are trying to collect a debt from someone other than the debtor.

Avante reps are rud and relentless. I canceled Bally contract after attempting to go to the gym 3 times total all within one week. Could not deal with the filth -dirty carpet, nasty locker room, and bathroom. And the lack of training from so called trainers -unattentive and disinterested in helping with anything including complaints. Avante rep told me that if I did not pay the full amount due Ballys -I will be taken to court. Then he tried to make a deal with me to pay in full over the phone. I was furious because I'm telling him that I don't owe Ballys a dime, never used the gym and called and canceled. I get several calls daily including my home and cell phone. What can be done.

You should ask Avante USA representative to validate your debt when they call you the next time. They will be able to validate the debt only if they own it. If they cannot validate your debt within 30 days, you can ask them to stop calling you by sending them a cease and desist letter.

We were contacted by AvanteUSA for a school debt from Arizona. The shady 8 year old debt aside, I discovered that AvanteUSA is not legally licensed to practice collection business in my state. I've contacted our Department of Finance and they were more than happy to take their information and a copy of their letter to me and contact them. So check your state's department of finance and see if there's a list of licensed collection agencies. They may not have the right to call you at all.

They called my wife a worthless B**CH and said they would stop if she would pay her fing bill. My wife explained that it was their trial membership not the full and we moved out of the area. They also said they didnt care and would ruin our lives. If I get a hold of the persion that talk to my wife from them this way they will see whos life will be ruined. They need to go away or have a class action law suit filed against them under the new laws for collectiuon agencies. Than bally's needs to be sued for false rep.

Anna, what you're stating is false. First, you must request validation of debt in writing. Asking over the phone doesn't get you anywhere. Secondly, there is NOTHING that states they must validate within 30 days. And finally, you can actually send a C&D at any time. That's your right. The problem is that if the debt is valid, you're likely to get sued.

Called today by a Jason Williams asking for someone that does not work for my attorney office... Evidently he thought I was lying and wanted to talk to my "manager" I advised you are aware you are calling an attorneys office correct? His response was I'm through talking to you put your manager on the phone.... Lol it is an attorneys office... Good luck with these guys Jason Williams is obviously an unintelligible debt collecting scum...:p

Justin Williams* apologies