Payday-loan-yes.com/The Barr Group/The Dam? Group! Help! AHHH!

I'm pretty sure I included this, but my location is SC.

did you bank allow them to come through after your account was closed? i would discuss this with your bank first, tell them under no circumstances to allow anything else to come through or to push the account back open.

No, I banked with BB&T, and they took forever to close my account. I told them about it, but they said they couldn't close it until I made a deposit to bring my account current. I believe it was closed sometime in September, if my memory serves. So I owe them $800, even after my last check of over $500 was deposited! And all the fees occurred because of they payday lenders. I really need to know what I need to do about Payday-loan-yes, and about this 'process server'. I'm stressing over it! I listened to the message again, and she did have a southern accent, not sure if that's really important, but I didn't think they would call and let you know they were coming out to serve you.

Also, I did set up a payment plan with The Dam? Group after I received that call. I gave them my debit card info. Should I have done that? They said they didn't accept money orders, go figure. Should I call my bank and have the card replaced and call The Dam Group back and tell them that's thier only option is to receive money orders from me? I didn't want to give them my card information, but at that moment, I didn't feel I had too much of a choice.

Your bank should have put the account on some kind of hold :(
i personally never would have given a debit card.. i only send money orders.. i tell them no money order, no payments. that usually works.. i would call your bank and get that card number cancelled and demand an address to send a money order to, i would not trust them not to take more from that debit card.

Yeah, they should have, It would have helped alot:(
So, can Payday-loan-yes.com really take legal action with this account, or is it just a scare tactic to get me to pay? I mean I don't want to test them, and tell them to wait until I can afford it, and then all of a sudden receive court papers. Could I tell them to wait until I get my taxes back since its so close to that time or what should I do, because right now, if I do make payments, I will be spending money I do not have. I wonder how many people have dealt with them like this? Involving process servers and threatening phone calls? Grrr!

They aren't even from the U.S., so, they are using their usual scare tactics.

as shazzers said, they are illegal.. which means you pay them back on your terms and your timeline.

Okay then, well that makes me feel better. Those people are an absolute infection! Ugh! Well, I'm definitely glad to hear that, so I will call the bank today, cancel my card, then call the collection agency and tell them I can only send money orders. I'm sure they won't refuse after a few minutes of arguing;) So, if someone in their company is posing as a process server, then that is illegal as well, I assume? I'm very tempted to contact my AG, but I may wait to see how they are going to react after I call them today. If they continue with this tyranny, lol, then I will call the AG and file a complaint. One more thing, since I know that they are illegal, would it be wise to call and tell them what I know and I plan to call my AG if the threats and whatnot continue, or write a letter? Or does it really matter? Should I request documents from them concerning this loan before I send them a MO? Anways though, thanks alot for the information, it has really helped me! I swear, after I pay these PD lenders off, I'm completely done with all of it! You don't realize how good you have it until you lose your job, and then you have to live off unemployment....Reality starts to sink in, and you really have to 're-prioritize' everything. In a way, I am glad this happened though..It has taught me alot about my finances:) Anyways, Thanks so much again! I'll keep you guys informed about the outcome.

i would file a complaint right away regardless of the outcome.. they are illegal. they actually might give you a hard time about sending a money order.. they will likely tell you no and bully you, etc. before giving in. they might never give in.. but do not send them a dime until they do! i am not trying to scare you, everything will be okay, i just wanted to give you a heads up :)
and yes, demand that they validate the debt before sending anything as well.. also make sure any arrangement is also sent in writing before paying them.

Yes, I guess I can see why to go ahead and file a complaint regardless of what happens. Maybe it will eventually save someone else from this mess if someone can pull the killswitch! I figured as much. They can bully me, say whatever they want; but if they do, then they won't get paid until they give in, it's their choice! I'm glad I came across this site though, it has definitely given me hope!
Also, is Ameriloan and GreenlightFundingLLC legal? I figured if they were, I would've heard something from them by now. Like I stated before, I haven't heard from them since I lost my job back in June...Nothing, no emails, they haven't returned any of my calls...so I have stopped calling and emailing them, I guess when I get my taxes back I'll call them, I'm sure I will hear from them when they know I can pay them off with one shot! Lol

i do not think ameriloan is legal, not sure about greenlight.. but hold off until someone can give you a better answer than me :)
i have found that these companies sometimes come out of the woodwork at tax return time..
you are on the right track, keep us posted :)

Ameriloan isn't licensed anywhere to my knowledge, it depends on what state you are in regarding Greenlight.

Okay, I'm sure I will hear from them sometime next month, which is fine. I was already planning on calling and emailing again(hopefully they answer or return my calls!) after I get my return. I definitely can't wait to be 'debt' free!:)

Shazzers: My location is SC; in the contract I believe it stated that they are licensed in Delaware, they said that I would have to abide by Delaware law regarding thier payday loan, idk. After researching SC laws, wouldn't they need to be licensed here as well for the laws to be in effect?

I don't think Ameriloan is legal either, I haven't found anything stating otherwise.

Hmm, I don't think they are(Greenlight), because I'm looking at their website now...and they offer loans to some states where pdl's are prohibited; and in the SC section, their maximum loan amount is $500, and their fees are $30 per $100. That's funny, they never had that page before on their website, lol. Their corporate address is in Wilmington, DE, and they also have another address located in Prairie Village, KS(for sending payments).

Wilmington DE. That is the "corporate" address secondary to the VERY VERY Lax laws there... just ask Cash Call.
ANYWHO -- I think you should file with your AG regardless. I would very much like to see these ones that are illegal and scare the stuffing out of people when life takes a turn to be shut down completely. Based on what I have read on your first post since technically you should only be responsible for the principle of them all you seem to be pretty close to being done! Congrats! You can and will get through this!

Thanks for the words of encouragement:) Yes, I checked out the laws there, wow...that's all I can say about that.
Yes, I think filing a complaint will be the best thing to do, they shouldn't even exist.
Oh, and the other 'agency' is The Bam Group, not Dam...well, The Barr Group and The Bam Group are one in the same, I thought it was just a different company. I called the number that I was given for the Barr Group, and automated message stated that it was the Bam Group now, HA! I also found a few threads from other people who have had the pleasure to deal with this company....I guess Payday-loan-yes uses quite a few agencies, because there is a ton of forums regarding them but only a few regarding the Barr or Bam Group...but the tactics are still the same regardless. Anyways, I will give "The Bam Group" a call on Monday to set MY payment schedules and arrangements, and I will keep you guys posted about the outcome. Thanks again!

Thanks for the support! Yes, I read the laws for DE...wow...that's all I have to say on that! Okay, so I found out that the Barr Group and "Bam" Group are one in the same, haha, go figure. So, how do I write a DV letter to an, I guess, illegal collection agency? I've come across a few sample templates, but it's disputing the validity of a debt on your credit report. They haven't reported the debt on mine, or tried to yet, lol. How do I find out if they are legal here in SC? Is there a link here, or do I need to call the SC DIF?

Okay, sorry for the last post, but the previous one wasn't showing up;) lol

Hi Ashley, do you have the address for the Bam group? I asked them for there address so I could mail them a money order and they would not give me one. Then they hung up on me because I kept demanding there address.
They used the same verbage on me and they did with you.

Let me know how this turns out for you.

There are also a lot of complaints on the forum regarding the Dam Bam group.

Hi, No I don't have it:( I called them today. They also refuse to give me thier address. They weren't too thrilled about me cancelling my debit card, lol..the threats started again. I told them-No address, No payment, lol. I'm going to call again tomorrow though;) I'm sure they will eventually give in, maybe.
I will keep you updated.

That doesn't suprise me one bit, they're brutal!

Did you also have a loan through Payday-loan-yes? If you don't mind me asking?

LMAO!! Okay, so I just got off the phone with the "General Manager" from, not the BAM Group, but now they call themselves the B&M Group, number is 877-649-5765! A 'Mr. Jon Pierre'. After I let him 'vent', I told him that I'm not goint to argue with you, I know exactly what you guys can do...or really can't do! I'm only going to pay what I owe via money order. If you do not want to accept, then you will not receive a payment. I told him that I needed the address, but he didn't give it to me. Instead he said, "when you get your refund back, then give me a call, you are only going to deal with me, and I will stop the 'harassing' calls, unless you don't pay when you get your refund" lol....Now, this is what is funny, he said this AFTER I told him that I've contacted the AG and the SC DFI...he seemed a bit nervous after that, wonder why? I also told him-I'm a firm believer in paying your debts...even though Payday-loan-yes, is illegal...I still borrowed money from them, but I need something in writing stating so, because I don't know if I can trust your company" and of course, he kept avoiding the situation...so I guess I will find out when I get my taxes back what he meant about 'working something out', lol. He absolutley refused to discuss sending paperwork stating that I owed this debt,(he just kept changing the subject) or even saying over the phone that they would accept a money order when I do get my refund...so with that being said, it is up to them now if they want to get paid....

The bowel movement group eh. lol

Quote:

I want to say thank you for all the post on the Bam Group, Barr, Group or whoever they may be, you just saved me alot of headache and money. They had me under the impression that I was going to have to go to court if I didn't pay all the money in full by March 2nd. Like you I only borrowed $500 and they are now saying I owe over $1000 but will settle for $800. I am even more upset because they didn't contact me with any of this information they called family members. How do I get them to stop harassing my family, my mom and dad is too old to be dealing with this type of stress. the woman who called had my mom all upset thinking I may be going to jail and had my dad ready to pay the monies. How do I check what the laws are in my state concerning them and what I can do about it. I don't have any issue with paying them in payments but not with my debit card any advise?

Replace your bank card. Close any and all accounts that any bill collectors have access to at this point. Do as another said and tell them that you won't pay unless you can pay by money orders.
Note the time/date of the phone calls, what you told them, and their responses.
If they want to file on you, let them. This way, you can prove that you tried to pay (by showing your notes), and you can also pay out your debt, legally.
In the meantime, if you get enough money to pay off the debt, call the company and negotiate a settlement offer. Do not pay all that they ask. They will take less. Also, be sure to get a paid-in-full declaration. Stay on them until they send it to you, if nothing else but by email. Also, write "paid in full" on your money order.
Do not give out anymore banking information. These people are trained to scare you to death and intimidate you.
You're right. When an investigation is going on, they don't call you and accuse you of anything or notify you of anything.
Stop making the callers rich by giving into their demands. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. It's easy, and this helps them shut down illegal phone calls.
Take charge of your finances now. Pay your bills, put some money back to pay your payday loans, but don't pay a penny until you have enough money to negotiate a settlement offer.