BS: bill collectors. handy hint

Subject: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:07 AM

Thought I'd pass something useful.

For a long time, we were getting phone calls from bill collectors asking for Duane Somebody. They paid no attention when we told them there is no Duane here, and we don't even know a Duane.

Then one day, such a call was proceeded by a message that the call to come was from 'Allied Interstate.'

I decided to call or write them. Tried to find them on the web - no soap. Allied Interstate keeps its location secret.

From working at a law office, I knew that corporations are supposed to register with the Secretary of State for the states in which they operate. Called the office of the Secretary of State (for Missouri.)
A helpful person directed me to their website, I typed a short complaint, and all calls for Duane immediately ceased.

My tax dollars at work.

By the way, the Missouei rep said, 'Allied Interstate? We get a lot of complaints about them.'

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:22 AM

So, post their details here.

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 05:07 PM

I haven't found their details. They're very elusive.

The matter was handled for me by the office of the Secretary of State. They seem to have more clout.

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:16 PM

Mr Google is your Friend:

Cut and paste from http://www.707creditscore.com/allied-interstate-inc-collection-agency follows: -

Allied Interstate Inc. Collection Agency
Know Your Rights Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act When Dealing with Allied Interstate, Inc. Collection Agency

Allied Interstate headquarters are located in West Palm Beach, Florida, and this company has over a 30-year history as a debt collection agency – but not an honorable track record.

Allied Interstate Inc. Collection Agency Mailing Address and Phone Number

Allied Interstate, Inc.
3111 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite 101 West Palm Beach, FL 33405
website: n/a
Mr. Mack C. Jay, III, President


Phone: [phone]
[phone]
Fax: [phone]

How to Handle a Bill Collector from Allied Interstate Collection Agency

To prepare yourself for dealing with Allied Interstate, you must know that Allied Interstate has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau, which states that they "strongly question the company's reliability." Reasons for this include failure to respond to complaints, grossly misleading advertising, failure to comply with the law's licensing or registration requirements, and complaints that contain very serious allegations – such as fraudulent business practices.

Consumer complaints filed against Allied Interstate run the gamut of unprofessional behavior. Reports to the Better Business Bureau of South East Florida claim that Allied Interstate's bill collectors are using inappropriate language over the phone and demonstrating unprofessional behavior in their efforts to collect debt. Consumers have filed numerous complaints stating that even AFTER they pay the amount demanded by Allied Interstate to settle their accounts, they are not being credited. Even more unbelievably, they are even being charged additional amounts!

When you run into a particularly aggressive or unscrupulous debt collection agency like Allied Interstate, you must be familiar with your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – and make sure you assert those rights when dealing with a credit collector.

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 04:33 PM

Single ought buck?

Seriously, you did it right. Call the Attorney General's office AND the Better Business Bureau.

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 05:14 PM

A number of years after my divorce this outfit tried going after my Mom and my daughter after my ex husband declared bankruptcy. They seemed to think his debts could be collected against me and were harassing my family to get my address and phone number.

I contacted a lawyer and he advised that my Mom and daughter should get the agent's name, tell hm at beginning of the call "I am not the person you are seeking." Inform that if they called again it would be considered harassment and the calls would be recorded and lawyer would be contacted.

They didn't receive any more calls.

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: kendall
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 05:19 PM

When we bought this house 4 years ago the phone company assigned us a new number. Apparently, the man who had it before was a deadbeat, and we kept getting dunning calls for him. I told them a dozen times that there was not Mike here but the calls continued.
Finally, after about two years of these calls, one day a person from this finance company called for Mike Shay and I yelled HE WENT CRAZY AND I SHOT HIM!
I got a couple more calls, but when I answered they hung up.Then they stopped.

Subject: RE: BS: bill collectors. handy hint
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 08:53 PM

I told one, back when we first moved to Indiana, that whoever-in-hell-it-was-they-wanted was uglier'n a mile of homemade mud fence and we shot him out of pity. There was a long pause and then "Ah, okay, um...." and a hangup.

Recently we got some over a disputed bill with the local hospital. My wife just asks if the caller has the authority to negotiate payment and that shuts 'em right up.