Any suggestions for Phillips & Burns bill collectors?

I can't send them anything because I don't know their address and they won't send me anything. I can't return their phone calls cause it says it's a 900 number to contact. They keep harrassing my mother. What can I do with these creeps? I'm unemployed right now. Any suggestions??http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpag...

Thank you all so much!

To quote Bud Hibbs on this company:

Owners, Spoor, Kazmark and Welch are out buying up old, mostly worthless debts, then calling consumers with threats of immediate lawsuit, garnishment and seizure in their illegal attempts to collect at highly inflated numbers. We were NOT surprised when a search of state records showed NO licensing or bonding as required by law. The name they use is typical of how many debt collectors want you to think they are a law office, when they are not. Expect their collectors to lie and state they are attorneys, which is a felony in most states. These are the lowest of the low-lives, the losers who can鈥檛 find work anywhere else. Their job is to lie, cheat and extort your money under the guise of fear.

Here is their contact info:
461 Ellicott Street
3rd Floor
Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: (800) 840-9166
Fax: (716) 891-5810

Send them a letter certifed/return receipt, here is a sample letter to use.

DATE

From: (NAME)
(ADDRESS)
(CITY, STATE, ZIP)



To: (NAME OF AGENCY)
(ADDRESS)
(CITY, STATE, ZIP)

Subj: Verification of Debt, request for

Ref: (INSERT ACCOUNT NUMBER SHOWN ON COLLECTION NOTICE)

To whom it may concern:

This letter is to inform you that pursuant to Title VIII, Debt Collection Practices, 搂 809 of the Federal Trade Commission and 15 U.S.C. 搂 1692g, I am hereby registering a formal request for Verification of Debt.

The account in question listed as an installment account with (NAME OF ORIGINAL CREDITOR) opened (insert date) and indicates an initial balance of (enter amount) It is now currently being shown as collection account with past due amount of (enter amount) as of (insert date).

Unless legal proof and verification can be shown, I request you remove the derogatory entry with any credit reporting agencies that may list this debt (and any other agencies you have filed with) immediately to avoid any possible legal recourse on my behalf pursuant to 15 U.S.C.搂 1692k.

Respectfully



(NAME)



LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The advice contained herein is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as Legal Counsel nor Legal Advice.

a 900 number for a collection agency? that sounds weird right away. They won't send you anything either. If they are harassing your mother it's obviously her debt. But I understand you want to help. Next time they call she needs to tell them to stop right now. Get their address and either send them the amount she owes or send them a cease and desist letter. Then they can't ever call her again. If you choose to send a letter make sure to send it so they have to sign for it and keep a copy for yourself.

i just went an read the link you posted. These guys aren't real collectors at all. Real collectors have rules to follow. They don't seem to realize that. They can't send you to jail. They can just be annoying and keep calling. There is even a limit on how many times they can call. I think it's only once a day to try to talk to someone. But once they actually talk to someone they can't call again for 3 days. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I know when I was a collector, if I acted like them I would have been shown the door immediately.

Good luck dealing with these creeps. I think you'll need it.

Their just a bunch of idiots who think they can collect. Do not respond. The next time they call your mother, let them talk a few minutes, then have her tell the conversation is being recorded by her phone co so further actions can be taken. If they still call, then have her call the co and have it recorded.

get on the web and find out what your rights are in the state you live in.

These guys are idiots of the highest degree. I'd do like Sarge suggested and send a demand to validate letter to them, which will probably make them go away.

Feel free to contact me if you need more help. I'm local to their Tampa office (which they refuse to provide the address) so I can probably dig up some information if needed.

Edit - Guess they aren't that good at hiding their address. http://www.phillipsburns.com/content.asp...

danadeville brought up an excellent point about them requiring you to call a 900 phone number to return their call.
By them making that request they are violating the FDCPA.

搂 808. Unfair practices
(5) Causing charges to be made to any person for com-
munications by concealment of the true propose of
the communication. Such charges include, but are not
limited to, collect telephone calls and telegram fees

I would suggest reading through the FDCPA to find any other violations that they may, and probably are, committing.
I would also suggest that you order your credit reports from each CRA and look them over for any violations.

I agree with Sgt Big Red's post.
But, in my opinion, if you use the sample letter template he posted I would suggest removing the second paragraph.

My reasons for suggesting that are:

You never specified what type of an account it is. If the account is "not" an installment account but is, for example, an open account, you would be "claiming" it is not an open account but rather an installment.
Doing so can open the door to further headaches since basically the collecting SOL for open accounts is shorter than the collecting SOL for installment accounts.

Also, by listing the original creditors name, account number, initial balance and past due amount.... you would be doing the collectors work for them by "self validating" it yourself. (it is not up to you to validate the debt to them, it is up to them to validate the debt to you)
Lose that paragraph and let the "Re: <collectors name and the account number>" at the top of the letter serve as to what your validation request is concerning.