Joseph Steven and Associates collected money on my behalf almost a year ago and kept the money for themselves Ventura California

Just last week we were contacted by Joseph, Steven & Associates. She asked one of our Managers for a chance at collecting just one of our past due accounts. Our Manager gave her a name of a questionable account that has owed us about $7,500 for some time.

Right away this person told him she had pulled this individual up on her computer and that he had a sizable bank account in Arizona even though he lives in Nebraska. It was claimed that a writ of execution could be gotten to attach the funds and get us our money. The associate told our manager that an upfront payment of $2,800 was needed by us to cover attorney fees and expenses and that we would get this back along with the settlement.

This associate of Joseph, Steven & Associates was referred on to me as controller of our Company. When I got the call the upfront amount had changed to $1,800 and we were to fax a copy of the check and a signed affidavit. I was also told our past due account had over $100,000 in a bank in Arizona and they had talked to him and he said he was not going to pay our Company. I asked for time to make a decision and after getting off the phone, called our problem account.

He had not gotten a call from any collection company and just laughed when I told him he had such a huge bank balance. Little did the associate of Joseph, Steven know that our assistant manager is the brother-in-law of this slow paying account. He said he knows for a fact there is not that kind of money in his account. Don't give these pushy people the time of day.

Dan

Yes, people should pay their bills and debt, But it sounds to me, you don't care how the collection agency got your money, only not to call your mother.

Something that as a business owner and as a person whom doesn't have a problem, with the way the money is collected. You contract with a collection agency to collect money for you, its possible that, you may be held liable for the action of the agency you contracted with.

As far as adding interest, fees ect., if its not in the contract you had with the debtor, that it allows the adding of interest, fees and the likes, during default or collections, then you can't add those.

Fees are generally paid out of what's collected, a collection agency can not add there fee to the debt and force the debtor to pay it.

What would stop these collection agencies from selling these debts to each other every 6 months, adding there fees each time as they do so. If the interest rate in not spelled out in the contract, then there set by state law, a collection agency can't say we want ?? interest on this debt since it defaulted.

Bottom line is you got your money you didn't think you could get, great it was owed to you and you should of got paid. and now your all happy, all right in the world and Joey is the greastest, and your telling the OP read his contract nothing is free. the 33% that joey was paid, was this added on to the debt and the debtor not knowing his rights or law paid it?

I never expected to be writing a response like this, but I wanted my opinion heard since this company helped me out. I'm a small business owner and I was approached via telephone by Joseph, Steven, and Associates to collect on some bad debt.' Well most of my accounts ok, but I did have an old invoice from a few years back that had ended in bad blood and I knew I would never get it back, so I gave it to them.

But FIRST of course I did some research on the company online including this RIP OFF REPORT. They had a lot of complaints so I checked out other collection agencies who also had terrible remarks, so I figured I had nothing to lose by trying them. After all, I collected 0% on this invoice.

So, long story short, they told me it would take 2 weeks, which I hardly believed it would be that fast, and I was right. It took more like2 months, but I couldn't believe it, they got the money from the guy. They took a one time payment in full which was a little less than my original, but they still added on my interest fees and after they took their 33% I had my check in hand.

My issue is this-I read these complaints, and I can't believe how ridiculous they are, considering the type of business it is. People saying they paid legal fees which they wanted back if the case lost. What lawyer do you know works for free. I even saw complaints that people said they didn't get their money in two weeks so they called on the very next day demanding to cancel their contract. Did they even read the contract??? It says nothing about that.

People, wake up, take responsibility, nothing is for free, including getting money out of your bad ex-clients that won't pay you. Are they rude and aggressive? Well I wouldn't want my sweet grey haired granny trying to get my money. They provided a service, even if they had gotten a whole lot less money back, or none, they still did their job, and it's a job nobobdy wants to do.

By law employers must mail a w-4 by Jan 31.

Contact the IRS and see what if anything they can do to get you this or a least light a fire under there butts. Or have them investigated

I will keep my name unknown. I use to work for Joseph Steven and Associates last year. I always thought their was something fishy going on. They alway handed out Bonuses every week (Cash in an unmarked envelope)to certain employee's (Seem to be the same people every week). Everyone uses fake names,(That are changed on a monthly basis) Usually lastnames like Steel,Stone,and Pirece.

I did leave this job after about a month and a half, and had to go through hoops just to get my last check. Don't believe a word they say. There not even located in Ventura California. There actually located in Camarillo CA, in an small office space at the Camarillo Airport. (Don't remember the full address but it's on Airport Way).

I'm actually going through hoops again trying to get my W2's from them. They have camaras everywhere inside and outside of the building. They also always keep there office door closed. You'll know if you found the office/place, cause the owners Mustang Cobra (Red with 2 with racing stripes,and 26in rims) is usually parked in the parking lot.

There are actually 2 key players that run the whole operation. A short fat white lady with glasses (always somking outside of the building) and A musculer built white male in his early to mid 30's (He'll be the one with the Mustang). I don't know there real names.

The employee's are told to rummage through the Yellow Pages and cold call company's and ask them for past due accounts. I got this job from an ad in the local newspaper. Most of the people they hire are to dumb to figure out what's really going on. When I figured it out I got out of there before it was to late.

I'm assuming there still in business. They also have another location in Van-Nise CA. They have camara's that watch both places, and the oweners house. I figure they work out of the airport because the owner probably has a private jet (That some poor small company's are probably paying for).

I'm telling you this cause now that I look back on everything, I probably should have never worked there. I didn't know what was going on when I started, but as the weeks went by I started putting 2 and 2 together. I hope this will help anyone, that is pursuing or wanting to take action against Joseph Steven and Associates.

Think I'm Lying?
I bet this sounds familiar:

"Let me speak with the Owner or controller, this is in reguards to a commerical investigation."

Need I say More..

Unknown
USA

My company received a phone call this afternoon from one Marlene Pierce(spelling?) who claimed to be calling on behalf of Joseph Steven And Associates "concerning a financial investigation". She rudely ordered that I let her speak to my "owner or holder". I delayed her for a minute to screen the call and told her I would go get the appropriate person. 45 seconds or so later I saw that she wasn't on the line any more. Smells really fishy to me, and unprofessional at the very least.

Thanks for the good advice Jared. Hopefully others will follow suit and not even give these people a chance with their business. I find it interesting how this company employs so many unsavory and dishonest individuals, yet one of them actually had the guts to reveal some of its dirty little secrets!