FREDERICK J. HANNA & ASSOCIATES, P.C. ATTORNEYS OR POND SUCKER CREDIT COLLECTORS MARIETTS, Georgia

The Georgia Supreme Court says Hanna is a "law firm," so you have to submit a bar complaint vs. them (and not a consumer complaint with the state OCA or federal FTC -- but fine if you do that too anyway).  You may submit a bar complaint vs. Fred Hanna (the owner of the "firm") and any atty. that may have contacted you that also violated bar rules for atty.s:

(Call and ask for a bar complaint, and if they have them online):

State Bar of Georgia
www.gabar.org
104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 527-8700
(800) 334-6865
FAX: (404) 527-8717

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See below for info. on where to look for sample do-not-call letters vs. Hanna, and how to fight Hanna lawsuits and WIN (feel free to post on here too for more info.):

Info. for fighting Hanna lawsuits:

http://www.beatdebtcollectors.com/

Hanna consumer complaints and blogs:

http://nextlevelunlimited.net/blog/fredrick-j-hanna-collection-debt-or-hanna-barbera-crook-or-cartoon/

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/Frederick-J_-Hanna.aspx

Submit a Georgia bar complaint vs. Fred Hanna and other Hanna attorneys:

http://gabar.org/contact_the_bar/

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Sample do-not-call/ validation letter vs. Hanna:

Date:  April 9, 2011

Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, P.C.
Debt Collectors
1427 Roswell Rd.
Marietta, GA  30062

Account number(s):  (See Enclosed)       
                       
RE:  Request for Validation of Debt, 15 U.S.C. 1692g

Dear Sir or Madam:

This is my formal notice that I am disputing this debt, and requesting immediate validation under Section 809 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692g, of the debt from your office.  I am requesting that your office immediately send me a copy of the following documents: (a) the name, address, and phone number of an employee of the original creditor that can validate the debt, (b) proof of who is the current legal owner of the debt, and that you represent the original creditor or debt buyer, and (c) the original signed note, contract, credit agreement, or instrument creating the debt.

I am disputing this debt for the following reasons:  this debt has not been validated.  I do not know whether your debt collection company is the legal owner of this debt or not, or if the amounts charged are valid.

This is also my formal notice under 15 U.S.C. 1692c, to you to cease all further communications with me, my family members, and my associates and all third parties, unless I give you express permission to do so.  You have my express permission to mail me the requested validation documents to the address listed below, but I do not give you permission to contact me over the phone, or in any other way except as specifically addressed in this letter.
                    
This letter is not meant in any way to be an acknowledgment that I owe this money.


Sincerely,


John Doe
P.O. Box 0000
Atlanta, GA  30300

Bella,

Steve's advice is pretty much spot on. YES they can sue you, regardless of any cease and desist/cease communications letter.

NO they are not necessarily legally obligated to cooperate with a debt consolidation company. There is an exception to this rule, however: in the context of a bankruptcy filing, a creditor that refuses to negotiate in good faith with a debt consolidation company can have their allowable claim reduced.

I practice bankruptcy primarily, and I can tell you this with absolute confidence: the vast majority of people who hire debt consolidation firms would be better off filing bankruptcy. And, if you can find a decent bankruptcy attorney, he/she will likely file any FDCPA/FCRA complaints contemporaneous with the bankruptcy petition (because both Acts allow for attorney fee damages).

Best of luck!

Bella,

If you are putting your faith in ANY "debt settlement" company, you WILL be very sorry. Guaranteed.

These companies are VERY dangerous, and do not have YOUR best interest at heart.

They are NOT lawyers.
They most likely do not even know collections laws.

AND, there is NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT for any creditor to deal with them, and the fact is, MOST will not! Those that do not deal with them, WILL sue you!!

You are in for a VERY rude awakening here.

Dump that debt settlement thing right now, and GET AN ATTORNEY!!!

Guys,

Fredrick J. Hanna is under investigatioon by the state of Georgia, who you need to contact is:

La'Shaun Phillips

Investigator 2

Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs

2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive

Suite 356

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Office: (404) 656-1752

Fax: (404) 651-9018

Email: LaShaun.Phillips@goca.ga.gov

The more input the state gets the more likely they are to both investigate and litigate against these weasels, so send them letters with your experiences.

In Kentucky... Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. 526.010: It is a felony to overhear or record, through use of an electronic or mechanical device, a wire or oral communication without the consent of at least one party to that communication (emphasis added). Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. 526.020.

I wouldn't even bother telling them I was taping the call...

btw... good website is http://www.rcfp.org/taping/

it lists, state by state, what the law is on taping conversations.

My debt settlement company will be negotiating with the credit card companies that Fred Hanna represents (Bank of America). If they DO sue me, how do I NOT make them win? Do I need a lawyer?

I still am NOT answering the phones. Why do you recommend I speak to them? What do I say?

I'M SO NEW AT THIS MESS!!!

Bella,

I feel the root of your problem here may be your "debt settlement company". It sounds like they are giving you bad "advice" or possibly bordering illegal legal advice.

Good ole' "Dennis Henry" strikes again! I doubt this scumbag even exists. I firmly believe it is an alias.

FYI...

1. There is no such thing as an "R-9 Rating" on your personal credit file. Personal credit is NOT "rated" like business credit is, and a bottomfeeder collector like this can only report the collection. Nothing more.

2. There is NO SUCH THING as a "cease and desist" in debt collections. As per the EXACT VERBAGE of the FDCPA, the LEGAL term is "CEASE COMMUNICATIONS".
If you sent a "cease and desist" request, legally it means nothing.

3. Yes, you CAN be sued. Anyone can sue anyone in our country. Can they win? ONLY if YOU let them. Have you legally affirmed the debt to them at some point by making a payment or agreement to pay? Is the "debt" past statute of limitations in NY?

Knowledge is power. Read your state laws on collections and garnishments, and also read the FDCPA and the FCRA.


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Submitted: 10/20/2008 2:07:55 PM
Modified: 10/20/2008 4:57:24 PM Bella
Bronx, New York
U.S.A.

HELP! WHAT DO I DO NOW?
I have refused to answer their many calls as I was told by my debt settlement company not to answer the phone, especially since I sent the credit card they represent a Cease & Desist letter. But Fred Hanna's office just sent me a letter telling me I will receive an R-9 rating on my credit file and MAY EVENTUALLY BE SUED IN A COURT OF LAW.

CAN THEY SUE ME??

The person's signature is Dennis E. Henry.


>>>

www.budhibbs.com
He has helpful information about these bottom feeders
Sued one of them in court and won - and guess what? I still have not gotten my judgement but hey - the fight goes on
Make them pay for their lies - the law is on your side

I have refused to answer their many calls as I was told by my debt settlement company not to answer the phone, especially since I sent the credit card they represent a Cease & Desist letter. But Fred Hanna's office just sent me a letter telling me I will receive an R-9 rating on my credit file and MAY EVENTUALLY BE SUED IN A COURT OF LAW.

CAN THEY SUE ME??

The person's signature is Dennis E. Henry.

"Got you on tape",

The most important piece of advice I can give you is to check the law in your state on recording conversations. You could open yourself up to criminal and or civil penalies if you record a third party without knowledge and consent. Every state has its own laws on this.

Second, Fred Hanna and Associates ARE attorneys. The people making the calls may not be, but the law offices are real. I have been sued by them. They lost.

Third, the MOST you can get in a FDCPA violation lawsuit is $1000 in statutory damages, plus costs. Thats it. Nothing more.

Now, you can file a civil lawsuit for any actual damages you sustained, but that will cost you some out of pocket cash, and lots of time.

And, for purposes of credibility, you might want to go back to school and learn how to spell. For example "suit" NOT "suite", and "coming" NOT "comming", etc.

Furthermore, it is NOT illegal for them to call your neighbors. The only thing they cannot do is discuss in any way your debt or they are attempting to contact you for purposes of debt collections.