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Report: #295982

Complaint Review: Merchants' Credit Guide Co. Ken Hughes - Chicago Illinois

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  • Reported By: Houston Texas
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  • Merchants' Credit Guide Co. Ken Hughes 223 W.Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Illinois U.S.A.

Merchants' Credit Guide Ken Hughes Received Bogus Debt Collection Notice in the mail- for a debt I do not owe to a store I never shop at! Chicago Illinois

*Consumer Comment: Thanx You, Steve!

*Consumer Suggestion: Johnathan, a sample of what to include in your Debt Validation Request.

*Consumer Suggestion: Johnathan, They are just JUNK DEBT BUYERS! STAY OFF THE PHONE!!

*Consumer Comment: SO WHAT

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I found a plain business envelope addressed to me in the mail. I read the official looking letter inside. It said I was 'previously notified' of the collector's representation of a client regarding 'your account', and went on to offer THREE (3) payment options to 'settle this obligation'. It asked that I choose one and send my payment to them in the envelope provided. The letter was signed by a KEN HUGHES in all caps and a small hand written script font of it rather than a signature. It gave a toll free number- which I tried.

There was a voice mail system and the recording stated the usual "all representatives are busy, please hold so that we may forward your call to a live agent, this call may be monitered to ensure quality customer service..." I left a message telling them to return my call asap as they sent this letter in error. I tried to call back but it was after 5:00 pm on New Year's Eve- however, the line rang and seemed to go dead with no voice mail or answer of any kind.


I would have thrown the letter in the trash, but it gave some 'account numbers' and claimed that I owed SEARS $2470 !-thats a fairly serious 'debt'! I seldom shop at SEARS if ever. I certainly do not make major purchases from them as their selection of products are not to my taste. I think I bought something there a couple of years ago that cost under $20, and I paid cash. I cannot recall making any major purchases using a check or card from that store EVER.

The letter said I could either send them a one time payment of $987, 3 payments of $1481, or monthly payments in the largest amount that I can afford. I know for a fact that I have not shopped at SEARS or agreed to pay for any bill in this amount from anyone! This whole thing screams, "Scam!". If I recieve any calls or notices from this 'company' I will tell them that I have read other reports of bogus debt collection attempts form other people on this website, and that I know I do not owe any debts of the kind to anyone, will REFUSE to pay, will request no further contact from them as it is harassment and may consider legal action if this persists.

This letter is written to pray upon gullible people's fears of having bad credit/ being in debt and is designed to bilk innocent people out of their hard earned money. I urge anyone who reads a similar letter about debts they don't owe to investigate the source, but to NOT pay! This is a scam and I will not be intimidated into paying something that I do not owe!

Johnathan
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/31/2007 05:33 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/merchants-credit-guide-co-ken-hughes/chicago-illinois-60606/merchants-credit-guide-ken-hughes-received-bogus-debt-collection-notice-in-the-mail-for-295982. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#4 Consumer Comment

Thanx You, Steve!

AUTHOR: Keely - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, April 19, 2008

This note is to thank Steve for taking the time to instruct others how to properly handle this situation. I recieved just such a collection notice from Merchants' Credit Guide Co. I related my story on this site and then went to the BBB's site and looked up the Co. there. They have a lengthy history of justifiable complaints on file regarding MCG Co. I can't imagine why this Co. is allowed to continue this operation. It is literally "licensed to steal".
I would vomit at the thought of myself If I were the perpetrator of this abomination...

Thanks again. I am certain your advice has been a great help and relief to many a potential victim of this " company".

The address of this company and it's actors will one day be Hell.

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Johnathan, a sample of what to include in your Debt Validation Request.

AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, January 03, 2008

Johnathan,

The first thing to remember is not to sign this letter or anything else you ever send to a bottomfeeder. Just print. Otherwise, your signature will most likely end up on a contract.

In this debt validation request, clearly deny the debt.

DEMAND a copy of something with your signature on it that created the alleged debt [they would need this in court].

DEMAND to see proof that they own the "debt" such as the purchase contract and proof of payment. [They would need this in court also].

DEMAND to see the above proof of ownership for each time the "debt" changed hands. This is called "chain of title". All the way back to the original charge off.
[They would need this in court also].

Send this by the means specified in my post above, and do not disclose anything that is not in the initial collections letter.

Have fun with these morons!

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

Johnathan, They are just JUNK DEBT BUYERS! STAY OFF THE PHONE!!

AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, January 03, 2008

Johnathan,

Merchant's Credit Guide Co are JUNK DEBT BUYERS as well as lowlife third party debt collectors of the worst kind. They buy VERY old "debts" for far less than a penny on the dollar. They have absolutely no idea who the actual debtor is as the files are old and incomplete and they usually only have a computer printout. That is the "file" on the account.

Therefore, everyone with the same or similar name to you got the same letter. They are FISHING. Hoping to get lucky. So DISREGARD what monkey brain BillColl01 has to say as he is an idiot and knows absolutely nothing. He can't even find his caps lock key and figure how to turn it off.

STAY OFF THE PHONE!! There is no reason to ever call a JUNK DEBT BUYER or THIRD PARTY DEBT COLLECTOR. It will never do anything positive for you and will only make things worse.

What you need to do RIGHT NOW is send a REQUEST FOR DEBT VALIDATION. Send this by CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECIEPT REQUESTED. Be sure to put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This procedure is VERY IMPORTANT. This way, when they violate your LEGAL REQUEST, you can sue them under the FDCPA and get paid. These crackheads are so stupid, you can guarantee they will violate. It is easy money, like shooting fish in a barrel!

Also go to FTC.gov and file a complaint online, and also to budhibbs.com to see what you are dealing with here. Look under the "agencies to avoid" tab.

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#1 Consumer Comment

SO WHAT

AUTHOR: Billcoll01 - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, January 02, 2008

IF THIS IS A CASE OF ID THEFT? I LOVE THE WAY PEOPLE GET THESE KINDS OF NOTICES & AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT THE AGENCY IS TRYING TO SCAM THEM & LAUNCH INTO DEFENSE MODE THEN OUT COMES THE ROR BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE THE FACTS. WHATS FUNNY IS THAT IN 12YRS OF DOING COLLECTIONS, I HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CLAIMED ID THEFT & ONLY A HANDFUL MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH IT, OTHER THAN SENDING NASTY LETTERS TO THE AGENCY OR THE CREDITOR. WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE ON HERE MAKE A ROR BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE THE FACTS. THIS COULD VERY WELL BE A RELATIVE OR "FRIEND" THAT RIPPED YOU OFF. FRAME OF THOUGHT TELLS A LOT ABOUT A PERSONS MOTIVES. IF I WERE TO GET A LETTER SAYING THAT I OWED A BILL TO A STORE IN WHICH I DONT SHOP, MY 1ST THOUGHT IS I BETTER NOT FIND OUT SOMEONE USED MY CREDIT WITHOUT ME KNOWING NOT I NEVER SHOPPED AT THE STORE BEFORE SO SEARS IS PULLING A SCAM OR HOW CAN I GET THIS COMPANY OFF MY BACK. MY GUESS IS THAT YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS BILL THAN YOU LET ON. BUT DONT WORRY, STEVE WILL BE ALONG ANY MINUTE TO TELL YOU HOW TO RUN FROM THE BILL & COMBAT THE AGENCY VIA SLIP & FALL LIKE SCAMS.

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