CRC Of Central Illinois, Luebke, Baker & Associates CRC Of Central Illinois, Luebke, Baker & Associates CRC sent my name to collection agency Luebke, Baker & Associates for magazines I never ordered Sandusky Ohio

My situation is different from other reports to Rip-Off concerning CRC and Luebke in that I naver ordered anything from the company, never supplied a credit card number, never even spoke to them on the phone or sent in any kind of postcard or provided information on a web page.

On February 5, 2005, Luebke, Baker & Associates called my home seeking to collect an outstanding bill of $561.60 due to CRC of Central Illinois. This follows two phone calls in the preceding month from CRC of Central Illinois in which legal action has been threatened. In all three phone calls I have strongly denied ever having ordered magazines from CRC or any other periodical agent. An earlier call from CRC alleges that I ordered the magazines from an address in Utica, New York. In those two earlier calls, and in today's call, I have clearly stated that I have never lived in or near Utica. In fact, the place where I have lived for 5 years, is nearly two hundred miles from Utica, and in a different area code zone. (What is almost laughable about the claim is that the CRC representative alleged I had ordered a subscription to Field & Stream - I have been a vegetarian for more than thirty years and would never order such a gun-oriented periodical.)

In my written registered mail communications to CRC and Luebje I have stated: I dispute the validity of this debt. Immediately remove my name from company records. Immediately withdraw any report they have made regarding my credit rating. Stop calling me on the telephone. Apologize in writing to me for the serious mistake it has made.

It is interesting to me that following my phone conversation I did a web search on Luebke, Baker and Associates, and the first item that came up on Google was a consumer fraud report filed by an irate citizen on "Rip-Off Report" concerning Luebke and a completely fictitious magazine order. The report was posted on January 16, 2005.

In light of this I am notifying the Attorney General's office in the State of New York regarding Luebke's collection practices. (our New York State Attorney General has established an excellent reputation for battling unethical and irresponsible corporate behavior).

I am also filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau (Northwest Ohio). I am also sending a copy of this letter to my congressional representative.

I find it highly offensive that on the basis of my name being the same as someone in Utica that CRC would assume me to be the person owing money and from that threaten legal action. I have also demanded that CRC send me a copy of the written contract for a magazine order that is the basis of its accusation against me.

I am outraged by these companies' practices that may have damaged my credit rating simply on the basis of my name being the same as another's.

Luebke claims they are just doing work for their client. I say to Luebke that the poor quality of their client makes Luebke look just as bad as CRC.

Jim
Byron, New York
U.S.A.