Complaint Review: ARA (Samuel Wiser) - Villa Park Illinois
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- Author Not Confirmed
- ARA (Samuel Wiser) PO Box 5002 Villa Park, Illinois United States of America
- Phone: 888-409-5060
- Web:
- Category: Credit Card Fraud
ARA (Samuel Wiser) Attempting to collect a debt paid off over 8 years ago Villa Park, Illinois
*Consumer Comment: FYI
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I received a letter in the mail from ARA in Villa Park, IL stating that I had a past due account with Household Finance for the amount of 8092.88 and that if I paid it in full in the next week, they would offer me a deal and accept a settlement of 5665.02 to resolve the debt. I had a credit card with Household Finance about 14 years ago in good standing. About three years after that, financial difficulties prevented me from making payments on the debt and the account became delinquent and eventually went into collections. Almost 9 years ago I received a life insurance settlement that allowed me to contact the collection agency and settle the debt.
When I contacted the company to dispute the allegations, I was informed that Samuel Wiser was currently in court; it was 5:20 EST. I was transferred to another associate who told me that I couldn't dispute the debt, that they were legal representation, not collection agents. I was told my the male associate that he knows I didn't pay the debt, he had the last four digits of my social security number and he told me that I needed to pay the debt or else. He became hostile and rude. When I told him that I didn't like the tone of his voice or his lack of professionalism, he told me that if i didn't pay the debt I was going to be sued.
His attitude towards me upset me and I fired back at him before hanging up. A few minutes later he called me back at the number I had called him from (obviously Caller ID) and asked if I had settled down and was ready to discuss payment. I informed him that I was going to investigate my legal options and not to call me again.
I have written a letter to the company to be mailed to the PO box provided addressing my dispute of the debt and providing written verification that I would be looking into legal action. The letter will be sent certified, return receipt mail.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/07/2011 06:15 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ara-samuel-wiser/villa-park-illinois-60181/ara-samuel-wiser-attempting-to-collect-a-debt-paid-off-over-8-years-ago-villa-park-ill-692121. 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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#1 Consumer Comment
FYI
AUTHOR: John - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Monday, February 07, 2011
These are classic lying techniques from debt collectors. If no payments have been made on this account in 9 years then the debt is time barred and does not have to be paid back. These debt collectors know this so that's why they used scare tactics like making up fictitious names of attorneys who are in court.
STAY OFF THE PHONE.
The statute of limitations is up. They've lost the power to successfully take legal action. Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you can send them a "cease communications" letter and that will be all that you need to do. Per this law they must cease collection activity.Send the collection agency a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt (NOT regular mail) stating:Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, cease all communications with me about this alleged debt. This letter has been mailed via Certified Mail with Return Receipt. Receipt of this letter is being officially time stamped.
/If the debt collector calls back, tell them that you have officially sent a certified letter to them to cease communications with you per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If the phone harassment continues....next time they call, read the following statement:Be advised that this call is being recorded. If you do not consent to being recorded, you need to terminate this call. Continuation of this phone call after officially being informed that it is being recorded implies consent to be recorded. This recording will be used to pursue Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations in a court of law.
Debt collectors LOVE to pretend that they are (or work for) attorneys to scare you into paying and to get your checking account numbers. There's a quick way to fine out. Next time they call and make a legal threat, ask for the full name of their attorney and their license number in the state bar association. If they refuse to give this info to you, then the legal threat is bogus
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