Associated Recovery Systems ripoff Attempt to collect a debt I do not owe Escondido California

I received a letter stating I owe money I do not owe, ie.: "Your Pacific Bell account has been purchased by Midland Funding LLS. ARS is acting as a collection representative for Midland". They state my balance is $506.87. They then state I can "settle" the account by paying immediately $278.77. I do not have Pacific Bell, and I would never run up a phone bill of over $500. My telephone services are provided by Verizon.

I called their 800 number and asked them what it was all about. First thing Mr. Hinton said was to ask me for the last four digits of my SS number. I refused to give him any information about myself, and, when I asked him why I received the letter, he said, very sarcastically, "Because the mailman delivered it." I told him I would report him to the authorities and hung up.

Alicia M.
Santa Maria, California
U.S.A.