Consumer Beware: Allied Interstate Collection Agency
So, after all of these years come a host of unscrupulous third and fourth party collection agencies, who without knowing your name will call and try to collect a debt that has already been removed from your credit file or disputed due to the stolen identification. I recently viewed a prime time special wherein a federal judge picked up his phone one day and it was Allied Interstate Collection Agency. The judge told them he did not owe them any money, but they continued harassing him on the phone and otherwise which forced the judge to do something judge-like. Unfortunately, for most the remedy might not be as swift.
As it unfolds, Allied Interstate and other collection agencies buy old collection accounts for pennies and then it is hit and miss to collect money which may or most of the time is not due. Half the time they do not know who is on the phone and most of the time they have no clue if the debt is valid or not. It is simply telemarketing, some use voice activated recordings, some have live people who fish around until they figure out who they are talking to. Some threaten the public. Others use a variety of annoying phone calls at all times of the day or night to simply bother the person.
The good news for consumers is that some Attorney General's offices in the United States are taking action against Allied Interstate Collection Agency and other agencies that operate on the edge of the law. In recent years the Minnesota Attorney General's office brought lawsuits against Allied Interstate and JBC & Associates for engaging in unlawful collection agency practices.
Specifically, Unlawful Threats to Sue on Time-Barred debts, Failure to Provide Notice, False Pretenses, False Representation, and other fraud like actions by these collection agencies. For an overview of possible violations by these agencies you can look at the Minnesota Attorney General's information page on Allied Interstate.
Most states do have an Office of Consumer Affairs. Some of these consumer advocates have staff to handle complaints. Usually, a complaint will be reviewed by the department and then referred to an investigator for further evaluation. Most attorney general's offices do have the authority to bring suits for unlawful collection agency activity, but it depends on the state law for your state.
In reviewing various sources on the internet I located a community help service for people harassed by Allied Interstate. The community has various links to information about this collection agency and allows the public to ask questions. The community will not be able to do any legal service for you and I do not know if all the information is true, but it is informative and appears to be supportive. The forum is concerned with collection agencies and it is called ourcommunitypower.org.
Published by Mary Anne Simpson
My Collection Software for Your Webkinz Collection!My Collection© for Webkinz is a Collection Inventory and Value Calculator for keeping track of your Ganz Webkinz including Lil' Webkinz, Webkinz and Accessories! Webkinz li...- Building a Baseball Card CollectionDetermine your interests in your collection and develop your collection toward your goal.
- A New Connecticut InterstateThe best way to solve the ongoing Route 6 problem is to build a four-lane expressway to connect Hartford, the Willimantic Route 6 expressway, and Interstate 395 in Brooklyn together.
- Seventy Vehicles Crash on Florida's Interstate 4, Killing 4, Injuring 38, on Jan. 9thFrom Florida, CP producer Connie Wilson describes the disaster in Polk County, Florida, that shut down 14 miles of Interstate 4 for over 36 hours.
HD-DVD Vs. Blu-Ray: What's the Consumer to Do?Sony and its backers say Blu-ray while Toshiba and its supporters say HD-DVD, Incompatible and competing HD formats. What's the consumer to do? My proposal is to wait!!
- Consumer Beware: Allied Interstate Part 2
- Fair Debt Collection: Facts Often Overlooked
- Find an Adoption Agency in Tucson, Arizona
- HUGE Coloring Sheets Collection on CD ... Christmas is Coming!
- The Complete Harveytoons Collection DVD Review: High Quantity, Low Quality
- How to Start a Wine Collection
- Northern Exposures: Complete Third Season DVD Collection Review - Holiday Shopping...
- Allied Interstate has been sued for Unlawful threats to sue on time-barred debts
- Allied Interstate has been sued for false pretenses
- Allied Interstate has had numerous consumer complaints
294 Comments
Post a CommentThank you.
This is very interesting. I have been getting these calls, dutifully returning them, and N E V E R getting an answer from them. I have sat on hold three times for an hour - at which point either my phone or theirs hung up - w/ no satisfaction.
I did have an identity theft issue some time ago, but it was removed from my credit report more than a year ago. It never occurred to me that this is what it could be about, as I am virtually certain I do not have any outstanding debt in default or whatever the correct term is.
It's presently after business hours, but I will call the Massachusetts Attorney General's Consumer Protection people tomorrow.
Again, thank you for posting your explanation.
They keep leaving me messages that I should call them about a debt of which I have none. They do not even mention a name on the message. They are saying to call back at 800-652-7533. Never going to happen!
The only way to deal with these people is to ignore them, don’t ever call them back. Once they know they have a live person, they will never give up.
It’s incredible that they are still in business running this same scam.
The best thing to do is activate call-block, or change your number. I know it’s not fair that innocent consumers have to pay the price for their illicit operation, but it will be easier in the long run. Pursuing complaints or suits will only waste your time and money; these people use robo-callers and offshore agents, so they are virtually impossible to track down. They could shut down, and be back in business, in a matter of hours.
And. Don’t ever pay them anything………………. If they file a negative credit report, you can easily get it reversed. This happened to me. I called the credit reporting agency and when they saw Allied Interstate they just laughed and took it off my report immediately.
These people are a weak and spineless scam r
I just received a call from a VERY rude woman who told me that they had sent 2 notices (that I NEVER received) for a debt that is so old I can't recall if I paid it or not as it popped up during a move. When I explained that I would really like to receive something in writing and would not pay ANYTHING without getting a bill first, she said they don't send bill and most people don't pay attention to their mail so I probably didn't understand what I read. I'm a self-employed LDA...I've gone to college and worked for multiple attorneys...I'm not an idiot, I read my mail. So once again I requested something in writing. I was then told that my taxes would be 1099'd...ok I'm not tax genius, but I get 1099'd every year by the people I work for so how does that work? Anyways, beware, DO NOT authorize payments to these people. Legit collection companies will send you a bill!!!
If you are being harassed by collection agencies we may be able to help. There are statutes that regulate methods collection agencies can use in attempting to collect debts. Some of these statutes allow consumers to recover damages, have part or all of their debt forgiven, and even recover attorney's fees. For more information contact Jeremy Kespohl in the Jax. Beach office at jeremy@bromagenlaw.com or (904) 242-0860
Dear Friends and Readers: I am waiting on a circuit court case in Montana that may help all of you. As soon as it is decided I will let you know. The harassment, bullying and intimidation by this group and others in trying to collect specious and outdated debts or debts that aren't yours is unconscionable. Keep records of calls, time and names, but once you try to straighten these vultures it gets worst. Contact the AG in your state and Fair Trade Commission or private lawyer. A court in Montana awarded a large $ for similar egregious conduct of another collection agency--let's see what the circuit court does. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is sitting on the panel. During bad economic times they buy up old debt for pennies on the $ and hire people for $7 an hour to harass people into paying phantom debt. Keep those comments coming.
IjustgotoffthephonewithalliedwhoclamiedIowedabillfrom2003.Iwentbankrupt3yearsagoandtheytoldmetheydontagreewiththatandwillpersist.IwillnotifytheattorneyGeneralofficeMondayandtheBankruptcycourt.
I just got off the phone with allied who clamied I owed a bill from 2003. I went bankrupt 3 years ago and they told me they dont agree with that and will persist. I will notify the attorney General office Monday and the Bankruptcy court.
I just got a call @6pm on Sunday. They kept telling me I had over due accounts. When I asked to speak with atheir manager (since I couldnt understand the person any how) they told me the manager was on break. I replied by saying NO THEY ARE NOT ON BREAK GO GET THEM! After arguing for minutes I finally said "give me your number so I can call back when your manager is not on break" they wouldn't do it. I finally got to talk with someone else, told them thee accounts they are talking about don't exist, and he claims I will be taken off the calling list.....lets see is that works. All I know is it was allied interstate and they were out of Columbus Ohio, I told them I was going to report them to the better business bureau!
if the keep calling you call them back harrass them its a 800 # ythe have to pay for the call i called them atleast 20 time just to harrass them the guy got mad and lost his accsent lol this whole thing is a scam they want cc info ss info if your dumb enough to give it out than thats what you get call them cuss them tell them that budda suckes that pissed off that guy and tommorow if they call back ill do it again