Allen, Lewis, And Associates These people introduce themselves as lawyers, and use scare tactics, call your job repeatedly Jacksonville Florida
These people called me in May of 2007 about a debt, using serious scare tactics, asking me for a checking account, even my parents accounts since I have no checking account(I'm 37 years old, my parents account???). I was told I needed my lawyer to call. The original debt is $3800, Allen Lewis told me it is $11,600.
I was told I was being connected to the other attorney in thier office who set up payments, and they put me through to another guy with a terrible attitude saying he needed payment by the next day at 7pm, or he was going to the courthouse. No forms of pament were accepted except a checking account, I was told.
3 days later I was called again and told I could Western Union them a payment, and they would accept that as a favor, and courtesy. I was asked for my work number for emergency purposes so when the judge "stopped the order against me" I could be called. Well, this is not the case. I was called 11 times at work about making payment. Until my boss said to them this defies the fair debt collection act, and they hung up on her.
I was told they were going to garnish 80% of my wages, have a lean on my home(I rent an apartment, he got quiet when I told him that), and I was told they could take possesion of my current vehicle.
6 months later I just received another call from them after hearing nothing for all this time. I am not dealing with these scammers. They lie repeatedly, try to scare you into sending them money, and act like lawyer, judge, jury.
Chris
Chesterfield, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Here is newspaper article Chris
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 29, 2007
The following is on jacksonville.com. In case any of you are interested.
Collection agency settles suit over improper tactics
A Jacksonville collection agency agreed Wednesday to pay $21,000
in restitution to consumers victimized by improper debt collection
tactics, the Florida Attorney General's Office said.
Allen Lewis & Associates settled a lawsuit with the state
accusing company employees of impersonating police and lawyers,
falsely threatening criminal charges and repeatedly calling
debtors at work and home. The company and its owners, Robert Allen
Hecht and Rougina Hecht, violated state deceptive trade practices
laws and the federal Fair Debt Collection Act, state Attorney
General Bill McCollum said in a news release.
The company was contracted by payday lenders and musical instrument
rental companies to collect defaulted payments.
In addition to the restitution, the settlement requires the company
to reimburse the state $30,000 for investigation and litigation
costs and record all outgoing calls if more than six complaints
are received in a six-month period, McCollum said.
Paul Pinkham
Thanks
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Here is newspaper article Chris
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 29, 2007
The following is on jacksonville.com. In case any of you are interested.
Collection agency settles suit over improper tactics
A Jacksonville collection agency agreed Wednesday to pay $21,000
in restitution to consumers victimized by improper debt collection
tactics, the Florida Attorney General's Office said.
Allen Lewis & Associates settled a lawsuit with the state
accusing company employees of impersonating police and lawyers,
falsely threatening criminal charges and repeatedly calling
debtors at work and home. The company and its owners, Robert Allen
Hecht and Rougina Hecht, violated state deceptive trade practices
laws and the federal Fair Debt Collection Act, state Attorney
General Bill McCollum said in a news release.
The company was contracted by payday lenders and musical instrument
rental companies to collect defaulted payments.
In addition to the restitution, the settlement requires the company
to reimburse the state $30,000 for investigation and litigation
costs and record all outgoing calls if more than six complaints
are received in a six-month period, McCollum said.
Paul Pinkham
Thanks
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Here is newspaper article Chris
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 29, 2007
The following is on jacksonville.com. In case any of you are interested.
Collection agency settles suit over improper tactics
A Jacksonville collection agency agreed Wednesday to pay $21,000
in restitution to consumers victimized by improper debt collection
tactics, the Florida Attorney General's Office said.
Allen Lewis & Associates settled a lawsuit with the state
accusing company employees of impersonating police and lawyers,
falsely threatening criminal charges and repeatedly calling
debtors at work and home. The company and its owners, Robert Allen
Hecht and Rougina Hecht, violated state deceptive trade practices
laws and the federal Fair Debt Collection Act, state Attorney
General Bill McCollum said in a news release.
The company was contracted by payday lenders and musical instrument
rental companies to collect defaulted payments.
In addition to the restitution, the settlement requires the company
to reimburse the state $30,000 for investigation and litigation
costs and record all outgoing calls if more than six complaints
are received in a six-month period, McCollum said.
Paul Pinkham
Thanks
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Here is newspaper article Chris
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 29, 2007
The following is on jacksonville.com. In case any of you are interested.
Collection agency settles suit over improper tactics
A Jacksonville collection agency agreed Wednesday to pay $21,000
in restitution to consumers victimized by improper debt collection
tactics, the Florida Attorney General's Office said.
Allen Lewis & Associates settled a lawsuit with the state
accusing company employees of impersonating police and lawyers,
falsely threatening criminal charges and repeatedly calling
debtors at work and home. The company and its owners, Robert Allen
Hecht and Rougina Hecht, violated state deceptive trade practices
laws and the federal Fair Debt Collection Act, state Attorney
General Bill McCollum said in a news release.
The company was contracted by payday lenders and musical instrument
rental companies to collect defaulted payments.
In addition to the restitution, the settlement requires the company
to reimburse the state $30,000 for investigation and litigation
costs and record all outgoing calls if more than six complaints
are received in a six-month period, McCollum said.
Paul Pinkham
Thanks
Chris
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
UPDATE
#6Author of original report
Sun, November 25, 2007
BIG TIME UPDATE!!!
I received a check from the Florida Division of Financial Services Saturday. In regards to Florida Attorney General Bill McCullums investigation into Allen, Lewis, and Associates. In a civil case against thier continual lies, and harassment, and impersonating lawyers, people were awarded checks because they were NAILED for disregarding the laws, and harrassing people. Now I want to see them shut down if it hasn't already happened. They deserve everything they get. If I am contacted again I will be filing a suit against them personally.
Thank you Attorney General for nailing a seriously crooked company. And thanks for the check, I consider it a Christmas bonus, with the real bonus being you caught these fools.