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ALLIED INTERSTATE COLLECTION AGENCY HARASSING PHONE CALLS-INSISTED THAT WAS SOMEONE ELSE COLUMBUS Ohio
I am in such a mess with Allied Interstate. They kept calling my home phone number stating that I owed them money. I finally spoke to someone with a very heavy accent and could barely understand her. I got the impression that I owed money to a magazine company, for $17.00, but I was so confused because she kept calling me Kathleen Lee and had my wrong address. I tried to correct her. My newborn was literally screaming in the background and I could barely understand anything.
To make a long story short the company got a hold of my mastercard number and $79.00 dollars was debited. I in turn spoke with them again and asked about the debt in question, well it wasn't for the magazine company it was for a book club. I called the book club and I never ordered anything from that company, nor did I owe them money. I was told by Allied to fax a letter stating the situation and mistaken identity. I did and my account has not been creditied and I am just worried that they have my account information. They think I am someone else.
I have an outstanding credit report and am very afraid that I'l never get my money back and my credit will reflect this. They kept saying that my phone number matched this Kathleen Lee person and I kept correcting them telling them I am not her. Please help!
Kathleen
Westland, Michigan
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Tamberlyn
Akron,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Had a different experience with Allied Interstate
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, June 21, 2008
I moved to a neighboring city from where I was living that made it necessary to get a new phone number. I was seeing "Allied Interstate" in the list of missed calls every day for a couple months. There were times when I would be home and answer the phone, only to have a series of beeps and clicks, then get hung up on. Since I was getting quite alot of calls (figuring possibly collection calls since it was a considerable amount and if they were friends, they'd know "The Georges" had gotten a new number or moved) for the people who had the phone number before I did so I figured it was just somebody else trying to get in touch with them.
Finally about 6 weeks ago the phone rang and the caller ID read "Allied Interstate". I answered and got the beep/click/hang up thing. So I decided I was growing tired of it and called the number back. After a bit of pushing buttons and listening to the "wait while we connect you" music, I finally got someone on the line. If they were from India, they surprisingly had a decent grasp of English since I had no trouble understanding him at all.
He asked if he could help me and I replied by saying I hoped so. I asked them who they were and why they were calling my house daily, and at times more than once since the list of missed calls also lists multiple calls from the same number. He said that they were trying to get ahold of Linda "My-last-name". I told him that I am not Linda, Linda happens to be my ex-husband's wife after me. Her last known whereabouts was the state of PA and that was current as of 2001. I told him I didn't even know if she was still married to my ex -- she walked out on him & both were too cheap to pay for a dissolution.
Long story short, the guy apologized for the calls, told me I wouldn't be receiving any additional calls from them. It's been about 6 weeks and I have not gotten one more call from them.
I guess I was very lucky not to be called a liar or continue to get calls from them.
L. Troy
West Paterson,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Allied Interstate
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, June 20, 2008
Go to www.budhibbs.com. You'll see HORROR stories about this company!
I dealt with them a few weeks ago. They were looking for my sister, and when I told them that there was no one here by her name, they accused me of lying. I then told them again that I was not the person they were looking for and informed them that if they call me again they would be in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
They are junk debt collectors and their operators work out of India. I hope you didn't agree with them that you owed anything. You need to dispute the credit card charge with your company and also send Allied a VALIDATION REQUEST for the debt you supposedly owe. Send it certified/return receipt requested. Also tell them that you do not want to be contacted again except in writing. If they call you again, TAPE THE CALL if it is legal in your state. If you get anything in writing from them, do not ignore it. You might want to find an attorney who specializes in dealing with these junk debt collectors because you may be able to sue them for violating the FDCPA.
If they get your money once they may label you a "sucker" and come back at you in the future for more money. It's also highly possible that they will sell your name to other junk debt collectors.
Protect yourself. Check out the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I strongly suggest that you check out the Bud Hibbs website and write to him for assistance. He was very responsive and helped me out with this issue and I haven't heard anything from these people since.
Good luck!
L. Troy
West Paterson,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Allied Interstate
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, June 20, 2008
Go to www.budhibbs.com. You'll see HORROR stories about this company!
I dealt with them a few weeks ago. They were looking for my sister, and when I told them that there was no one here by her name, they accused me of lying. I then told them again that I was not the person they were looking for and informed them that if they call me again they would be in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
They are junk debt collectors and their operators work out of India. I hope you didn't agree with them that you owed anything. You need to dispute the credit card charge with your company and also send Allied a VALIDATION REQUEST for the debt you supposedly owe. Send it certified/return receipt requested. Also tell them that you do not want to be contacted again except in writing. If they call you again, TAPE THE CALL if it is legal in your state. If you get anything in writing from them, do not ignore it. You might want to find an attorney who specializes in dealing with these junk debt collectors because you may be able to sue them for violating the FDCPA.
If they get your money once they may label you a "sucker" and come back at you in the future for more money. It's also highly possible that they will sell your name to other junk debt collectors.
Protect yourself. Check out the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I strongly suggest that you check out the Bud Hibbs website and write to him for assistance. He was very responsive and helped me out with this issue and I haven't heard anything from these people since.
Good luck!
Tom
Stafford,Virginia,
U.S.A.
File a Credit Card dispute
#7Consumer Comment
Mon, June 16, 2008
Whenever a charge appears on your credit card (Visa/MasterCard) you should immediately notify the card issuer - in writing, not just a phone call and dispute the charge.
All card issuing companies extend to card holders certain rights which are common to every credit card and one of those right is the right to dispute the charge on your card.
I have been in the credit card processing business for the past five years and can tell you that any time a merchant cannot substantiate with your signature and proof of the presence of your credit card that business will have the charge reversed. Federal regulations for the credit card industry provide you with those rights but you must exercise them properly. For one thing your dispute must be in writing and it must be filed in a timely manner-- preferably within 60 days of the charge appearing on your credit card bill.
The practice of some collection agents to obtain credit card information to settle a debt is common although you are protected as a card holder against unauthorized transactions and the burden of proof is upon them - not you to prove the transaction is valid. You only need to dispute it as noted in your credit card agreement to protect yourself.
Luke
Neapolis,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Get an Attorney...
#7Consumer Suggestion
Wed, January 03, 2007
If Allied has actually debited your credit card without your consent and without a court order, they have committed theft - which is obviously illegal. You should call them immediately and state that you intend to contact a lawyer if they do not reimburse your credit card.
Chances are they will not give the money back. So, contact a debt relief attorney and ask him to send a letter to Allied making the same demand, but that if the money is not returned he will file suit on your behalf. I know its not a huge amount of money, but theft is theft. And chances are, that if you go to court you will get more than what was debited because it was an "intentional tort" and you can get punitive damages. Also, contact the local police department and file a complaint for theft.
Then, contact the Attorney General's office for your state and make the same complaint. I have looked at other material about Allied and at least two states have filed class-action suits against Allied for illegal debt collection processes.
Hope this helps - good luck!
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Kathleen, NEVER speak to any collector on the phone!!
#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 05, 2006
Kathleen,
This is rule #1. NEVER speak to any collector on the phone, and NEVER give them any personal, employment, or banking info!
I think you meant to say you GAVE them your mastercard #, right? How else would they get it?
Your money is gone. You will never get it back. Consider it a small investment in knowledge. And, cancel that card IMMEDIATELY!!
Allied Interstate are JUNK DEBT BUYERS. They buy "debts" of this type for FAR less than a penny on the dollar. They will do anything to collect. They will lie and steal and even forge documents without even thinking about it.