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Cavalry Portfolio Services / AT & T/CINGULAR RIP-OFF it's like someone threaten me with a knife for money MASSACHUSETTS New York
Another Cavalry Portfolio Services Rip-Off victim here, I have recieved a collection letter from Cavalry Portfolio Services saying that i owe AT&T $432.64 back in 2001 while i was in Seattle, which is already been pay before i moved back to Massachutts,
I call the Cavalry office in Tempe. Az and explained the suitation,the lady on the phone also agree with me that is must be a mistake that AT&T had made and suggested me to call the Cavalry office in NY to dispute the debt, so ok.. i called the office in New York this morning, a guy pickup the phone and ask for the reference number, my name and the last four digital of my SS# to verify my information, and then i have explained the situation, i have not owe AT&T anything i said, but he can't take my words as evidence, i have to send them hard copies of the statement from AT&T back in 2001 to prove that the bill have been payoff", and he also said, i can send them a hand written letter to request the documents in regards to this case, but still if i don't have the hard copie of the statement, they won't dispute it.
Of course i don't have statement from 4 yrs ago, who in the world would keep the phone bill that long, and why i have to send them a hand written letter within 7 days? what's the use of my hand written letter if in Massachusetts i can dispute the collection by phone, this is the -Notice of Important Right- for state of Massachutts printed on the back of the collection letter.
IN MASSACHUSETTS: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST THAT TELEPHONE CALLS REGARDING YOUR DEBT NOT BE MAKE TO YOU AT YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. ANY SUCH ORAL REQUEST WILL BE VALID FOR ONLY TEN DAY UNLESS YOU PROVIDE WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THE REQUEST POSTMARKED OR DELIVERED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF SUCH REQUEST, YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS REQUEST BY WRITTING TO THE COLLECTOR. You may contact us by telephone at (877) 222-8257 between 9:0 am and 6:00om MST Monday-Friday or in writting at P.O. Box 27288, Tempe, AZ 85285.
in other states such as New York Cavalry have collection license but it didn't said they have license in Massachusetts, is that mean they don't even have the right to collect debts in Massachuttes? I have a feeling this is a fraud, on the letter they ask me to send my money to thier office in Concord, MA. but why do i have to contact their office in AZ, and then NY? because they have license there?
I still haven't send them the written letter yet, since the collection letter was sent out on 04/14/05 i still have 2 more days to decide what do to and I afraid that they would use this information as my authorization for them to do other stuff, i just don't trust those peoples, and it's obvious this is a huge scandal, what a shame of AT&T/Cingular for selling my personal information to third party like Cavalry, as a value customer i am very disappointed and will never ever use any of their services again.
What can i do now? I am planning to get a house soon, and i can't afford to have any damages to my credits, and if i pay the 80% settlement offer from Cavalry, I feel that i got totally Rip-off, it's like someone threaten me with a knife for money. any suggestion or information to help victims like me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Sum
Boston, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Ken
Edmond,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
Call Cingular
#9Consumer Comment
Fri, September 30, 2005
This is what you should do, Call cingular customer service and At&t as well. Give your full security number so they search if you ever had an account with them. That's how you can find if it's legimate account. Cavalry may be slow responding you and i'm %100 sure they will report to your credit. They did mine. Good luck
Scott
Akron,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
OP is missing the point
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 10, 2005
It is NOT your job to provide proof of the debt- it is their job. You need to send one more letter certified mail return receipt requested stating on so and so date you ask for proof of this debt and instead of doing so they sent a letter telling you to prove it is not yours and that is not acceptable. If this is on your credit reports you need to immediately dispute them with the credit bureaus. Cavalry cannot legally verify the debts with out proof and since there is none any verification would subject them to a nice little lawsuit. IF this affects your mortgage then you are allowed to sue them for damages. Would you pay a thug on the streets who demanded money? Of course not. Why would you do the same to this company.
Erica
Fort Stewart,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Since this company will not prove to you the money owed, I wouldn't pay them anything.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 05, 2005
It is not your duty to prove to them anything. It is their duty to prove everything to you. If they can not prove you owe this debt, then file an investigation with the credit reporting agencies. When you dispute a creditor or collection agency, they have to cease all activity on said account with the credit reporting agencies until proof can be shown. While an account is in the dispute stage, most lenders will not use it against you.
Contact the credit reporting agencies and file investigations on any and all questionable accounts.
Sum
Boston,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
damage to my credit report rather i pay or not?
#9Author of original report
Mon, May 02, 2005
so i have follow your suggestion and send a letter to dispute the debt and pending the account, i have received letter from Cavalry asking for all documentations to suport the claim. which i don't have.
and since i will getting a mortgage soon i can't afford to have any damage to my credits. so i decided to pay the 80% settlement, and just before i pay, i want to be assure that i will have no more of these trouble ever again and make sure no damage on my credit, so i asked her if there will be any damages to my credit if i pay, she refuse to answer my question, just said, if you pay the 80% settlement it will say 80% pay, but if you 100% it will said pay in full in your credit.
which didn't answer my question at all.. so i repeat the question again, she said.. i can't answer that question. what's that mean? my concern not rather i pay the 80% or 100%, how can i be sure there's won't be any damage to my credit? Please advise. Thank you.
Sum
Boston,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
it must be a mistake,
#9Author of original report
Thu, April 21, 2005
Thank you for your helps, heres what i have wrote and fax to Cavalry this afternoon, my name and address on the top of the letter, and follow by all the informations Cavarlry given to me as reference. Account #, Cavalry reference # ect... and the content i wrote.
Dear Cavalry Portfolio Services, LLC,
In response to your collectio letter, I do not owned AT&T/Cingular any debt, it must be a mistake, Please provide me all information to validate this debt.
Regards.
04/21/2005
My Name
I try not to provide any personal information to them as prossible. is this good eough ? or is there more i should include in the letter? Please advice.
Thank You
Sherri
Piedmont,California,
U.S.A.
PROBLEM IS, DOUGLAS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM OBEY THE LAW
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, April 21, 2005
I am not asking anyone to be a martyr..I am giving advice on how not to be a victim. Calvary will do any and everything in their power not to correct information and I had to actually go to expense of having my attorney intervene when they reported a Sprint PCS account several times on my credit..problem is, I have never had a Sprint account. Funny thing is, I get mailings from them all the day, wanting me to switch (will never happen). Calvary wasn't interested in the fact that I never had a Sprint account..they wanted money from me, just as they want money from thousands of others they "purchased" accounts from..including account they reported as delinquent with zero balances. The people who pay these debt buyers don't understand that it won't clear their credit. If it is a legitmate debt, then deal directly with the original creditor. They may not remove the charge-off, but at least they will report it as settled in most cases.
Fortunately, my mortgage lender at my credit union was going through pretty much the same thing with them, so it didn't affect my mortgage rate. It did, however, affect my auto insurance rate. Other consumers victimized by false or outdated information on their credit reports are not that lucky.
Douglas
Worcester,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Where's the line? followed the law and after they were given a verbal dispute
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, April 21, 2005
I agree with everything Sherri suggests to you to clear the matter except the filing of a complaint against them.
It seems by the original report that collection agency in question followed the law and after they were given a verbal dispute they explained how to properly have it filed instead of just demanding payment.
Lets face it, there is a chance the original poster was mistaken as to the C.A. response to his verbal C&D. He posted :
"what's the use of my hand written letter if in Massachusetts i can dispute the collection by phone, this is the -Notice of Important Right- for state of Massachutts printed on the back of the collection letter.
IN MASSACHUSETTS: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST THAT TELEPHONE CALLS REGARDING YOUR DEBT NOT BE MAKE TO YOU AT YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. ANY SUCH ORAL REQUEST WILL BE VALID FOR ONLY TEN DAY UNLESS YOU PROVIDE WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THE REQUEST POSTMARKED OR DELIVERED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF SUCH REQUEST, YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS REQUEST BY WRITTING TO THE COLLECTOR. You may contact us by telephone at (877) 222-8257 between 9:0 am and 6:00om MST Monday-Friday or in writting at P.O. Box 27288, Tempe, AZ 85285."
There was obviously already a misunderstanding and the poster believed that a verbal dispute would erase the balance. Since we don't know if the C.A. simply told him that they could close his account right there if he had copies of payments or statements, I personally feel it is a little early to be filing complaints against anyone.
Please consider that this poster may not want to become your personal martyr in your never ending battle against collection agencies. He may simply just want some advice as to how best clear this situation.
I believe the best thing about a forum such as this is that these incidents can reviewed by the public on a case by case basis allowing every consumer the right to determine the integrity of a company for themselves. In the course of giving advice, we each, of course, add our own opinion. But isn't it a bit extreme to suggest to someone to do things beyond what it would take to clear that particular matter just to forward our own little agenda?
Just my opinion.
P.S. Sum, a cease and desist letter pending validation of the debt seems to be the way to go for your situation. Also be sure to check your credit and if this account is on there, file a dispute with the credit bureaus as well. Since you're planning on purchasing a home, now is the time to be sure your credit report is in order anyway. If the collection agency gets proof you owe the bill, they will contact you, if not, you'll need to be sure any damage done by the "mistake" is taken care of. It's a crappy system, but the only one we got. Good luck!
Sherri
Piedmont,California,
U.S.A.
NO, NO, NO..PAY THEM NOTHING
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, April 21, 2005
Immediately fax a letter to 9141-347-1973, demanding that they validate the debt. Also send this letter via Certified Mail, Return Receipt requested. It is not your job to prove that you don't owe this..it is their job to prove that you do. And "we say so" isn't legal validation. They have to come up with something in writing, such as a contract, promissory note, etc. They cannot validate this "debt" if they have none of this available.
Also file a complaint with the FTC and your state AG's office..these vultures are becoming another CAMCO, and the more complaints they receive, the more likely they are to take action.