JBC Legal Group ripoff Bloomfield New Jersey
I too recieved a letter from JBC Legal Group. Oh boy, was this fun. Mine asked me about identity theft. The second was that my letter said I had out a "bad check" for $243.49 to CVS Pharmacy.
That really made the lights go on. First, there is not a CVS Pharmacy within 100 miles of where I live, and second, I would have known about a $243 bad check right away. Before I did anything, I called my bank of the past seven years and asked them if they could search my account history from the past seven years to see if I ever had a check written to CVS Pharmacy for $243.
Not only did I not have a check for $243, I never had one written to CVS.OK I thought let me call these people and find out what this is all about. I call I ask to speak with Lori Brown, whom I did not get to speak with. They make me give them the account number before I say anything. I get asked if I lived in Rhode Island in 1994. I did. They said they have a bad check written in RI in 1994 to CVS Pharmacy on this other bank (which had been bought out some time ago)I said OK,Yes it is possible that I could have written a check to CVS Pharmacy in 1994 on my old bank.
I asked for the check # all that good stuff, they said that they could not give it to me, but that they could give me the date.I keep all that stuff even from that long ago. I had one check written to CVS in 1994. For $13.49. I called JBC back,and I said I went into my old cancelled checks. I did find a check written in that month to CVS, but it was for $13.49. Their representative said yes that was the check. However I caught this guy directly in a lie and a big one at that.
First he said that CVS filed suit against me in Rhode Island.Those were the court costs. I worked with the courts in my lifetime and knew that it was very unlikely that they would have filed suit over $13, but I did know the phone number to the district court. I called. No CVS never filed a case against me. I called CVS too, they said that they had no record of me having a "bad check". RI statue of limitations is seven years. I called JBC again. I also told them my husband is with the military and has to have a high security clearance.
Part of obtaining his clearance deals with credit checks, which also involve me. I too have had to be bonded to work in a job where I was handling large sums of cash, and again they do a background and a credit check. I also told him how we filed bankruptcy five years ago, and in that process, our BK attorney did multiple checks with all three of the major bureaus, and said we are going to include them if you owe them $1. I did ask to speak with the manager. I said if this old dead check is such a concern to you, I will pay you the $33.49 ($13.49 for the check and $20 for the NSF fee).
I got threatened with having my drivers liscense suspended if I didn't pay the full $243.49. I filed complaints with the attorney general in RI, NJ and VA where I live, as well as the better business bureau. Guess the laugh is on them. Oh, and none of their "lawyers" are liscensed to practice law in NJ. Scammers!
Constance
Virginia Beach, Virginia
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Scott
Akron,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Minnesota sues JBC&Associates
#2Consumer Suggestion
Thu, June 17, 2004
You should also file suit against them for violations of the FDCPA. Everything they did was illegal. Here is the article.
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKES ACTION AGAINST DEBT COLLECTORS
The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch filed lawsuits today against two debt collection agencies, Allied Interstate, Inc. and JBC and Associates, P.C. for engaging in business practices which violate Minnesota debt collection and consumer protection laws. Both companies are alleged to have used unlawful tactics to collect debts that were not valid or to collect money from the wrong Minnesota consumer.
Debt collection agencies are becoming more emboldened and employing more aggressive collection activities. In the past, we've seen debt collectors use harassing techniques to collect debts. We are now seeing companies like JBC and Allied crossing the line by trying to coerce consumers into paying unsubstantiated debts and amounts that were not even owed by them in the first place, said Solicitor General Lori Swanson.
The complaint against Allied Interstate, a Minnesota-based collection agency, alleges that the company has attempted to collect debts from the wrong person. The lawsuit outlines the following illegal collection practices by Allied:
Failure to Provide Proper Notice. Allied often initiates its debt collection over the phone without sending a letter to the consumer. When consumers dispute the debt on the phone, the company does not tell them that the debt is valid unless they dispute it in writing; that Allied must verify the debt on written request by the consumer; and that Allied must cease collection on the disputed debt until verification of the debt is provided to the consumer.
False Representation About the Status or Character of Debt. Allied has continued collection phone calls to innocent consumers, after consumers have orally told the debt collector they have the wrong person or that they do not owe the debt.
The second lawsuit alleges that JBC, a New Jersey-based collection agency, unlawfully attempts to collect debts for its clients with threats of legal action that cannot be taken. The complaint alleges:
Attempts to Collect on Disputed Debts Without Providing Verification. JBC ignores timely, written disputes by consumers and continues collection efforts without providing the necessary verification. The law requires JBC to cease collection of disputed debts until the company mails verification to the consumer.
Unlawful Threats to Sue on Time-Barred Debts. JBC improperly threatens legal action against Minnesota consumers for debts that are barred under Minnesota's six-year statute of limitations for civil claims on dishonored checks.
False and Misleading Representation About $100 Civil Penalties. JBC threatens consumers with statutory penalties that are incorrect and are higher than state law. Minnesota law provides for a civil penalty up to $100, with the precise amount determined by a court. JBC nevertheless attempts to coerce consumers into automatically paying the $100 civil penalty without any determination by the court.
The lawsuits charge both companies with violating Minnesota's consumer protection and debt collection statutes. The Attorney General's Office is seeking to prohibit JBC and Allied from engaging in unlawful debt collection practices. The lawsuit also requests civil penalties, consumer restitution, costs and attorney's fees. The suit against Allied was filed in Hennepin County District Court, and the JBC lawsuit was filed in Ramsey County District Court.
BC is a California professional corporation with its headquarters located at 2 Broad Street, 6th floor, Bloomfield, New Jersey. Allied is a Minnesota corporation with its principal place of business located at 800 Interchange West, 435 Ford Road in Minneapolis.
If you would like to file a complaint with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office click here
Office of Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch
1400 NCL Tower
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-3353
1-800-657-3787
TTY: (651) 297-7206
TTY: 1-800-366-4812
2004 Minnesota Attorney General's Office.