Ken Hughes, Merchants Credit Guide Threatening Phone Call Chicago Illinois
I just received an automated phone call from a man using a loud, threatening voice.
He stated, "It is very important you call Ken Hughes at 888-249-4134. This is not a sales solicitation call." He was still speaking when I hung up the phone.
I know that collection calls are required to first identify themselves, and they ask for the recipient by name. This caller did neither.
My first instinct was to call Ken Hughes to get more information and report him to authorities.
I didn't call Ken Hughes. I Googled his name and found the reports about him on Rip Off Report.com.
Thanks for the warning!
Sally
Corpus Christi, Texas
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Sally, NEVER speak to ANY Debt Collector on the phone!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 30, 2006
Sally,
Even calling back a debt collector validates your number and will cause more calls. And, speaking to a debt collector will NEVER do anything positive for you. In almost every case, it will hurt you more. NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! NEVER!!
Upon first contact from any debt collector, send the CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request as per your rights under the FDCPA. Send this by certified mail, return reciept requested. Put the certified# on the letter itself, and keep a copy for your records. AND, NEVER sign anything you send to a debt collector. Your signature will most likely end up on some contract that you have never seen!
Read many of the other reports here on Rip Off Report on these BOTTOMFEEDERS and about this junk debt buying/collections business in general, and some other good resources available to you.
Good luck.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Sally, NEVER speak to ANY Debt Collector on the phone!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 30, 2006
Sally,
Even calling back a debt collector validates your number and will cause more calls. And, speaking to a debt collector will NEVER do anything positive for you. In almost every case, it will hurt you more. NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! NEVER!!
Upon first contact from any debt collector, send the CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request as per your rights under the FDCPA. Send this by certified mail, return reciept requested. Put the certified# on the letter itself, and keep a copy for your records. AND, NEVER sign anything you send to a debt collector. Your signature will most likely end up on some contract that you have never seen!
Read many of the other reports here on Rip Off Report on these BOTTOMFEEDERS and about this junk debt buying/collections business in general, and some other good resources available to you.
Good luck.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Sally, NEVER speak to ANY Debt Collector on the phone!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 30, 2006
Sally,
Even calling back a debt collector validates your number and will cause more calls. And, speaking to a debt collector will NEVER do anything positive for you. In almost every case, it will hurt you more. NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! NEVER!!
Upon first contact from any debt collector, send the CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request as per your rights under the FDCPA. Send this by certified mail, return reciept requested. Put the certified# on the letter itself, and keep a copy for your records. AND, NEVER sign anything you send to a debt collector. Your signature will most likely end up on some contract that you have never seen!
Read many of the other reports here on Rip Off Report on these BOTTOMFEEDERS and about this junk debt buying/collections business in general, and some other good resources available to you.
Good luck.
Kevin
Cottage Grove,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Ken Hughes the Robot
#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, September 28, 2006
Dear Sally,
"Ken Hughes" may be a real person at MCG. Nevertheless, the call you received was from an automated calling system. It is the reversed version of an answering machine.
They probably bought an old debt that you either do not actually owe, or are no longer obligated to pay.
Here's what you do. If they leave a message again, call back and ask for the company's name and address. They need not identify you to give you this information. (Actually, a few of the postings here at ripoffreport.com have the addresses as well. So you don't even have to bother calling the company.)
Don't ask them what type of company they are or what their business is. They can't tell you unless you give them information first.
Once you get the address, write a request to cease and desist. It must be in writing for it to be legal, a phone call will do no good.
The letter only needs to say this:
Dear MCG,
Please cease and desist all phone calls to this number: 555-xxx-xxxx. This is a written request to cease and desist and you must comply in accordance with the FDCPA.
Sincerely,
Sally ______
You need not mention anything about owing or not owing a debt. You don't even need to acknowledge that you know who they are. They only need to know that you want the calls to stop.
Take the letter to the post office and ask for delivery confirmation service. Once you receive the delivery confirmation, then the calls should stop. If they don't, keep a log of the calls (date/time/name of caller) and call your Attorney General.
Good Luck,
former collector