Mann Bracken - Wolpoff & Abramson - Eskanos & Adler, P.C. Mann Bracken, LLP Rockville Maryland
DONT BE SCARED BE INFORMED AND FIGHT BACK
Names Used: Mann Bracken, LLP , Mann Bracken, LLC
Two Irvington Centre
702 King Farm Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850-5775
Phone Numbers Used:
(MD)
240.386.3900
(GA)
678.801.2532
678.537.7184
(NC)
704.812.0400
(TN)
615.2969337
(TX)
972.982.9600
Use these toll- free number to make them pay for the calls
888.232.8439
800.678.7720
800.678.0303
Fax Numbers:
MD: 240.386.3111, 240.386.3801, 240.238.7404
GA: 404.443.6097, 404.586.0638, 678.801.2396
Chris Bracken ia an Attorney and Owner of Mann Bracken of Atlanta, GA
O. 678.801.2401, D. 678.801.2352 C. 404.275.8650
Victor Johnson is Operations Manager in the Atlanta Office
Scott Kramer & Matthew Linkey are in the Maryland Office (703.245.0577 Fax 703.288.4070)
Here are some helpful tips:
Remember ANY information YOU give them, THEY will use to attempt to collect a debt.
DO NOT talk to them on the phone-(especially when you are distracted, they will most likely talk you into a commitment that you cannot keep.) Simply take a message and call them on your terms and conditions. Be sure to collect accurate information from collection agencies and have them repeat the name, id number, the company, any extensions, hours of operation, address- and log each time you make contact with them.
Mail a letter offering a payment plan (Certified Mail Return Receipt) Microsoft Office. com offers various templates under letters and are samples correspondence help you with the proper wording. If the company accepts and processes the payment, by law they are bound to YOUR terms and agreement.
Have them validate the debt by sending you proof that this is a valid debt. In more serious cases You need to request discovery. Discovery is the legal process of making the plaintiff prove their case. Requesting discovery requests a certain amount of legal skill and knowledge. Sometimes the court will have fill-in.
If you are not 100% certain that this is a valid debt Certified Proof of Validation letter.
Everything should be done in writing AND Certified Mail Return Receipt (which is a green slip that comes back to your address acknowledgin their receipt) If you use email- be sure to use a delivery confirmation tracking which proves when the email was received and opened.
NEVER post-date a check, or give them your bank account information, including debit/credit cards- when dealing with a collection agency use a Money Order which is traceable for both parties.
For those harrassing calls that "claim" you have an unsettled debts, send them proof that it is an invalid debt and demand that they never contact you again. Send the letter certified signature return. If they contact you again, mark it down and you will have a claim against them under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf
For those unscrupulous predatory collection agencies you can file formal complaints with the following:
Bar Asssociation- those who claim to be an attorney
Better Business Burea
Federal Trade Commission
MrsProsperity
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Bill ("a Cat's Full Nine")"
San Francisco,California,
U.S.A.
Here's a way out of this outfit's grasp
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 13, 2009
The following letter is the first step in disentangling oneself from the clutches of this outfit.
The next step if they are not thus dissuaded will be to appeal to the victim's State's Attorney General office and the American Collectors Association and his or her local State Bar Association for instructions as to how to file, the proper forms to do so, and what other information is pertinent.
============================================
Date
Certified - Return Receipt
Mann Bracken LLP
702 King Farm
Rockville, Maryland 20850
To Whom It May Concern:
This will serve as your legal notice under provisions of federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), to cease all communication with me in regard to debt collection and any and all matters associated therewith.
If you fail to heed this notice, I will file a formal complaint against you with the Federal Trade Commission who is responsible for enforcement, the States Attorney General office and/or the American Collectors Association or local State Bar Association.
You are also notified that should any adverse information be placed against credit reports as a result of this notice that appropriate actions will be taken.
Give this very important matter the attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
Laurie
Haslet,Texas,
U.S.A.
You are close - BUT
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, January 13, 2009
You have the right idea - but the wrong order and gave some bad info -
NEVER OFFER A PAYMENT PLAN TO A COLLECTION AGENCY! PERIOD
for correct info go to www.budhibbs.com - Scroll down to Dealing with Collectors 101.
MANN-BRACKEN -ONE OF THE WORST FDCPA VIOLATORS so avoid them at all cost - They will screw you over fast!
STAY OFF THE PHONE. Is absolutely correct - EVERYTHING IN WRITING CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT - Correct
DEBT VALIDATION LETTER FIRST -
Collection Agencies are required by law to PROVE the debt is yours - IN MOST CASES THEY CANNOT PROVE IT.
NEVER OFFER A PAYMENT PLAN to a collection agency - they won't accept it! They may claim to accept it, but will forget all about it quick enough.
ALWAYS GO TO THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR - try to avoid paying anything to a collection agency.