Palisades Collection, To my surprise, Palisades Collection requests I send them money for a debt to AT&T that I know I don't know. Englewood Cliffs New Jersey
Like so many other people here, I have never had an AT&T wireless account in my life, and yet I received a debt collection notice from Palisades Collection, LLC in association with FMS Services, for the past due amount of $86.15. What?! Puzzling I thought.
So my first course of action was to call AT&T who confirmed that I had in fact never had an account with them, and they told me to take it up with the collection agency. Smelling a rat, I searched the internet and that's when the horror became clear...this company is extorting people! And getting away with it!
Sure enough, the debt is recorded on my credit report. I have disputed the claim with Experian and TransUnion, but Equifax does not show the ding, for whatever reason. The two agencies are supposedly in the process of doing their homework on the matter.
Thanks to the amazing wealth of information that is available via the internet, I know not to call Palisades directly. I have sent them a very lovely letter (which I found a great example of on this website, thank you very much) requesting validation of the debt. They have 30 days to respond or to erase the mark from my credit history.
By the way, as I understand it, it is illegal for them to report the debt to the credit agencies without allowing 30 days for a response from me. It is also illegal for them to not include my rights on the letter they sent, informing me of my right to ask for validation, etc.
I am sending a copy to AT&T so they know what is happening in their name. If Experian and TransUnion don't do their homework and remove the report, I will send them a copy of the letter as well.
Pending the outcome of the letter to Palisades, I will inform the FTC and my state's Attorney General about this very widespread illegal activity (that I know they are well aware of and do nothing about).
I expect that the letter I send to Palisades will make them give it up and remove the mark on my credit reports and I will never hear from them again. That is what SHOULD happen. If anything outside of this happens, I intend to find a lawyer and sue them. And potentially Experian and TransUnion as well.
I urge anyone in a similar situation to hold your ground with these crooks. DO NOT PAY THEM. Do not call them. DO not give them any additional personal info that is not on the letter they sent you. Sue if it comes to that. Many lawyers will only charge if you win the case.
Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories. I can't imagine how I would know how to go about all this without your input.
Holly
Portland, Oregon
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Paula
Sandy,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Hello Holly
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, December 04, 2007
I am in Sandy, Oregon and have been dealing with Palisades for 2 years now...
They have me connected to an AT&T wireless account. I have never had an AT&T account nor have I ever lived at the address they have on the debt.
They have this "Paula Johnson" in Portland, Oregon.
They want me to fill out a fraud packet, I dont believe it is fraud I feel they found me in the white pages. Their are many of us and I dont go by Paula Johnson on anything.. I always include my maiden name on legal forms. They cant supply me with a document that is signed by anyone either!!
Paula
Holly
Portland,Oregon,
U.S.A.
experian removed palisades from credit report
#4Author of original report
Fri, September 07, 2007
Haven't heard a peep from Palisades Collection since I sent them the letter requesting validation of the bogus debt. Experian did remove the mark from my credit report, though TransUnion is still "investigating". I would think the credit agencies would make it standard practice with these creeps to investigate a claim prior to dinging our credit reports.
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
FYI
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, August 21, 2007
They have 30 days to respond or to erase the mark from my credit history.
=============
Note: This 30-day rule applies to the credit bureaus like Equifax and TransUnion when you request validation. It's my understanding the collection agencies are not under this 30-day law and even if they were...Palisades Collection is such a sleazy bottom feeder that they would ignore it.
FYI: It is important for you to understand that the credit bureaus do not necessarily care about the accuracy of what they report in your credit file....their FIRST priority is profit and they don't like to spend money and time investigating credit disputes which interfere with their profit making ability.
Even if you did request a validation from the credit bureaus...companies like Palisades Collection might simply respond with a bogus one page printout with your name, account # and amount owed...and the credit bureaus might accept that as validation when it really isn't...they'll then send you a note stating the the debt was validated.
If this happens to you....you're going to have to force the credit bureaus to do their job.