Smith, Dean & Associates using the threat of arrest of a family member to secure payment from an unsuspecting family member Jacksonville, Florida
First, let me say that I do not owe Smith,Dean and Associates any money-they found me in Montana, but for some unknown reason they could not find my son who has lived in the same home in Florida for 4 yrs?
Second, Angie,you almost had me until you gave me my son's financial information. Isn't it a violation of federal law to divulge financial information to ANYONE (including his father)other than the actual person you are seeking.Having identified myself, you should have stopped ,but instead you started adding to a fathers worst fears by telling me how you had done a background check on my son and that if this $131.09 wasn't sent by Wal-Mart Express within 2 hours- you would be at the court house filling a warrant for his arrest on a 3rd degree felony-theft of rental service(this delinquent bill is from a MATCO tool truck acct.that was thought to be closed 1.5 yrs ago). I told you that a bad debt is a civil matter,not a criminal offense-you said I was wrong.I asked you for documentation of these charges and gave you a fax # to send them to-as of 8:00 pm I have recieved NOTHING, needless to say Smith-Dean recieved the same.
I contacted the FTC and spoke with Rachael and filed a complaint (#24248139),I also contacted a friend in the State Dist.Attorney's office in District 5 where my son resides,and he has some interesting insights and questions about your company's actions. I will also be filing a complaint with Harry Shorstein the DA in Jacksonville(904-630-2400) tomorrow and I will be contacting Wal-Mart with these postings.
Finally,I have no problem with your legal right to attempt to collect on this debt, but I believe your techniques are illegal and immoral.