Complaint Review: United Collection Bureau

GENERAL INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS SITES ON DEALING WITH COLLECTION AGENCY'S

Tell them to validate by

. What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
Identify the original creditor;
Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state
Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent


1. NEVER talk to a collection agency on the phone. Period.
2. Keep good records. This can be the difference between a good and bad settlement. Don't expect them to remember you or what you agreed upon.
3. Send all correspondence via registered mail, receipt requested and put the registered mail number ON THE LETTER. DO NOT SIGN THE LETTER TYPE YOUR NAME
4. Keep a copy of every letter you send.
5. Penalties and extra interest are typically fictious amounts of money added on by the collection agency to pad their profits. Sometimes as much as to 50% of the debt or more claimed to be owed by a collection agency consisting of interest and fees. This is illegal, every state has usery laws (which dictate the maximum interests allowed to be charged. That is except North Dakota. There are no such laws which is why most credit card companies incorporate there.) Junk debt buyer pay anywhere from 1 cent to 7 cents on the dollar, there is no way there is this much interest.
6. Time is on your side. As time passes, the creditors will likely stop calling and the debt will be filed away for future attention or until the SOL runs out ..

-------------------------
What Debt Collectors Cannot Do
A wide range of collection activities is specifically prohibited. Generally these prohibited activities fall into two categories: actions designed to intimidate, harass or annoy consumer debtors; and actions that are unfair, misleading or deceptive.

The use of obscene or abusive language and threats of violence is prohibited. The FDCPA also forbids any threat of criminal action or harm to the consumer's person, property, or reputation. Debt collectors have even been held liable for the use of ethnic slurs, curse words, insults such as "liar," "deadbeat" and "crook," and for threatening to "ruin" credit ratings. Debt collectors are prohibited from contacting consumer-debtors at unusual times, or times known to be inconvenient to the consumer. The FDCPA actually goes as far as specifying that calls placed before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. (in the consumer's time zone) are generally improper. If a debt collector knows, or has reason to believe, that odd hours are not inconvenient for the consumer (such as if the consumer works at night), then the consumer may be contacted at other times. Debt collectors may not telephone the consumer-debtor repeatedly or engage the consumer-debtor in endless telephone conversation. Both the State Act and FDCPA state that debt collectors may not contact consumer-debtors at their places of employment under certain

o Under the State Act, a debt collector may not call a consumer-debtor at his or her place of employment if the debtor informs the debt collector that he or she does not wish to be contacted there.
o Under the State Act, even if the debt collector is not told to refrain from calling at a place of employment, the debt collect may, at most, place one telephone call per month to the debtor's place of employment.

o In making a call to a place of employment, the debt collector may not inform the employer of the reason for the call unless asked by the employer.
o Under the FDCPA, a debt collector may not call the consumer-debtor at work if it is known that the employer prohibits the employee from receiving such communications. In effect, this provision allows a consumer-debtor to inform a debt collector that his or her employer forbids incoming personal calls and requires the debt collector to respect such a notice. NOTE: One narrow exception to this prohibition exists. A debt collector who has been unable to locate a consumer-debtor may send one letter to the consumer-debtor's last known place of employment.

A debt collector may not communicate with anyone other than the consumer-debtor, his or her spouse or the parents or guardians of a debtor who is a minor, about the debt unless the debtor expressly agrees to permit the "third party" contacts. The State Act further limits contacts with spouses, parents, and guardians to one instance for the sole purpose of locating the debtor when the debt collector has been unable to locate the debtor for at least 30 days. A debt collector is prohibited from continuing to write or call a consumer-debtor once informed that the consumer is represented by an attorney or other representative (such as a credit counselor).
Debt collectors are prohibited from publishing the names of debtors in any medium (such as a newspaper or magazine). They may not advertise the sale of debts (to so-called "factors") in order to embarrass or humiliate debtors through public exposure. Prohibited TacticsA number of misleading or deceptive tactics by debt collectors are expressly prohibited. Debt collector may not mislead debtors about who they are, may not mislead debtors about the debts, may not mislead about what actions they will be taking, or make any false representations in order to obtain information.
Debt collectors may not misrepresent who they are or misrepresent documents by:
o Using false names
o Pretending to be an attorney, state, local or federal official, law enforcement or court officer
o Using forms or documents designed to look like "official" court or government documents if they are not
o Pretending to be or affiliated with a credit reporting agency
o Falsely implying that documents are not legal process forms or do not require any action or response by the consumer when they do
o Suggesting that a debt has been turned over to an "innocent third party" when in fact the debt has been transferred to a collection agency
Debt collectors may not make misrepresentation about the debt by:
Misrepresenting the size or status of the claimed debt, or falsely characterizing the status of any legal proceedings involving the debtor
Stating or implying that attorney's fees or costs will be added to the debt unless such charges are specifically allowed by contract, agreement, or court order (most consumer credit agreements, such as credit card contracts, contain a provision obligating the consumer to pay collection costs and fees)
Implying that a transfer or sale of the debt will cause the consumer-debtor to lose the ability to defend him- or her-self about the non-payment of the debt, or will be subject to some unlawful debt collection practice
Communicating, or threatening to communicate, false credit information to another person or creditor, including failing to communicate that a particular debt is disputed. Debt collectors may not mislead about what action they might take by:
Making unfounded threats of criminal charges against the debtor
Falsely implying that the debtor will be arrested or imprisoned, or that his or her wages will be garnished or property attached unless those actions are legal and the debt collector intends to take that action (the debt collector must disclose that a court order is required for any of these actions)

Threatening to take any action which the debt collector either does not have the legal right to take, or does not ordinarily take (such as unfounded threats of litigation)
Stating or implying that failure to pay a debt will result in the debt being turned over to collection agency who would use harsh, vindictive, or abusive tactics.
Debt collectors may not use false representations to collect a debt or to get information by:
Using false pretenses to either induce the debtor to contact the debt collector or make payment, or to obtain information about the consumer from third parties
Threatening the consumer with arrest or seizure of property or wages, without disclosing that court orders may be required for any such action. In addition, FDCPA specifically lists a number of tactics regarding the collection of money from consumers by debt collectors which it declares unfair. Debt collectors may not:

Threaten repossession or seizure of the consumer's property, unless the debt collector has the right to do so
Cause the consumer any expense through deceptive tactics (for example, toll calls, collect calls, or telegram fees incurred by the consumer in responding to a bogus "prize offer")
Collect an amount greater than the debt, for such things as attorney's fees or costs, or other incidental expenses, unless these kinds of charges are expressly allowed in the credit agreement or by law
Accept checks from a debtor which is postdated by more than 5 days unless the debt collector subsequently notifies the debtor that the check is about to be deposited (this notice must be provided not more than 10 and not less than 3 days before the debt collector deposits or cashes the postdated check)
Deposit or cash a postdated check before the date listed on its face
Solicit postdated checks for the purpose of initiating or threatening criminal actions
Contact the debtor by post card, or by include information or symbols on an envelope which identifies the writer as a debt collector

GENERAL INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS SITES ON DEALING WITH COLLECTION AGENCY'S

Tell them to validate by

. What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
Identify the original creditor;
Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state
Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent


1. NEVER talk to a collection agency on the phone. Period.
2. Keep good records. This can be the difference between a good and bad settlement. Don't expect them to remember you or what you agreed upon.
3. Send all correspondence via registered mail, receipt requested and put the registered mail number ON THE LETTER. DO NOT SIGN THE LETTER TYPE YOUR NAME
4. Keep a copy of every letter you send.
5. Penalties and extra interest are typically fictious amounts of money added on by the collection agency to pad their profits. Sometimes as much as to 50% of the debt or more claimed to be owed by a collection agency consisting of interest and fees. This is illegal, every state has usery laws (which dictate the maximum interests allowed to be charged. That is except North Dakota. There are no such laws which is why most credit card companies incorporate there.) Junk debt buyer pay anywhere from 1 cent to 7 cents on the dollar, there is no way there is this much interest.
6. Time is on your side. As time passes, the creditors will likely stop calling and the debt will be filed away for future attention or until the SOL runs out ..

-------------------------
What Debt Collectors Cannot Do
A wide range of collection activities is specifically prohibited. Generally these prohibited activities fall into two categories: actions designed to intimidate, harass or annoy consumer debtors; and actions that are unfair, misleading or deceptive.

The use of obscene or abusive language and threats of violence is prohibited. The FDCPA also forbids any threat of criminal action or harm to the consumer's person, property, or reputation. Debt collectors have even been held liable for the use of ethnic slurs, curse words, insults such as "liar," "deadbeat" and "crook," and for threatening to "ruin" credit ratings. Debt collectors are prohibited from contacting consumer-debtors at unusual times, or times known to be inconvenient to the consumer. The FDCPA actually goes as far as specifying that calls placed before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. (in the consumer's time zone) are generally improper. If a debt collector knows, or has reason to believe, that odd hours are not inconvenient for the consumer (such as if the consumer works at night), then the consumer may be contacted at other times. Debt collectors may not telephone the consumer-debtor repeatedly or engage the consumer-debtor in endless telephone conversation. Both the State Act and FDCPA state that debt collectors may not contact consumer-debtors at their places of employment under certain

o Under the State Act, a debt collector may not call a consumer-debtor at his or her place of employment if the debtor informs the debt collector that he or she does not wish to be contacted there.
o Under the State Act, even if the debt collector is not told to refrain from calling at a place of employment, the debt collect may, at most, place one telephone call per month to the debtor's place of employment.

o In making a call to a place of employment, the debt collector may not inform the employer of the reason for the call unless asked by the employer.
o Under the FDCPA, a debt collector may not call the consumer-debtor at work if it is known that the employer prohibits the employee from receiving such communications. In effect, this provision allows a consumer-debtor to inform a debt collector that his or her employer forbids incoming personal calls and requires the debt collector to respect such a notice. NOTE: One narrow exception to this prohibition exists. A debt collector who has been unable to locate a consumer-debtor may send one letter to the consumer-debtor's last known place of employment.

A debt collector may not communicate with anyone other than the consumer-debtor, his or her spouse or the parents or guardians of a debtor who is a minor, about the debt unless the debtor expressly agrees to permit the "third party" contacts. The State Act further limits contacts with spouses, parents, and guardians to one instance for the sole purpose of locating the debtor when the debt collector has been unable to locate the debtor for at least 30 days. A debt collector is prohibited from continuing to write or call a consumer-debtor once informed that the consumer is represented by an attorney or other representative (such as a credit counselor).
Debt collectors are prohibited from publishing the names of debtors in any medium (such as a newspaper or magazine). They may not advertise the sale of debts (to so-called "factors") in order to embarrass or humiliate debtors through public exposure. Prohibited TacticsA number of misleading or deceptive tactics by debt collectors are expressly prohibited. Debt collector may not mislead debtors about who they are, may not mislead debtors about the debts, may not mislead about what actions they will be taking, or make any false representations in order to obtain information.
Debt collectors may not misrepresent who they are or misrepresent documents by:
o Using false names
o Pretending to be an attorney, state, local or federal official, law enforcement or court officer
o Using forms or documents designed to look like "official" court or government documents if they are not
o Pretending to be or affiliated with a credit reporting agency
o Falsely implying that documents are not legal process forms or do not require any action or response by the consumer when they do
o Suggesting that a debt has been turned over to an "innocent third party" when in fact the debt has been transferred to a collection agency
Debt collectors may not make misrepresentation about the debt by:
Misrepresenting the size or status of the claimed debt, or falsely characterizing the status of any legal proceedings involving the debtor
Stating or implying that attorney's fees or costs will be added to the debt unless such charges are specifically allowed by contract, agreement, or court order (most consumer credit agreements, such as credit card contracts, contain a provision obligating the consumer to pay collection costs and fees)
Implying that a transfer or sale of the debt will cause the consumer-debtor to lose the ability to defend him- or her-self about the non-payment of the debt, or will be subject to some unlawful debt collection practice
Communicating, or threatening to communicate, false credit information to another person or creditor, including failing to communicate that a particular debt is disputed. Debt collectors may not mislead about what action they might take by:
Making unfounded threats of criminal charges against the debtor
Falsely implying that the debtor will be arrested or imprisoned, or that his or her wages will be garnished or property attached unless those actions are legal and the debt collector intends to take that action (the debt collector must disclose that a court order is required for any of these actions)

Threatening to take any action which the debt collector either does not have the legal right to take, or does not ordinarily take (such as unfounded threats of litigation)
Stating or implying that failure to pay a debt will result in the debt being turned over to collection agency who would use harsh, vindictive, or abusive tactics.
Debt collectors may not use false representations to collect a debt or to get information by:
Using false pretenses to either induce the debtor to contact the debt collector or make payment, or to obtain information about the consumer from third parties
Threatening the consumer with arrest or seizure of property or wages, without disclosing that court orders may be required for any such action. In addition, FDCPA specifically lists a number of tactics regarding the collection of money from consumers by debt collectors which it declares unfair. Debt collectors may not:

Threaten repossession or seizure of the consumer's property, unless the debt collector has the right to do so
Cause the consumer any expense through deceptive tactics (for example, toll calls, collect calls, or telegram fees incurred by the consumer in responding to a bogus "prize offer")
Collect an amount greater than the debt, for such things as attorney's fees or costs, or other incidental expenses, unless these kinds of charges are expressly allowed in the credit agreement or by law
Accept checks from a debtor which is postdated by more than 5 days unless the debt collector subsequently notifies the debtor that the check is about to be deposited (this notice must be provided not more than 10 and not less than 3 days before the debt collector deposits or cashes the postdated check)
Deposit or cash a postdated check before the date listed on its face
Solicit postdated checks for the purpose of initiating or threatening criminal actions
Contact the debtor by post card, or by include information or symbols on an envelope which identifies the writer as a debt collector

GENERAL INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS SITES ON DEALING WITH COLLECTION AGENCY'S

Tell them to validate by

. What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
Identify the original creditor;
Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state
Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent


1. NEVER talk to a collection agency on the phone. Period.
2. Keep good records. This can be the difference between a good and bad settlement. Don't expect them to remember you or what you agreed upon.
3. Send all correspondence via registered mail, receipt requested and put the registered mail number ON THE LETTER. DO NOT SIGN THE LETTER TYPE YOUR NAME
4. Keep a copy of every letter you send.
5. Penalties and extra interest are typically fictious amounts of money added on by the collection agency to pad their profits. Sometimes as much as to 50% of the debt or more claimed to be owed by a collection agency consisting of interest and fees. This is illegal, every state has usery laws (which dictate the maximum interests allowed to be charged. That is except North Dakota. There are no such laws which is why most credit card companies incorporate there.) Junk debt buyer pay anywhere from 1 cent to 7 cents on the dollar, there is no way there is this much interest.
6. Time is on your side. As time passes, the creditors will likely stop calling and the debt will be filed away for future attention or until the SOL runs out ..

-------------------------
What Debt Collectors Cannot Do
A wide range of collection activities is specifically prohibited. Generally these prohibited activities fall into two categories: actions designed to intimidate, harass or annoy consumer debtors; and actions that are unfair, misleading or deceptive.

The use of obscene or abusive language and threats of violence is prohibited. The FDCPA also forbids any threat of criminal action or harm to the consumer's person, property, or reputation. Debt collectors have even been held liable for the use of ethnic slurs, curse words, insults such as "liar," "deadbeat" and "crook," and for threatening to "ruin" credit ratings. Debt collectors are prohibited from contacting consumer-debtors at unusual times, or times known to be inconvenient to the consumer. The FDCPA actually goes as far as specifying that calls placed before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. (in the consumer's time zone) are generally improper. If a debt collector knows, or has reason to believe, that odd hours are not inconvenient for the consumer (such as if the consumer works at night), then the consumer may be contacted at other times. Debt collectors may not telephone the consumer-debtor repeatedly or engage the consumer-debtor in endless telephone conversation. Both the State Act and FDCPA state that debt collectors may not contact consumer-debtors at their places of employment under certain

o Under the State Act, a debt collector may not call a consumer-debtor at his or her place of employment if the debtor informs the debt collector that he or she does not wish to be contacted there.
o Under the State Act, even if the debt collector is not told to refrain from calling at a place of employment, the debt collect may, at most, place one telephone call per month to the debtor's place of employment.

o In making a call to a place of employment, the debt collector may not inform the employer of the reason for the call unless asked by the employer.
o Under the FDCPA, a debt collector may not call the consumer-debtor at work if it is known that the employer prohibits the employee from receiving such communications. In effect, this provision allows a consumer-debtor to inform a debt collector that his or her employer forbids incoming personal calls and requires the debt collector to respect such a notice. NOTE: One narrow exception to this prohibition exists. A debt collector who has been unable to locate a consumer-debtor may send one letter to the consumer-debtor's last known place of employment.

A debt collector may not communicate with anyone other than the consumer-debtor, his or her spouse or the parents or guardians of a debtor who is a minor, about the debt unless the debtor expressly agrees to permit the "third party" contacts. The State Act further limits contacts with spouses, parents, and guardians to one instance for the sole purpose of locating the debtor when the debt collector has been unable to locate the debtor for at least 30 days. A debt collector is prohibited from continuing to write or call a consumer-debtor once informed that the consumer is represented by an attorney or other representative (such as a credit counselor).
Debt collectors are prohibited from publishing the names of debtors in any medium (such as a newspaper or magazine). They may not advertise the sale of debts (to so-called "factors") in order to embarrass or humiliate debtors through public exposure. Prohibited TacticsA number of misleading or deceptive tactics by debt collectors are expressly prohibited. Debt collector may not mislead debtors about who they are, may not mislead debtors about the debts, may not mislead about what actions they will be taking, or make any false representations in order to obtain information.
Debt collectors may not misrepresent who they are or misrepresent documents by:
o Using false names
o Pretending to be an attorney, state, local or federal official, law enforcement or court officer
o Using forms or documents designed to look like "official" court or government documents if they are not
o Pretending to be or affiliated with a credit reporting agency
o Falsely implying that documents are not legal process forms or do not require any action or response by the consumer when they do
o Suggesting that a debt has been turned over to an "innocent third party" when in fact the debt has been transferred to a collection agency
Debt collectors may not make misrepresentation about the debt by:
Misrepresenting the size or status of the claimed debt, or falsely characterizing the status of any legal proceedings involving the debtor
Stating or implying that attorney's fees or costs will be added to the debt unless such charges are specifically allowed by contract, agreement, or court order (most consumer credit agreements, such as credit card contracts, contain a provision obligating the consumer to pay collection costs and fees)
Implying that a transfer or sale of the debt will cause the consumer-debtor to lose the ability to defend him- or her-self about the non-payment of the debt, or will be subject to some unlawful debt collection practice
Communicating, or threatening to communicate, false credit information to another person or creditor, including failing to communicate that a particular debt is disputed. Debt collectors may not mislead about what action they might take by:
Making unfounded threats of criminal charges against the debtor
Falsely implying that the debtor will be arrested or imprisoned, or that his or her wages will be garnished or property attached unless those actions are legal and the debt collector intends to take that action (the debt collector must disclose that a court order is required for any of these actions)

Threatening to take any action which the debt collector either does not have the legal right to take, or does not ordinarily take (such as unfounded threats of litigation)
Stating or implying that failure to pay a debt will result in the debt being turned over to collection agency who would use harsh, vindictive, or abusive tactics.
Debt collectors may not use false representations to collect a debt or to get information by:
Using false pretenses to either induce the debtor to contact the debt collector or make payment, or to obtain information about the consumer from third parties
Threatening the consumer with arrest or seizure of property or wages, without disclosing that court orders may be required for any such action. In addition, FDCPA specifically lists a number of tactics regarding the collection of money from consumers by debt collectors which it declares unfair. Debt collectors may not:

Threaten repossession or seizure of the consumer's property, unless the debt collector has the right to do so
Cause the consumer any expense through deceptive tactics (for example, toll calls, collect calls, or telegram fees incurred by the consumer in responding to a bogus "prize offer")
Collect an amount greater than the debt, for such things as attorney's fees or costs, or other incidental expenses, unless these kinds of charges are expressly allowed in the credit agreement or by law
Accept checks from a debtor which is postdated by more than 5 days unless the debt collector subsequently notifies the debtor that the check is about to be deposited (this notice must be provided not more than 10 and not less than 3 days before the debt collector deposits or cashes the postdated check)
Deposit or cash a postdated check before the date listed on its face
Solicit postdated checks for the purpose of initiating or threatening criminal actions
Contact the debtor by post card, or by include information or symbols on an envelope which identifies the writer as a debt collector

I too have been dealing with these people over a Citibank credit card and decided to do some research. I suggest recording any converstions and keeping any documentation regarding this matter. Make a complaint to the FTC and anyplace else you can find. According to the Fair Debt Collection(ftc.gov)they are only allowed to contact relatives etc to find out where you are. They are not allowed to discuss your debt to anyone except yourself and your lawyer.

If people make an honest effort to resolve their debt and get threats and unreasonable responses, I think we should do whatever we can as consumers to shut these people down!

Mrs. A., New York