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Wilber And Associates Beware of Wilber & Associates--false claims for collecting debts from innocent people!! Bloomington, Illinois
Wilber & Associates sent my husband a letter/demand for $500.00 referring to a company we have never heard of, stating that if we did not respond within 30 days, they would place a judgment against him. When I contacted them by telephone to inquire what this was in regards to, immediatley they were so rude and wouldn't let me talk. Ms. Pacheco stated we did not have insurance--which we do have! I then saw the scam. They then stated that they are a collection agency and represent a car rental company for an accident we were in and since we don't have insurance we are responsible for the deductible for the rental car.
The only truth to there story is that my husband was involved in a car accident with someone driving a rental car, however the driver of the rental car was at fault and cited as the violator on the accident report. We were already in contact with the car rental's insurance company, as they were handling the claim & damages to our vehicle; as we did not want to make a claim under our insurance as we were not at fault for this accident.
I then asked Ms. Pacheco if she had the police/accident report. She stated she did. I then told her that if she did, then she would find our insurance information as we do have insurance and furhtermore, she would see then that the driver of the rental car was at fault for the accident. I knew then they were pulling a scam.
They continued to be extremely rude to me over the phone. I insisted on speaking to the attorney, Christine Chance, which was listed on their demand letter, as she is on the bar association for the state which I reside. They refused me contact with the attorney and put me into the voicemail of a Mr. Stimpert, who states he is an adjuster at the law firm. I told them that I am not speaking with the adjuster at their law firm, as I have been in contact and am dealing with the adjuster at the insurance company! The continued to be rude and made me very upset.
Shame on them for trying to collect money from people who are not at fault for something and for the attorneys who use their names and no nothing about the cases....they are putting their bar licenses on the line. I ended up reporting ALL the attorneys to the bar associations that they are affilicated with, along with reporting them to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and to the State Attorney for the state I reside in.
I sent a certified letter to Christine Chance, one of the attoneys who's name was listed on their demand of payment. The letter was signed for on 10/02/2009. She then tried reaching me by telephone on 10/07/2009, and I stated to her that I have been informed not to talk to her over the phone. She then threatened me by saying, "Fine, I will see you in court" and she hung up. She was just now trying to get the contact information for the car rental company....I thought they had that information since they stated to me they represented them! To this day, I still do not know who they really represent, but I will not let them bully me and I do not want them to do this to other people! Nobody deserves to be treated like that. They are practicing law unethically and trying to use :their power & authority" to collect on debts (just as their advertisement states). They need to be reported to all agencies-we can all put a stop to them.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
USA
Additional advice.
#4Consumer Suggestion
Thu, October 22, 2009
I'm glad it's working out for you.
You should check your credit reports (all three credit reporting agencies) to make sure this alleged debt doesn't appear on any credit reports about you. If it does and it was REPORTED by this law office, you should probably sue them for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Also, this would be an ADDITIONAL complaint to the State Bar Association about them.
IF it is on credit reports you should demand (in writing, certified RRR) that they immediately notify the CRAs to DELETE the record as a mistake. At the very least you need to identify WHO reported it to the CRAs and demand that it be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED. Tip: The CRAs are MUCH QUICKER to remove an entry that is in error if the agency that REPORTED the entry requests that it be removed.
I'm with you-I wouldn't cooperate with them either. Let them go with the information that's on the police report. The PR should identify the DRIVER of the vehicle and the car rental company. After that, it's all on them.
Lola
Coral Springs,Florida,
USA
Update to the ongoing saga with Wilber & Associates
#4Author of original report
Thu, October 22, 2009
This is Lola,
I have heard back from the Illininois Attorney Disciplinary Board, as they have received the rebuttal letter from Wilber & Associates regarding my complaint against them.
Wilber & Associates finally stated that the company they represented, Xchanging, was part of American Express; in which the violator of the accident paid for her rental car with American Express.
It's funny that when I initially tried to contact Wilber & Associates to find out who they represented, they provided me with false information stating that they represented the car rental company.
We just received the check for damages to our vehicle from the car rental company and will be having our vehicle repaired. The car rental company never knew anything about Xchanging or Wilber & Associates.
Also, in their rebuttal, they are now welcoming any information we may have to assist them in their case, as they have finally reviewed their information and see that there may be an additional party to collect from.
As they were unwilling to cooperate with me when I contacted them in regards to their demand, I don't beleive I will be cooperating now with them to assist them in collecting their money.
Tim
Grand Haven,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Know your rights under your insurance policy!
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, October 17, 2009
Take the follwoing as PERSONAL advice, not LEGAL advice. I am NOT an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.
Your insurer has two obligations:
1) The duty to indemnify, meaning they have to pay for whatever damage you may cause and;
2) The duty to defend, meaning they have the duty to defend you against any lawsuits that may arise that implicate your insurance coverage.
Your situation falls under the duty to defend. If you receive ANY notices from the opposing party's insurer, or ANY court notices, forward them IMMEDIATELY to the legal department of your insurance company.
Best of luck!