Complaint Review: ACA Recovery - Unknown New Jersey

I recently read somewhere that there were citizens in the states of Pittsburgh and another state that are actually bringing a lawsuit against the supposed lawyer and ACA Recovery. For more reasons than harassment and posing as a lawyers office. Like not sending out initial letters of notification to the consumer stating that they had 30 days to validate the debt amonth others. I sent them a cease letter and told them that I will make arrangements once I find out the the entire amount is correct. The letter they sent me had one original creditor on it whom I have no idea where that particular company came from and when I talked to them they couldnt even tell me the name of the company. I am not going to pay them anything until I fully verify the debt. You also do not have to waste your money sending them payments through Western Union you can mail your payments to them. Don't let them push you around and get stressed out. It is not worth the drama.

Let the calls go to voice mail, and save them. This way you have evidence. NEVER answer the phone on an unknown caller. NEVER speak to a debt collector. Send the CEASE COMMUNICATION letter as described above. FAX it to them first. Send it 150 pages at a time if thats what it takes! Then they cannot say they didn't get it. Misrepresentation is a crime. Posing as a lawyer is a crime. Posing as a law enforcement officer is a crime. If a lawyer's name is mentioned, that lawyer must be willing to speak with you AND have some knowledge of the account. File complaints at FTC.gov.

I just wanted to know if Norman G. Kalina is really part of this company or they just using his name as a "scare tactic"? I am taking some advice in this report and send all of my correspondence through certified mail, but what do I do in the meantime when Kenneth Reed is still calling posing as an attorney? Do I talk to him and let him know of my intentions? Do I tell him that he is receiving a letter to make sure that the calls stop? Please someone let me know something.

Tawana, This is very important. Stay off the phone!! AND, NEVER pay anyone with Western Union. It is just like handing someone cash. You get no reciept for what you paid for. Here's what they will do. They will take your money and never give you anything saying its paid in full, or what it was for. Then they will make further collection attempts as you will be labeled as an easy mark. They will even resell the "debt" in a portfolio and you will have to go through this over and over again. Any payment arrangements, agreements, or actual payments need to be made with traceable/certified funds, and be sent by certified mail, return reciept requested. FYI...The "Lawyer" does not have to be present for you to make payment arrangements. The collector works on commission and will make more money if you pay $390 vs. a small payment like $50.He/She only gets paid commission on the amount they personally collect, not the settlement of the entire debt.

The amount was $390.00, I tried to make payment arrangements today, but they said they are not allowed to make arrangements and the lawyer was not there last night or today.

Tawana, Your observations about these people are correct, and thier actions are illegal. However, you never contact the original creditor on an account that has been turned over to a third party collector or debt buyer. The original creditor cannot deal with you any longer as the contract they have with the collector prevents it. It would be fraud. A collection agency must provide full contact information upon request. Failure to do so is a violation of federal law. It is also illegal to misrepresent who you are as a collector. Calling themselves "investigators" or answering the phone "law firm", etc are all considered deceptive and are illegal. Implying legal action is illegal unless they are actually proceeding with that action. In most states any lawyer doing debt collections must be available to speak to you personally and have some working knowledge of your "account". NEVER speak to any collector on the phone. NEVER!! Always DEMAND all communications be in writing, and you only respond in writing by certified mail, return reciept requested. Put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. By the means above, just send them a CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request as per your rights under the FDCPA. Specify no more phone calls to home or work for any reason, and since they know your whereabouts, they are prohibited by law from calling any third parties. You never told us what the amount was. That makes a big difference in what happens next.