Tiredmt
Shelby,#2Consumer Comment
Sat, March 08, 2008
Kyle- you will get no sympathy from ARS. Get an attorney and take care of them that way. They are quick to respond and violate federal law. ARS- maybe Kyle has to take care of his father and has to read the mail sent to his father. Please try to be more considerate of what you say when you don't know a situation. Your company is well known for what he is complaining about. ID theft is rampant at this time and it comes from debt collectors violating the privacy act and specific laws. How many times has ARS been taken to court and lost?
Gocamb
Loma Linda,#3UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 29, 2008
Kyle, First of all, I would like to start out for you by letting you know, I have been an employee of this "outfit" for over 2 years now and this is a story that I hear all the time coming from many different people that I deal with on a daily basis. The problem is that many consumers in todays society are uneducated in the process of collections and credit. First, what are you doing opening up your fathers mail? Don't you find that to be slightly rude? If you are receiving mail of your fathers, return to sender it. That is the quickest way to get our agency to stop sending things to you. There is an automatic mail return that gets updated in our computer system for just that purpose. Secondly, You have had a vehicle cosigned for you by your father. So certain things on your credit, such as your address, are going to reflect on his. The size of the account that is allegedly your fathers will cause any collection agency to do further investigation to find him. Also, we are able to go through public record in order to find out what possibly could have been an address for him prior. The mixed up information that we would have would all link back to the fact that your father signed a contract for a vehicle for you. Your address is considered valid to contact him. Unless you contact us and tell us that this is a wrong address and send that back mail return. Finally, don't you think that it is just speculative that your father doesn't have a credit card? Have you asked him? You would be surprised how people hide certain things from their family, friends, husbands and wives every day. Just for your information, my company is not a debt purchaser so if you or your father want to find out if the debt is valid in our office, call Capitol One. They will tell you. I hope this has eased your mind. Just remember everyone is not always out to get you.
Robin
Little Rock,#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 15, 2007
I, too, have had problems with this company calling me on a person's account who has NEVER lived here, lives in another state, etc. I, too, got hung up on when I requested to speak to a manager, etc. I have since filed a report here, a complaint to the BBB, and lodged a complaint with ACA International, to which ARS National is a member. I would suggest that everyone who has problems with this agency, and they have offices in numerous states, file complaints here, with the BBB and with the ACA. Maybe if enough people make everyone aware of their rude and unprofessional practices, something will be done that will benefit us all.
S.
El Paso,#5Consumer Comment
Fri, January 19, 2007
I have received many phone calls from this company even though they are obviously trying to reach someone else with my same last name. I finally called them back to explain and they were very rude. I wanted to know why MY phone number was on someone else's account, a valid concern with identity theft, and they (Shawn) were rude and hung up on me. I called back and asked for a supervisor. Someone names Laquisha told me they were "all in a meeting" and demanded I tell her why I wanted to speak to a manager or supervisor. I said no, no time to explain unless she was a manager, so SHE hung up on me. I tried to find some way to reach a manager through a website and no luck. If they call back again I will report them for telephone harassment.
Kyle
Green Mountain,#6Author of original report
Mon, November 13, 2006
Seems like years ago, Dad and I had the same car insurance account for both of our vehicles. In his name, but I was listed as the driver of MY car. Maybe this is how his name came to be associated with MY current address? Dad actually came to visit today, so I turned it over to him - though still not 100% confident that it won't become MY problem at some point. Come to think of it, seems that I also read that this company somehow gets contact info for people OTHER than the ones they're going after. Makes sense, I guess. Anyway, Dad never deals with "stuff" like this (or as mundane as a light bill), his sister handles all the finances for him. So it's not like he was upset that I opened it.
Steve
Bradenton,#7Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 13, 2006
Kyle, Why are you opening your Dad's mail? It doesn't matter that your address is on the envelope, it is for your DAD and is a violation of Federal Law for you to open it unless you are his legal caretaker or have a power of attorney. They are just making a desperate attempt to contact him. That is the only reason you got it. You shouldn't open someone elses mail. Just mark it "not at this address" and put it back in the mailbox.