Complaint Review: Florida First Financial Group - Tampa Florida

I was trying to find out more information about First Financial Group because they advertise in the Tampa newspaper for a 6 month CD at 4.75%....is this the same company?? They also advertise IRA's and 401k's and annuities...

Steve: FYI-A good company will defend thier collector. Of course you have to have the talent, I would think a little before typing something like that. I have personally witnessed more than one collection firms defending thier collectors in lawsuits.

Well, this is interesting. A debtor that is a collector. Debt collections is a stratgetic series of lawful "threats", lawsuits, persistance, skip tracing and good salesmanship. I find it amuzing how a debtor is upset at someone tring to collect money. What would you do if someone owed you money and they would not pay you back? It is nice today they have collection agency's-compared to the old days. Sure you can file complaints and lawsuits, they are defended and life goes on-the company is still in business, isn't it. If you are a company i suggest hiring a thrid party agency who is a member of the CLLA with a name that sounds like an attorney like Adams, Cooper and Marks for example. They will get the job done, abiding by all laws, and will SUE the debtor with the best if they do not pay. The debtor can kick and scream harrasment all they want, file all the complaints they want. The porblem is they do not have the proof or money to back it-they are debtors-debtors are lyiers. There should be no laws protecting debotrs that intentionaly put themselves in debt, payday loans for example-a place to go if you can not manage money or you can not control your spending. 2 percent of the time people really need the money and go there for thier purpose. If you had credit you would be at the bank-so do not get mad at a collection agency when you put yourself in this position. And Mr. Steve, give me your information or just the company you owe and I will see to it that I collect it. If you do not want to provide me with the companies name and actual amount that you owe-do not respond. You are not as slick as you think. Of course collection agencies are going to be tough and think outside of the box-they are collecting money from people who can not or will not pay. Ben go work for a real company collecting real commercial debt and bag that woman. I can teach you some tricks my man-don't worry about her.

Hey..John or Ben ...Why are you avoiding the questions? This guy still doesn't know whether his name is Ben or John. And he never specified as I requested exactly what part of my advice he had a problem with. He tries to present himself and the sleazy company he is part of to be reputable and honets, yet there are hundreds of complaints and nearly as many legal filings against them. Ben..ANSWER the questions or be silent.

I will follow-up on ALL your advice, I have more than enough proof from the idiots postings alone to show that he's still stating I wrote a bad check even though Rapid cash has already apologized and stated that they do not condone or stand behind this companies practices. I also directed them to this website so they can see just what kind of company their dealing with. I find it rather amusing that "Ben/John" stated that none of your allegations was true and when you pulled his card, his only statement was "This will be our last post"!! "John/Ben", I know your still reading and boy, what a change of tone you have now that we're not on the phone alone, but that's okay too because based on other consumer complaints this is how you do business and if you really felt you did nothing wrong you would have never called me to apologize or be on Ripoff denying it ever happened. I admitted 2 posts ago My temper got flared, but whos wouldn't when somone calls you accuses you of something you know is not true and then attacks your personal character? why don;t you give us your REAL NAME so we can check out some of the lawsuits against you? See you in court real soon friend!! Hay maybe I can talk Steve into coming with me so you can see that he is a real person.. til next time..and there will be a next time..I told you in our last conversation on the phone to watch what you say and who you say it to, remember?

Bad check, huh? Might want to check again... You see, the Courts have disagreed with this assumption numerous times, to the State's Attorney Office will not prosecute on your behalf. When a consumer initiates a "Payday Loan", a check is held as security interest for the debt. This security interest can not be prosecuted as a returned check. Why? Because when a "payday loan" is initiated, the recipient of the check is presumed to know that the presenter of the instrument does not have the funds to cover it at the time of issuance! The bad check statutes are there to protect innocent retailers from fraudulent purchases via rubber checks. They are NOT in place to help payday loan operations add criminal charges on top of civil charges to recover amounts due for loans. In effect, there was no bad check. You just thought that you couldn't liquify the collateral (even though it had already been liquified). If it had not been paid, you *could* have filed a judgement for the amount. You could not, however, hope for prosecution for the alleged "bad check". Doesn't it just suck when consumers know their rights under the law?

Steve, Wow what a classy response, I love the professionalizm and elegance, your certainly a class act. The hostility and name calling was a beautifully crafted response. Sounds alot like the treatment we got from Marquis. I doubt we could ever match your diction, tone, and style of american writting. Steve, Pick up the phone and call us, or are you really Marquis? either way, we will maintain our professional and never have and never will result to name calling or degrating language as you have. This is our last post but I'm sure its not for Steve as he will have to have the last word to his holy proclamation John Good

Should I call you at (813)238-8569 ,or should I call one of your partners in crime that were busted by the FL Bar Assoc for "the unlicensed practice of law"?>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Florida Supreme Court Briefs and Opinions Docket #86513 - The Florida Bar, Complainant, vs. Florida First Financial Group, Inc., and Reed Lienhart, a/k/a Anthony Rossi, a/k/a Mike Steele, as Principal and Director of Florida First Financial Group, Inc., and Individually, and Terry Don Smith, a/k/a Pete Wilson, Individually, Respondents. 695 So. 2d 275; March 20, 1997. Opinion Report of The Referee Petition Against the Unlicensed Practice of Law Answer Brief of The Florida Bar >>>>>>> The Florida Bar, Petitioner, charges Florida First Financial Group, Inc., Reed Lienhart a/k/a Anthony Rossi, a/k/a Mike Steele and Terry Don Smith a/k/a Pete Wilson, Respondents, with"engaging in unlicensed practice of law in the State of Florida, and in support....... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The complete legal filing can be read here: http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/flsupct/86513/86513pet.pdf >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Can be verified with: Loretta C. O'Keeffe, Esq. Branch UPL Counsel The Florida Bar Suite C-49 Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel Tampa, Florida 33607 Florida Bar #901539 (813)875-9821 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Here is another case of illegal collection practices:> http://www.twiggintonlaw.com/consumer_law_cases.htm RE: Going after the individual collector, as I previously stated.>> FAIR CREDIT REPORTING The Consumer Protection law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the right to privacy do not prohibit a collection agency from having to disclose the home addresses of its employees and telephone records and correspondence concerning other debtors. Florida First Financial Group, Inc. v. De Castro, 815 So. 2d 789, 27 Fla. L. Weekly D1161 (Fla. 4th DCA May 15, 2002 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Another FEDERAL ACTION: Tammie L. Kiewel v. Florida First Financial Group Inc., John Doe I, also known as Chris Wall or Chris Walker, and John Doe II, also known as Robert Mills, federal question/Fair Debt Collection Act, No. 04-183. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Another Federal Action: Lisa M. Gray v. Florida First Financial Group Inc. and Ty Brooks, federal question/Fair Debt Collection Act. Plaintiff seeks class action status. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> These are just a few, there are dozens of cases and complaints. Now, WHAT were you saying? John..or Ben or whatever your name is today?

WOW! I struck a nerve! But that's what I do best! Hey ...Mr. "Senior Collector".. Ben or John.. I never said I was a lawyer..Did I? ......You piss-ants are all the same..You get all offended when someone like me tells others how to beat you fools at your own game! I love it! Guess what, Genius...I was on the "inside" for a long time in this biz. I can run circles around you meathead. Like I said before on here many times..I walked away from approx $170k approx 5 years ago, and none of you MORONS ever collected a dime from me, and I do not have even 1 judgement against me. I have beaten (7) collection attorneys, have been paid damages by 2 collection agencies, and have gotten 1 lawyer dis-barred. I recently got one debt buyer/collector shut down. I play for keeps fool. I guarantee I can beat you around every turn. Bring it on. Everything I said in the post you responded to is absolute fact. What specifically did you have a problem with? Let me know.

We are not liars. With the permission of Marquis we will be more then happy to post a copy of her bad check she wrote for everyone to see. Give us your permission so we can settle this matter online once and for all. As for Steve the attorney, how can you even give legal advice without knowing all the facts? Please contact us with your bar number and address so we can verify your legal advice. You may call me directly John

We are not liars. With the permission of Marquis we will be more then happy to post a copy of her bad check she wrote for everyone to see. Give us your permission so we can settle this matter online once and for all. As for Steve the attorney, how can you even give legal advice without knowing all the facts? Please contact us with your bar number and address so we can verify your legal advice. You may call me directly John

We are not liars. With the permission of Marquis we will be more then happy to post a copy of her bad check she wrote for everyone to see. Give us your permission so we can settle this matter online once and for all. As for Steve the attorney, how can you even give legal advice without knowing all the facts? Please contact us with your bar number and address so we can verify your legal advice. You may call me directly John

We are not liars. With the permission of Marquis we will be more then happy to post a copy of her bad check she wrote for everyone to see. Give us your permission so we can settle this matter online once and for all. As for Steve the attorney, how can you even give legal advice without knowing all the facts? Please contact us with your bar number and address so we can verify your legal advice. You may call me directly John

Marquis, Got to the FTC website and file a separate complaint for each violation of your rights under the FDCPA. You can read and print this out for your reference. They clearly engaged in illegal activity, like all collectors do. You have at least 3 complaints that can get you paid $1000 each if you file them separately. You need to file a civil case on each, and file them about 15 days apart. Otherwise 3 violations become the same complaint and the max you can get is $1000. Unless some other actual damages were incurred due to the abuse. AND, the best part is, you can sue the collector individually as well as the company. The quickest way to get a collector off your backis to file a lawsuit on them personally. The agency will not defend them. They will just fire him and hire another crackhead.

This man is a total liar!! I never wrote any bad checks, in fact just this morning at aprx. 8:28 am I recived a call from a "John Good" (who was actually "Ben Parks") and he apologized for the matter and advised me that he had in fact received a copy of my PAID statement dated 10/05!! (so when did I bounce a check?). I accepted and advised him that both our tempers were hot but that does not excuse the way he talked to me. I however did report this company to the attorney general because of all the negative things I saw on this website as well as others. I was falsely accused but even if someone does fall behind on their bills that's no reason to talk to them that way. I have forwarded a copy of the "Ben Parks/John Good" reply to the Atty General as well as proof of my payment, bank statement and name of the teller who received it, so he can see exactly what people go through and the Defamation of Character he posted on the internet about me. I will pursue this matter futher because Florida First is a RIPOFF!!

This person has written several rubber checks and as bad as her situation was we tried every attempt to resolve it for her. However everytime she called and we couldnt meet her demands and needs she would start using fowel and racial language. Most of her calls had to terminated due to rated "R" racial slur. If she calls back and talks respectfull we will be more then happy to help her with her bad checks. Ben Parks