The following is a chronology of events:
Friday, October 5th 2007 - 3:30pm PST
I was talking a client of mine, Peter McDonnell, on my work cell phone when I received a 'Blocked' call on my private cell, which is generally not available but is on my Experian profile, while driving home.
Deep-Voiced Caller stated he was a Deputy Sheriff and had a bench warrant for my arrest. There was a judgement against me by the courts and that they'd been to my home on two separate occasions that day to arrest me, take me down to the station to process me (including fingerprints) and release me to appear at a future date. My wife had been shopping that day and I live in remote area so I had no way of proving this.
I told him I was pulling off the freeway to discuss and did so.
The caller then stated he had to read me the court judgement which was a failure to appear in court within one year of a debt recovery judgement made against me.
I told him that I'd be happy to turn up at this station to be processed as I knew nothing of this debt. I asked him what bank was it and he said Citibank.
He stated that I sounded a reasonable man and that he would offer me the opportunity to clear this debt up by contacting the firm who was handling the case. He stated that I had 90 minutes to contact this person or he would resume his attempt to arrest me. He called this a "courtesy stay" until 4:30pm.
I asked him what the Summons # was I had to answer and he stated it was 1309-19865.
I agreed to call if he could provide me with the details which he did. He then stated that he was going to have a root canal performed that afternoon to elicit sympathy from me.
Friday, October 5th 2007 - 4:00pm PST
I was told to call Saul Levy @ Levi, Levi & Rothstein at 866.826.2075, the 'attorney' handling the case. I called and the phone was answered "Levi, Levi & Rothstein, how may I help you". I asked for Saul Levy, gave my name and was connected immediately.
Saul Levy was stating that I'd had a Bank of America debt judgement made against me from August, 2006 and that I'd failed to answer/appear within one year so a bench warrant had been issued.
Saul explained that I had a Fleet Card Services account in my name opened on April 17th, 2003 and was delinquent on the debt. Total owed including his 'attorney' fees was $6,017.92. I was informed that if I agreed to pay this money within 48 hours then he would call the Sheriff's Dept. and advise them that no further action was needed on their part.
I stated to Saul Levy that my credit was clean - I do not owe anybody any money and there were no recording of this debt under the Public Records Section of my Credit Reporting Agency, a service I subscribe to.
He started to give me an explanation of why it did not show as it had already processed through the courts which did not make sense.
He asked me if I could come up with this money and I said that I'd have to call my boss to borrow some of it. Saul Levy waited as I called my boss, from my work cell phone, who agreed to loan me $5,000. I had the balance of the money in my checking account. I got back on my private cell phone and told Saul Levy that I could make the payment on Monday.
Saul Levy stated that he was passing me over to Jack Gillis who dealt with the conclusion of this transaction. Jack Gillis stated that I had to send a Cashier's Check for $6,017.92 payable to Levi & Rothstein, not Levi, Levi & Rothstein. It had to be FedEx'd First Overnight, to arrive by Monday, October 8th addresses to Attn.: Jack Gillis, 203 N. LaSalle Street, Ste 2100, Chicago, IL 60601. I agreed to send it. I was also instructed that I had to call Jack Gillis on Monday to give him the tracking # for the payment.
Saturday, October 6th, 2007 - Morning
I went to my Credit Union and raised a Cashier's Check for $1,017.92 to be ready to send Monday.
Monday, October 8th, 2007 - 6:00am PST
I had realized over the weekend that the 8th was Columbus Day and the banks would be closed. A point I shared with my boss who said that he'll give me the loan check for $5,000 on Tuesday, the 9th.
I called 866.826.2075 and left a voicemail for Jack Gillis to explain this and that I'd try him after 10am CST (thinking Chicago).
I called and got through to Jack Gillis later that morning and he stated that raising the Cashier's Check on Tuesday and sending it for Wednesday was fine.
Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 - Morning
I received my loan check from my boss, went to United Commercial Bank to cash it and raised Cashier's Check for $5,000 payable to Levi & Rothstein.
I then FedEx'd both cashiers' checks, via First Overnight
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 - Morning
I called Jack Gillis who confirmed receipt of the monies.
I asked to speak with Saul Levy and was connected with him.
I stated that I'd complied and that he now needed to provide me with all the paperwork from the courts and Bank of America.
Saul told me that I had to contact Mark Lettman, Partner of Operations, to obtain this information and a letter stating the debt was satisfied. Mark Lettman did not answer any of my calls nor did he respond to my voicemails.
October - late month
I received a faxed letter stating that I'd satisfied my account in full with Bank of America but it did not show my alleged account # with Bank of America, just the last four digits.
This prompted calls to Mark Lettman who answered and told me that the full account # was not allowed to placed on their due to Federal Law but he did give it to me over the phone. This account was xxxx xxxx xxxx 4387
I asked him what department of Bank of America do I contact and he told me it was the Fleet Card Services Recovery division.
Letter is c.c.'d to Saul Levy and Abraham Rothstein IV
October - late month
I called Bank of America for Fleet Card Services phone# and was told that Bank of America has acquired Fleet some time ago. Any litigations would have been handled by their litigations dept. @ 1.800.475.2025 ext 6671
I called litigations who had never heard of Levi, Levi & Rothstein as being "Attorneys" handling any cases for them nor had they anything on record against my name or Social Security #.
October - late month
I called Saul Levy to complain that Bank of America has no record of this and he told me that he'd file a request for all supporting documents and have them sent to me. He also stated that I had 30 days after receiving these documents to file for the return of my money. He also complained that my calls were too frequent for his liking and hung up the phone on me.
I received a printed letter from Levi, Levi & Rothstein at the end of October
November - All Month Long
I kept calling and leaving messages on the answering machine requesting these documents (Signature Cards/Application Form) from Fleet Card Services, Bank of America, the Court or all three.
No response whatsoever
December - first week
I called and got through to Jack Gillis. I explained to Jack that I'd had no response to my repeated requests for documentation. He stated that Saul had sent two requests, 30 days apart, and there may be a delay as the records could be on Microfiche.
Jack stated that Saul was working on my behalf to get me the records and that if nothing happened by December 21st (the end of the second 30-day period), I was to call him and he'd start the process of getting my money refunded to me.
He went on further to explain to me that Saul Levy had been a 'sitting judge' he'd known for years and that Saul was looking out for me.
December 11th, 2007
I faxed a letter to 312.602.2544, the fax # on the Levi, Levi & Rothstein letterhead, requesting the return of my money be expedited so I could have money for the Christmas Holiday.
Knowing that December 21st was a Friday, a day that Levi, Levi & Rothstein do not work, I made repeated attempts to call Jack Gillis back to let him know that he not be working on that date as per their voice recording.
Since then, there has been no response to my weekly voicemails.
Points worth noting:
Both the alleged Deputy Sheriff and Saul Levy knew my name, address, social security number and that my credit was clean.
I have copies of my printed credit reports if you need to look for Credit Requests on my history. Pulling a fresh copy today and it will be available to you.
RipoffReport.com: Fleet Credit Card is mentioned www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/141/ripoff0141658.htm
A Reverse Lookup of the Levi, Levi & Rothstein letterhead phone# 312.264.2705 reveals that Levi, Levi & rothstein are listed as AKA Greenman & Donahue - On the list of America's Worst Debt Collectors
The Cashier's Checks were deposited into:
Levi & Rothstein
Keybank
Buffalo, Ny 14222
The voice recording since January 2007 has been that Levi, Levi & Rothstein has been closed in observance of Mr. Levi's death; to give time for friends and family to mourn. Looks like Mr. Levi has been dead for a while as the bank account was already changed to reflect a single Levi & Rothstein back in October, 2007
Call 866.826.2075 today to see what I'm talking about.
I was asked to make it only payable to one Levi & Rothstein
In my detective work, 866.826.2075 calls are carried by Level 3 Communications. With a subpoena you'll be able to know where these calls go to and who pays the bill.
David
Yucca Valley, California
U.S.A.