I received a collection letter from A&S Collection Associates, Inc. for $104.95 in June of 2009. Upon calling them, they told me that it was for placemat advertising for a local restaurant provided by Nationwide Advertising. It took 2 months for A&S to get back to me with a faxed copy of the Nationwide invoice. The name, and address were not even correct and there were no signatures on it. Per my request neither A&S nor Nationwide will send me a placemat so I can see what I am being charged for.
I've been to the restaurant 3 times the last one today (10-29-09) and they have not had any advertisement placemats delivered. The manager told me that there have been other businesses inquiring as well. I think A&S and Nationwide are in this together. A&S told me I need to have Nationwide withdraw the collection order and Nationwide told me that A&S Collections purchased the receivables for .50 on the dollar and I have to get A&S to drop it. A&S told me that I could pay $200.00 to an attorney to pursue them or I could just pay the $104.95 so they would get off my case. Seems like extortion to me. Also, on the latest collection letter received today threatening to report our business to Equifax they list a North Carolina permit number AND That that the collection agency is licensed by the Minnesota Dept. of Commerce. I requested the Minnesota license number from A&S today and they wouldn't give it to me. When I put their info into the Minnesota DofC website they don't come up.
What gives?
Nc
Grayslake,#2Consumer Comment
Thu, October 29, 2009
Hi, There are 11 other complaints about this company. Have you read them? They all sound similar to yours. I would not pay them. It sounds like a scam to me.
Nc
Grayslake,#3Consumer Comment
Thu, October 29, 2009
Hi, There are 11 other complaints about this company. Have you read them? They all sound similar to yours. I would not pay them. It sounds like a scam to me.