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  • Report:  #199594

Complaint Review: Pressler And Pressler - Cedar Knolls New Jersey

Reported By:
- Irvington, New Jersey,
Submitted:
Updated:

Pressler And Pressler
16 Wing Drive Cedar Knolls, 07927 New Jersey, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I am a college student currently attending St.John's University. As college students go I am short on cash. In February my friend came to me saying that she knew this guy who worked in Commerce bank that if you open an account with Commerce Bank and invest in our future he will give us $500 dollars and we should refer our friends. I wondered if this was a scam but they said it was not illegal to open a bank account, which indeed is true. So I opened the account with Commerce, and gave the guy who said he worked in the bank, my account number.

I got the $500, I refered my friends because I figured it was legal and they needed money also. A couple of days later I receive a statement saying that I disposited a bounced check for over $8, 000 dollars. I call the bank and told them I did not do that and I close my account and they stated it was identity fraud. I then started receieving letters that I owe $4, 800 and if I do not pay then the situation will be handled accordingly.

My friends also got the same letters as me but their amounts being more or less. I immediately called the lady on the letter, Head of Corporate security and invesitigations and I told her what happened, she said I had to pay it back but I said I had no knowledge of this. I did not give in a check for over 8, 00 because I did not have that kind of money. She then told me that she has been investigating this for some time now and the same guy who came to me was ripping off alot of college students across the country, mostly in New York. She asked me for info I described him and etc and my friends called and decribed him. She told me she would contact me back shortly. She never called me back so I called her and she said she was investigating the guy and his accomplices was under investigation also and that she'll call me back. She didn't call my friends or I so we said that we should wait.

On July 3, 06 I received a letter from Pressler and Pressler stating that I owe $4, 509.94 and that if I do not respond in 30 days legal action will be placed against me. I called the office immediately and spoke to someone, who claims hes a representative. I told him about the situation which he said he has no record of, they only get the letter from Commerce Bank. I told him im a student and I barely have money, and he said that even if I got a payment plan, I will still be sued. My friends got the same thing...I need serious help...anyone who can help me please do, I really need some legal help.

Saleece

Irvington, New Jersey
U.S.A.


7 Updates & Rebuttals

Dee

Parsippany,
New Jersey,
U.S.A.
I suggest....

#2Consumer Suggestion

Mon, August 07, 2006

Pressler and Pressler has to prove that one you are aware of the dept and that you owe the money. Do not call them because they record each and every call. Instead, send them a certified letter stating that you would like a copy the the signed contract and any and all pertinent bills invoices that adds up to the amount that they are asking for. More than likely, the original debtor has already written off this amount as a loss and there for are not concerning themselves with the amount. I found from my experience, the original creditor have no dealings with this company at all and will not cooperate. If they can not present the contract, they must STOP all collection efforts.


Dee

Parsippany,
New Jersey,
U.S.A.
I suggest....

#3Consumer Suggestion

Mon, August 07, 2006

Pressler and Pressler has to prove that one you are aware of the dept and that you owe the money. Do not call them because they record each and every call. Instead, send them a certified letter stating that you would like a copy the the signed contract and any and all pertinent bills invoices that adds up to the amount that they are asking for. More than likely, the original debtor has already written off this amount as a loss and there for are not concerning themselves with the amount. I found from my experience, the original creditor have no dealings with this company at all and will not cooperate. If they can not present the contract, they must STOP all collection efforts.


Dee

Parsippany,
New Jersey,
U.S.A.
I suggest....

#4Consumer Suggestion

Mon, August 07, 2006

Pressler and Pressler has to prove that one you are aware of the dept and that you owe the money. Do not call them because they record each and every call. Instead, send them a certified letter stating that you would like a copy the the signed contract and any and all pertinent bills invoices that adds up to the amount that they are asking for. More than likely, the original debtor has already written off this amount as a loss and there for are not concerning themselves with the amount. I found from my experience, the original creditor have no dealings with this company at all and will not cooperate. If they can not present the contract, they must STOP all collection efforts.


Leonardo

Runnemede,
New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Tough situation

#5Consumer Comment

Wed, July 19, 2006

Man, I feel sorry for what your going through. Though what everyone here says is true the bottom line is you opened the account for a money payment. You are in effect guilty of fraud. I'd be very surprised if anything good comes out of this for you. You MUST hire an attorney, no question. The account is yours and basically you bounced 8 g's worth of checks. In the end that debt is your responsibility. I wish you the best.


Steve

Tucson,
Arizona,
U.S.A.
Here is your Defense

#6Consumer Suggestion

Thu, July 06, 2006

Let's take a step back and see what really happened. Someone conned him into opening an account at Commerce bank. taht person obviously had the Account Number and ABA number of the bank. Someone, other than the poster, deposited funds into the account, then quickly withdrew them before the deposited funds cleared. The deposited funds didn't clear - the check deposited was fraudulent. This is a common scam. I suspcet the person who worked at Commerce Bank either added his own name to the signature card or initiated the transactions in question by himself. Now.... Commerce Bank will have a copy (actually, they should have the original) of the deposited item. Have them produce a copy. If they won't,., you can force them to (more on that later). I bet the endorsement signature won't be yours. That is not the problem, though. Next, you want a copy of the authorization to WITHDRAW the funds. THAT obviously won't have your signature, and if it does, you assert a claim of forgery. Also, look at the signature card for the account and make sure yours is the only authorized signature. If the signature used to withdraw the funds is not yours, or is not an authorized signature, then you have forgery and fraud defenses. Pressler & Pressler may very well sue. If they do, you now have defenses. If the bank won't give you copies of the documents I mentioned, you can force them to do so once Pressler & Pressler sues through a process called Discovery. I recommend you visit debtorboards. That is a web site I established to help people deal with bill collectors and their attorneys, just like this situation. It is totally free.


Steve

Bradenton,
Florida,
U.S.A.
Saleece, Just do this..

#7Consumer Suggestion

Thu, July 06, 2006

Saleece, Demand a copy [front AND back] of that $8000 check that was deposited to your account. If it is not endorsed by you, it is not your problem. And any money that was withdrawn you also need a record of that transaction. You need to file a complaint with the FBI, Financial Crimes Division and name your bank as a co-conspirator. It is illegal for a bank to turn you over to collections on a disputed item that involves identity theft or similar fraud. Good luck. ps. keep in mind for the future that there is no such thing as free money.


Stile

Phoenix,
Arizona,
U.S.A.
Dispute the debt right away

#8Consumer Suggestion

Thu, July 06, 2006

You need to write a certified letter, return receipt requested to Pressler and Pressler indicating that you dispute the debt. If you are sued, you need to show up in court. Your defense will be that this is a fraudulent transaction and that you neither initiated nor benefitted from it. You may need to consider hiring an attorney. Keep on Commerce Bank as well, and find out why this has been turned over to collections if there is an ongoing investigation. Also, if you haven't already, you need to file a claim against the unauthorized withdrawals made against your account. If they are fraudulent, then the bank can be held liable up to one year under Regulation E. You have some options, but you were definitely scammed.

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