I've been receiving bizarre phone calls from a robot on my cell phone. They start out with, "This is Michelle Thomas. I am contacting you about an important business matter. This is NOT a sales call ..." at which point I hang up because any time someone says it is NOT a sales call, it's a sales call (heh heh heh!).
A reverse phone book lookup turns this up for their caller ID:
Truelogic Financial Corporation
7100 E Belleview Ave
Greenwood Village, CO 80111-1632
(720) 974-0386
A Google lookup turns this up for Trulogic Financial Corporation: "TrueLogic Financial Corporation (TFC) provides enhanced receivables management services for post charge-off collections, and for purchasing client accounts receivables." I.e., they're debt collectors.
Since I don't have any overdue debts (indeed, have a significant sum of money in the bank), it appears that they're calling some deadbeat who *used* to have my phone number. I've had this phone number for two years, but (shrug) some of the debts these guys are buying are a decade old. And of course my phone number is unlisted, so it's not as if they looked up "Bad Tux" in the phone directory and picked my number from amongst all the other "Bad Tux"es in the area (something that happened to me when I lived in another city on the opposite coast from where I live now).
The next question is this: How the heck to get these folks to stop calling me, without giving them information they can use to further harass me for Joe Blow's debt?
- Badtux the Collectable Penguin
Note: Comments are now closed on this post. Please see the latest update, where they change tactics in their efforts to trick people into paying debts they don't owe.
144 comments:
If you wait long enough to get a person on the line, and let them know that you are not who they want, they will cease - heck, they're doing it to make money, and they will not make any by wasting phone time on you. (I usta do that - ick!)
If you don't let them know (just keep hangin' up) they wil keep calling you until civilization implodes.
I sat through the spiel, and all they did was give me a phone number to call (*not* a 1-800 number) and an extension number, then hung up. Completely robotic. No human involved. They even boast about their "collections technology" in their press releases. I'm not calling that number. Maybe a letter?
I've had bad luck with telling folks I'm not the person they're looking for in the past. I had one debt collector call me at my office. I explained to him that this was a business phone and there was nobody here by that name. He became irate and insisted I had to be lying to him, then demanded that I give him my driver's license number to prove I wasn't the person he was wanting to talk to. I politely told him to fuck off, don't ever call this number again, and hung up. He did call back even despite the law saying he couldn't if told not to call, and since I was in North Carolina and he was in New York, well...
- Badtux the Non-deadbeat Penguin
WOW. They've decended to new lows in that business! We had someone calling every two weeks about some magazines that my stepdaughter moved and didn't take care of. Hubby finally called tham and reamed them a new one, and they stopped.
You have their website - maybe an email?? ... Persistant jokers!
Or, if you are not expecting any calls for awhile, you could just leave it off the hook, and run up their phone bill?? Aww heck, it probably cuts off automatically too!
I'm getting these as well. In the past, I had a debt collector demand my info and then attempt to put my name on the collection, so I never, ever, ever give any info to these people.
Also, the first hundred phone calls they didn't leave a confirmation number (their technology seems to be microsoft-powered...for example, their website doesn't work on gecko or khtml-based browsers), so there was no way to call the dogs off even if I wanted to.
Now, I think I'm going to resort to call blocking.
BTW, it may not be someone else who had the number. They might have gotten it wrong, or someone might have put in your number (not knowing or caring who you are) on their credit application.
TrueFinancial debt collectors are professional assholes. Unyeilding, boorish, greedy m-f's who don't really care about anything but their commissions. This company should be against the law.
After blasting an email to info@truelogicfinancial.com basically promising every sort of legal action I could think of... They called me at least 20 times... Very frustrating... Here was their response:
I wanted to take a moment to let you know that we have received your e-mail regarding calls you have been receiving from our company. I would also like to assure you that your phone number has been removed from our data base.
I apologize that you have been receiving phone calls in error. Please be aware that TrueLogic Financial Corporation is not a telemarketing service but a third party collection agency. The purpose of the call is to collect a debt, and any information obtained would be used for that purpose.
Upon verifying that the consumer we are trying to contact cannot be reached at the number we have, we would remove such number from our records. At this time, please be assured that your number has been removed, however it could take up to 72 business hours to fall from our automated dialer.
Please feel free to contact me if you continue to receive calls after this time. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.
Sincerely,
Crystal Coleman
Administrative Coordinator
TrueLogic Financial Corp.
....
So we'll see what happens...
I just got off the phone with TCF. I never ever want to be in the position to be on the legitimate end of these calls... How can people live like that? I found it annoying... must be awful for those who the calls are really intended.
To get them to stop calling, the operator asked if she could verify the last 4 digits my SSN I told her it was not even close. She promised to take my phone number out of their system... Ok... I'll start counting the days til I get another... walked down that road with TFC a few months ago. How did they get My number? It is UNLISTED... or maybe my service provider sold it? Changing my number won't stop them...I just hate this.
I've been getting these same calls for months. A friend suggested a letter like this may put an end to the calls.
Corporate Headquarters
TruLogic Financial
Denver Technological Center
10000 East Geddes Ave. Suite 100
Englewood, CO 80112
Dear Sir,
I owe no money to your company or your clients. Failure by your company to verify this information will be considered willful disregard of the facts and acted upon accordingly.
Any future request by any employee of TruLogic Financial, its agents or assignees, for me to contact your company or provide information to your company will be construed as a verbal contract between me and your company to provide my services to your company at a fee and under terms of agreement determined solely by me. I will provide my services upon your request and bill at the rate of $1000/minute or any part thereof.
Sincerely,
I've been getting these too. Before this exact message that you mention, there was a similar sounding one from "Steve". At the time I called the number as I got tired of their messages. The "lady" who answered told me to call another number. I called the other number and they told me that my number wasn't in their lists. WTF??? Who the hell called me then. And of course they couldn't remove me as I wasn't on the list. Bastards!
They keep calling me too. I found this information online. Page 2 lists 4 corporate officers, their office phone numbers, and home addresses. I left a message for CEO Paul Konkel and told him that every time his agents call me, I'm going to call him.
http://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/ViewImage.do;jsessionid=0000gt8cnL35LggeXhAxU3SUWhw:10e80j0vs?masterFileId=20041010232&fileId=20041010232
I can't believe it. Michelle Thomas has been harassing me for a year! I don't owe anyone anything. I am 70 yrs. old and consider this A#1 harassment. I have talked to them and ask them to pleeeese stop calling me. They were very insistent on geting MY name altho they are calling someone with a family name of Miles. This is terrible as I am on the Indiana Attorney General's "no call list" and my phone number is unlisted.
The Attorney General's office of Indiana has suggested I report this to the FTC which I have done just today. Maybe if everyone that is being harassed by this bunch of nimconpoops reports them to the FTC we can get some positive action.
I can't believe this company! I've been getting these calls for 8 months. When I try to reach the "if we've reached your number in error message" they transfer the call then cut me off! I have yet to talk to a human. The calls start coming in as early as 7am. I feel like I'm being phone stalked!
I got a phone call this morning at 8am on a Saturday. I waiting through the message and pressed 1 to talk to a representative. Then some grouchy old guy answered and I asked what is so important to be calling on a Saturday morning? He said he was gonna hang up on me and call again next Saturday morning cause he didn't like my attitude! I notified the Verizon Nuassance Dept. and blocked all Private calls from coming in. We'll see what happens...What an asshole!
I also received the same phone call this Sunday evening. Fortunately, I didn't get to my phone on time and no message was left. I use Vonage for my phone system and checked the number to see who called. I didn't know the number so I googled the number and found this blog. I have been getting the recorded messages for quite awhile and when I hear it, I hang up. I didn't know what it was for and didn't care since a human didn't care to converse with me. I don't owe any money, I have no payments on anything and I don't know how they got my phone number other than the luck of the draw, or the luck of the dial. Thanks for the information about what the calls are about.
I just put a message in to Paul Konkel, President, Director and Michelle Thomas-wrangler. I'll be calling him every time his company calls me. I've also informed him that I'll be reporting his company to the FTC, and that I will start billing him for my time if he doesn't stop calling me.
ok just got this famous call..on a phone number i just got 4 days ago lol - i thought cellphone companies were supposed to hold the numbers for 30days or more before reassigning them out.
Well it looks like they are now harassing Arizona State (State cell phone)! I have been ignoring the call since I can determine that this is not a State business number and I definitely do not allow personal calls from out of state on my issued cell phone. I called back from an alternate phone and asked a simple question, "What kind of company are you"? Which the reply was what is your cell number? I replied back that all I needed to know was my initial question? I guess I irritated him and he said he did not have time for me because they were extremely busy and he hung up. Part of our initial phone usage requirement is to register with the "Do Not Call List" which I did!
I find it funny that you would not just simply take the time to call and let them know that you are not the person they are looking for.
also, before you go trashing companies you may find it interesting to know that this company is being nominated for one of the best places to work in colorado.
the industry is a necessity. you should not be sour against the industry...for if people were able to pay their bills and made responsible choices collections would not exist.
i hope you have better things to do in life than trash business' of which you know nothing about.
I finally did call and followed the instructions to tell them that I'm not the person they want. They kept calling.
As for being the best place to work in Colorado, that's what happens when you have a state run by Republicans -- the whole place goes to shit and the best place to work is for scumbags who have nothing better to do than harass random elderly people and penguins who have no outstanding debts.
I'm sure you are enjoying the $6.50 per hour that they're paying you to harass people who have no money, but that doesn't excuse being a bunch of incompetent scumbags.
- Badtux the Harassed Penguin
I have also been getting these same incredibly annoying messages from and today (after reading this blog) decided to try and do something about it. I called and finally got connected to the rudest guy. I told him I wanted the calls to stop, and he wanted me to give him my name, my husband's name, and the last four digits of my SSN#. I said I wasn't about to give out any information to him and that I wanted to speak to his supervisor. He kept yelling at me that if I chose not to cooperate, they would keep calling. His supervisor finally got on and said essentially the same thing, in as rude a manner as possible. After realizing they weren't going to let up, I hung up on them.
Do they really think most people would just call them back and give out all their personal info? If they aren't a fraudulent company, they might want to seriously rethink their collection tactics, because I can't imagine they get much out of anyone with these practices.
We have no debts, so I'm trying to decide how to get them off our backs. I think Verizon call-blocking is our best bet. What a bunch of morons they have working there.
They have been calling my cell phone almost daily for weeks. I have tried to talk to a person but all I get is voicemail. I have left a dozen messages. Here are the numbers to call any or all of the execs at TruLogic Financial : 720 area code 974-0715, 974-0716, 974-0714, 974-0713, 974-0386.
I have been recieving this same type of robot call (I thought it was against the law to use a robocaller to contact cell phones.... The same old "This is not a sales call" and the give me a number to call. I didn't want to use my phone as it is a phone that does not have my name attached to it. And of course the Bass Turds won't accept calls from a pay phone. So, I'm going to have to call them on my cell, and when I do I'm going to go totally postal on them Something like "listen her you buggers, Bollox with you! I've had this private line for 3 months and you are constantly on ny A$$ and if you do not stop calling I'm contacting my solicitor! So bollox with you and discontinue this harassment you spotty wankers! Well someting like that.
Anyone have true logic's fax #?
We've have problems with them too. I have never owned a cell phone, but they are trying to collect for AT&T. I n my case I believe it was identity theft.
Good luck all,
Jerry
"Michelle" calls every few days, trying to collect a 'debt' of about $85 from over TWENTY years ago. This amount was dealt with a long time ago, and is NOT outstanding! I made the mistake of returning 'her' call, and gave enough info for them to determine they were calling the right person!! What a dummy I was!! For some reason they do not have my address to send a letter? Did they not hear about Google?
We are all dealing with a bunch of dummys.
I'm an attorney in las vegas, and I'm gonna sue them. The TCPA, 47 U.S.C 227 forbids use of automated dialers on cel phones, and gives you the right to sue them.
So happy (and frustrated!) to see I'm not alone! They call me at 8 am on Saturdays, 8 pm during the week... I have more than once told them (and numerous other lawyers and collection agencies) that I am not the person they are looking for, nor do I know the person they are looking for. I have even gone so far as to give them the current address and phone number of the person they're looking for (from the current phone book, don't they have access to this info??!), and yet they still call, weeks and months later!! GRRRR!
Today I received my first phone call from this company. They did not indicate who they were, but my caller ID gave a telephone number. Since the call left me with an odd feeling I did a reverse phone search on the internet to find out the call came form "TrueLogic Financial". I then looked the company up on the internet, and found this blog. In my case they asked for "Xxxxx Xxxxx" The first name they asked for was my offical given name (but I use a derivative of that name). The last name started with the same letter as my last name, but the similarity ended there. I told them no one lived here by that name and they hung up. I suspect they were fishing for someone or something. After finding your blog, it will be interesting to see what happens now. I also have A-1 credit, and no debt problems. Hmmm.
This is why they continue to harrass people they know are NOT the originators of the debts:
From http://www.edcombs.com/CM/Actions/Actions332.asp
Just because a debt buyer claims money from you in court or in a collection letter does not mean that it is entitled to anything. Many of the debts they purchase are undocumented, beyond the statute of limitations, or legally invalid. The older the debt, and the less documentation a debt buyer acquires, the cheaper it is, and the more money a debt buyer can make.
In 2004, the Federal Trade Commission shut down a debt buyer called CAMCO headquartered in Illinois. The following is from a press release issued by the FTC in connection with that case.
. . . In papers filed with the court, the agency charged that as much as 80 percent of the money CAMCO collects comes from consumers who never owed the original debt in the first place. Many consumers pay the money to get CAMCO to stop threatening and harassing them, their families, their friends, and their co-workers.
According to the FTC, CAMCO buys old debt lists that frequently contain no documentation about the original debt and in many cases no Social Security Number for the original debtor. CAMCO makes efforts to find people with the same name in the same geographic area and tries to collect the debt from them – whether or not they are the actual debtor. In papers filed with the court, the FTC alleges that CAMCO agents told consumers – even consumers who never owed the money – that they were legally obligated to pay. They told consumers that if they did not pay, CAMCO could have them arrested and jailed, seize their property, garnish their wages, and ruin their credit. All of those threats were false, according to the FTC. . . . (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/12/camco.htm)
This is also why they ask for SSN and other information. With little or no information on the original debt they purchased, perhaps they feel the need to make it up by supplying yours? Gives identity theft a whole new meaning, don't you think?
Although I have not called back the company (especially not now after reading what y'all have gone through), I just filed a complaint with FTC. I have been receiving calls from Michelle Thompson for over a month. We'll see if these calls stop now.
We just started receiving these phone calls as well. I just filed a complaint with the FTC, and recommend everyone else do the same.
You can also contact your state's attorney general's office to file a complaint as well.
A look at their standing with the BBB will show they are not a reputable company and have many complaints against them.
Link to the FTC complaint form.. https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
In an update, "Michelle Thomas" *FINALLY* quit calling me, two months after I told them to quit. Yeah, that's right, they broke the law for two months, calling on average twice a week (which I didn't answer since my cell phone was programmed to identify them, but it was still interesting to watch their robot work).
These guys are shameless. If it wasn't for the fact that it's more trouble to file lawsuits than to simply ignore their calls, they'd be bankrupt from all the lawsuits coming in against them. What a bunch of maroons.
-BT
I get the same phone calls from them and other dumb ass' around the US. Recently I was getting a call from Educational Direct every day Morning , noon and night. Sometimes twice a night. I finally got a packet from them and they're saying that I owe 64000 bucks thatI never went to school for. The social the App was not mine and the birth was not either. I called them back and told them to stop calling me. And that they had the wrong person. The attempted to call me again the next day and I answered the phone and tild them what for and if they call me again I'm taking the pamphlet and them to the police. They stoped calling. Thank you very much.Maybe I should try it with trulogic. I know that if you went to school in denver CO you probably get phone calls from trulogic. If not than take them to the police for harrasment.
Just found this post. Thank god for all you who posted stories/potential solutions. I thought I was the only one going through this hell.
Haha, I get the same message too! I have found a very effective way to stop it, as well. Basically, record the message to your computer or another device, call them after hours and wait for Michelle to come on (robot). Press 2, wait for voice, then 2 again. After the tone, play back their message. Repeat until their mailbox is full!
For the record, the previous suggestion is called "phone jamming", and it is illegal.
Argh! Pretty much same story as all of the above. Started on the 25th of this month, spoke to some rude SOB who asked for my phone number (not given - wash your own lists buddy). Two on the 28th (one at 8:30 in the morning), but the name given was "Stephanie Jones" on the second one, although the voice sounded identical. Another Sunday (again, around 8:30am), and yet another just now from the "Michelle Thomas" identity. All CID as 720-974-0386. Tried to get someone on the phone again this time and got dumped into the hold queue where one of the ads directed me to truelogicfinancial.com (and thus here). I guess it's off to the FTC and State AG I go...
"TrueLogic..." must be an oxymoron... or maybe they just employ them
Seems this has become the unofficial TruLogic complaint center.
I get the same call at the same time every day except Sunday. It seems even Satan's minions take that day off to rest.
I am certainly not going to call them back knowing the kind of treatment I'll receive.
I have a feeling that even if I DO call, credit card in hand, and say, "hey here's all the money you claim I owe" they'll still be assholes.
Lawyers don't help. I had mine write a letter and call them and the calls keep coming.
OH MY F*CKING GOD! are you kidding me?!?!?!! I JUST started getting these calls and NOW I guess i have something to live for (NOT) I thought it was a mistake. I called the number back (by the way, they call me and the the "robot" apparently is broke. they say NOTHING) I thought it was some stalked and I googled it. I am SO HAPPY I found this. Now, I can just ignore the calls and stop looking over my shoulder for the MAD stalker.
I've been getting these calls for 2 months!!! I just got one at 8 am this morning and googled it. This was the first post that came up.
I KNOW we don't owe any money to anyone. I've even tried waiting on the line, only to be hung up on!
What is up w/some poster DEFENDING this company? Ugh.
Michelle Thomas!!! Got 2 of these calls on my answering machine about a week apart. I think it may be related to a piece of vacant land my Grandmother owned back in the 1920s. Several years ago it was put up for sheriffs sale and the matter was closed. I vaguely remember the collection agency being Genesis something, which until recently was another name used by Truelogic. Im not responding to any of these calls. If they send something by mail, then I will look at it. So far its not showing up on my credit report. Probably because my father owned the house before his death over 10 years ago and the collection is tied to his name and my phone number is the same as his was.
Whenever I start getting these annoying calls-I program them into my phone directory as computer caller and set the ringer on silent! This way I'm not bothered by them at all since they don't leave messages anyway. After a while the computer will drop your number if a person never answers the phone
Be sure when you call back to choose option 1 or whatever as if to make a payment, to talk to a live person. That at least helps get a live person.
Stephanie Keeps Calling me!!! Aarrggg... Always at night. They leave the same CID of 720-974-0386 Though tell me to call 877-337-3099. I call it and get dead air.
been going on for months. Get maybe 1 a week...
So how have people got them to stop calling??
I am now getting the call from Stephanie Jones every day.This has gone on for three weeks. I am so sick of this. I don't owe anyone any money at least in a delinquent way. I am going to report it to the FCC and the telephone company.
I just got off the phone with these guys. Second time I have called them, first time I got the threatening person, this time I got the "Good Cop" They are trying to collect on a debt for a phone in a place were I never lived. Anyway, here is their fax # and address.
720-488-4296
PO Box 4437
Englewood, CO 80155
i got the same message from michelle... i just pressed one at the end, talked to a very nice lady and told them that i am not of the robinson residence on some street i don't know. verified that my address was not theirs (didn't give a name or anything) and they said they'd take my number off the list. we'll see what happens.
I actually registered awhile ago with the DO not call registry and yet have been plagued by months of their calls...
SO glad to see i am not alone in being annoyed with them
I regsitered a complaint with the donotcall.gov people, not that this will have any effect, but for the moment, i feel better...
iM ASLO GETTING THESE HARASSING CALLS CANT WE JUST DO SOMETHING TO STOP THEM FOR GOOD
I've been getting these calls for quite a while now....as the ANI (Caller ID) isn't one I recognize I simply ignore it. Good to know I've been ignoring a scumbag. I'll see about filing an FTC complaint, to see where that get's me, as well as contacting my local service provider to see if it can be blocked. Thanks for the great blog and info.
I get calls from different collection places. Some are looking for my husband's sister. His sister doesn't even know our address OR phone #. They don't even talk to each other. They said we'd better tell her to call them "or else". Or else what? You WON'T call me everyday??? Some are looking for some guy I've never heard of, and then there's "Michelle". I don't know WHO she wants to talk to. I didn't even know her name was Michelle for a long time because she starts talking while my answering machine is still giving the outgoing message. And when Michelle says "use this reference # when you call", there's dead silence and my machine hangs up. Now we get calls at 8AM on Saturdays and 8:30PM on Sunday's. My husband answered the phone once out of anger, and got into a fight with some jerk who was trying to act like he was in the mafia or something. The guy said "I don't take well to threats, capisce?!" Working at Burger King is a more respectable job than what THESE people do for a living.
i guess i'm a lucky one. i was getting the calls every day for a couple months, when i finally just pressed 1 to talk to someone. told them i had no idea who they were trying to reach, nor did i know anything about the bill. they verified the phone number they called me at and the address/name they had didn't match. then said they'd take me off the list. i haven't had a single call from them since then. so, at least one nice person with at least half a brain works there.
I have been getting the calls for over two months now ... several times a day ... and tried to call the CID number and it said "sorry but all circuits are busy".
She says it is NOT a sales call but she has a business opportunity for me. Her calls have come as early as 8am and as late as 9:30 pm. Short of paying money to block the number I don't know what to do. It is ANNOYING. I ended up disconnecting my answering machine several years ago because telemarketers and politicians were clogging the machine with messages until the tape ran out. Now I just use the CID, which I love.
M. in N. VA
Same problem here. Those jerks keep calling my home for someone named Heather Scowden (along with a bunch of other debt collectors) and I tell them all this is not that persons phone number. They all promise to quit calling, but usually less than a week later I get the same phone calls all over again. Very annoying!
I was getting these calls from Trulogic and I wrote them a letter (giving only my phone number) and said that since my number was on the no-call list, I was making a complaint to the FTC. (which I almost did but didn't want to reveal my name and location to the FTC since they would use it with Trulogic.) I also stated that any more calls would be met with harassing calls from me to their Pres and other corporate officers. And I copied those names and addresses from their web site. The calls stopped about two days after they should have received my letter. I haven't had a call in 3 weeks.
Thanks for this web site for giving me a clue as to who and what was making these calls and what to do about them.
I've had the same experience that everyone else has had. However in my experience I did have a debt that I paid off over three years ago to another agency called Palisades. Apparently Palisades sold my "info" to True Logic. They have never left a message on my phone nor did any phone number come up on my caller id, however they now have started calling my parents home in another state. I read a few of the links posted on this site and find it very interesting. How do you get them to leave you alone completely? I'm not going to pay a debt that was already paid!
TruLogic displays a logo about being a proud member of ACA. Found this site (see link below about filing a complaint) but they have an awful search engine. I have not been able to get it to return a result for TruLogic being a member. Also have not found a similar image to the one on TruLogic's site (http://www.truelogicfinancial.com/internet/images/ACAlogo.jpg)
How to File an Ethics Complaint
http://www.acainternational.org/consumers.aspx?cid=209
After I called these clowns, told them I checked my credit report and it was perfect with a FICO score of 813 as well and I never had a Verizon cell phone nor a cell phone of any kind, then said I would sue if they continued harrassing me, it appears they finally stopped. I also sent emails to this email address (it is hard to find on their website unless you know a trick or 2). If you get harrassing calls about bills you dont owe (after checking your credit report): info@truelogicfinancial.com
For those wondering if it is against the law to dial a cellular phone with an automated machine, it is illigal. I am sending a notice stating this and threatening a lawsuit if they do not stop calling me immediately.
The law: Title 47 U.S.C. § 227
I have been receiving these calls as well. They left an 800# to call (866-488-4299). I phoned this number, spoke with a representative who told me they were looking for my husband's ex-wife, regarding a debt (she has a habit of referring creditors to us - how psycho is that?). I simply told them she hadn't lived here in over 5 years and gave them her current phone number. The representative said they would remove our number from the system, so we'll see. But I wanted to pass on the 800# for those of you who haven't been able to contact them, thought this might help. Again, their number is 1-866-488-4299.
I've been getting calls on my cell phone over the last two weeks from two companies (I think). One I spoke with yesterday, and these are their details:
Collection Company of America
700 Longwater Drive 2nd floor
Norwell, MA 02061
The number I have for them (which Cingular actually gave me) is 1-800-455-8026. Gary Ginza is the asshole I spoke with. My new friend Gary claims that I owe Cingular a few hundred dollars, but Cingular says my account is fine, and that CCofA is probably phishing to get my information. CCofA is demanding that I send them proof of non-debt with Cingular, but Cingular warns me not to send them any personal information.
The other number that calls me is 877-473-1223, though they leave a message asking me to return the message by calling 877-518-6509. I haven't called, and have filed complaints with the FTC for both of them. If anyone finds information about this second number, I'd appreciate the posting.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: 23(b)(3) Class action. Anyone attorneys out there game?
47 United States Code 227
(b) Restrictions on use of automated telephone equipment
(1) Prohibitions
It shall be unlawful for any person within the United States, or any person outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States—
(A) to make any call (other than a call made for emergency purposes or made with the prior express consent of the called party) using any automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice—
(i) to any emergency telephone line (including any “911” line and any emergency line of a hospital, medical physician or service office, health care facility, poison control center, or fire protection or law enforcement agency);
(ii) to the telephone line of any guest room or patient room of a hospital, health care facility, elderly home, or similar establishment; or
(iii) to any telephone number assigned to a paging service, cellular telephone service, specialized mobile radio service, or other radio common carrier service, or any service for which the called party is charged for the call;
. . . .
(3) Private right of action
A person or entity may, if otherwise permitted by the laws or rules of court of a State, bring in an appropriate court of that State—
(A) an action based on a violation of this subsection or the regulations prescribed under this subsection to enjoin such violation,
(B) an action to recover for actual monetary loss from such a violation, or to receive $500 in damages for each such violation, whichever is greater, or
(C) both such actions.
If the court finds that the defendant willfully or knowingly violated this subsection or the regulations prescribed under this subsection, the court may, in its discretion, increase the amount of the award to an amount equal to not more than 3 times the amount available under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
Do these jerkwads at Truelogic EVER send letters? I've been getting calls from these morons since May on a pretty much daily basis but I'm not the person they want. I wanted to send them a cease letter cause me calling and telling them they have the wrong person was a waste of time. Is there nothing we can do?
I would like to know how you filed the compaint to the FCC as I have received these calls too. Thanks.
I posted on 12/5/06 about the first call received from this company, saying I thought they were fishing for information.
In our case the calls continued for a couple of months - maybe longer -- but so far we have not heard from them for a while now. I'll explain my last conversation later.
Our calls came on our land line, not our cell phone - which, by the way, is Verizon too.
It was interesting that on one of the calls, the caller was talking to someone else when I answered our phone and did not realize I had answered the the phone yet. I heard him telling the other person "The secret is to give them lots of information, and they'll give you information back." I interpret his comment to mean "just give address, a name that might be close, a telphone number, a number that sounds like a social security number, anything that sounds legitimate -- and the person you call will "correct" you and give you information you can run with. Than, whammo! We've got something to work with, correct person or not."
About the same time these calls were coming in, another company called at time or two, using the same tactics, as well as someone who was listed as an attorney who I found on a reverse search. Lions Edge" (or something with "Lions" in the caller ID) was one of the callers, too.
Early on I politely explained they had the wrong person, to which they "politely" asked for verification of my personal information - always asking a question such as:
Did I live at XXX Address - which I did once, and didn't once.
Was my social security number xxx-xxx-xxxx. It wasn't even CLOSE.
Was my name Xxxx Xxxxx. It was close-sounding, but was not my name.
Did I ever live at XXX Address. I had not, even in the mentioned city.
Etc.
So each time they told me they would remove my number, but the calls continued.
I finally got to the place that I refused to answer the phone when caller ID showed these folks, but eventually grew frustrated at their many attempts, at all times of the day and night. So I called them back. Told them that "As I've told you before I'm not whoever you are looking for, have never been who you are looking for, and don't know who you are looking for. And if you call EVER AGAIN I'm contacting the FTC and every authority that even MIGHT have an interest in the way you do business -- and further, I am prepared to file a lawsuit and file harrassment charges." At this, the person grew very irate and told me they had never called me before. I told them they HAD called before, and HAD told me they would remove my phone number from their records, and that I would not take their unwarrented harrassment any longer -- they had they wrong person if, indeed, there ever was such a person."
They didn't quite plainely like my attitude, or my call, but ... I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN -- so far.
However, I'm in agreement with an earlier suggestion. I think it is time for us to come together, get our ducks in a row to and do whatever we need to do to get ready to participate in a class action suit -- and I often think the ability to file a lawsuits is abused, so my suggestion is out of character.
If this many people are being wrongly accused and harrassed, how many others who do not know how to find this blog think they are alone - or, worse, pay money they don't owe? I surmise we are a very small tip of a very, very large iceburg.
I suggest we all start keeping accurate and impeccable records - names, times of day, phone numbers called, exactly what the caller said, exactly what we said -- everything -- so that if a Class Action does happen we have plenty of ammuntion, all of it good, useable.
I also suggest that if we all, starting today, hit the "record" button when these folks call, let them know "this conversation may be recorded for quality assurance" and then keep these recorded calls - for a long time, in case they are needed to put this disreputable bunch out of business. Almost every answering machine will permit recording a conversation with the touch of a button.
Is there an attorney out there than would be willing to advise about what we should be doing to help an attorney take this to court and start "getting our ducks in a row" if a class action suit ever becomes a reality?
Another wrinkle.
The Idaho Statesman had an article in on July 27, 2006 about another potential wrinkle in a scammers arsenal.
They report that Phishing is so "yesterday" and that scammers and people looking for information are now using caller ID to their advantage.
They, for one thing, purchase a phone card - to make the caller ID appear to be someone different. You can find more about them at SpoofCard.com.
They can talk in their regular voice and make the call sound either male or female - and make the call appear to come from anywhere, including an attorney's office.
According to the report the calls are much more efficient than simple phishing and yeild better results for the bad guys.
Another reason to be very, very careful. I'm wondering if the "attorney" mentioned in the previous blog really was. It's obvious the collection tactics of "TrueLogic Financial Corporation" are questionable, at best.
I know our prisons are overcrowded, but these folks in all the categories mentioned in this blog need to be vigorously pursued and prosecuted. They deserve to room with the rapists, molesters, murderers, and meanest of our society. "Mean" is still mean, no matter who is wearing it. Besides, it's probably costing society as much to try to protect ourselves from these guys, in paying for bills not ours, and in recovering stolen identity as it would to catch, imprison, and prosecute them.
We need to treat them like criminals because -- they are.
More information about potential spoofing tactics that might, or could be, used by TLC - and other such "collectors" and "investigators". We need as much information to protect ourselves from questionable methods as they have to use against us.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0607160318jul16,1,3555003.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-03-01-caller-id_x.htm
http://www.spoofcard.com/
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/consumeralert/9535511/detail.html
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.privacy/browse_thread/thread/84299a361f379ce5/d077a9161e2ce0c7?lnk=st&q=&rnum=9&hl=en#d077a9161e2ce0c7
Wow! I'm a victim too. What a relief to know that I'm not alone! I'm filing a complaint with the FTC and my state's attorney general's office. Thanks to all for the suggestions.
We have been recieving calls from these jerks for longer than I can remember. For an account that was stettled along time ago! I am send a cease and desist letter. Don't let up on these jerks! ~~Mr. Moe
http://ihatedebt.com/DealingWithYourCreditors/DealingWithDebtCollectors/Cease_and_Desist_Letter_for_Debt_Collectors.php
They've been harassing my mom for three weeks now. I filed a complaint with the FTC and with the Colorado AG's office (they give you a PDF form to fill out and snail mail in). We have no idea what they're calling about. I included a link to this page in both complaints.
If they are calling me on my cell, but I have free incomming, is that still breaking the law (since I am not paying for the call like the statute states?)
We just got this phone a month ago, we moved from out of state. I don't even know the number, we just use our cellphones, the landline was just to get into our gated community. After looking at the page, I called the number back and ACTUALLY GOT SOMEONE!!
Me->"Hi, do you not understand what the do-not-call list is?"
jerkface->"Hi, do you not know what a collection agency is?" *tries to get my number, doesn't succeed*
"Why, yes, I do. I also understand that we've only had this phone for a month and neither of us are in debt."
"we're looking for a ......."
"We just moved here!! We don't know anyone!!"
"ok" *hangs up*
funny how even though he asked for my number he didn't even need it. Not nice people, at all. I even heard people in the background saying "what is their PROBLEM?!"
I hate tele-everything. I don't even like calling people to tell them that their prescription is ready to be picked up.
The only money I owe is the car loan and the student loans...those are all paid up. Yet they have been calling me for years.
I'm really calm and gentle person...but if I ever meet somebody from that company I swear I'm gonna kick the living shit out of them!
I, just this morning, received my first call from these folks at 8:00AM! An automated system asked me to hold the line. After listening to some terrible hold music I was transferred and someone picked up. No one ever said a word, but I could hear some activity in the background. After a few seconds they hung up.
Oddly, they called on my cell phone which is owned and registered to the LAW FIRM that I work for.
Hopefully this is a one-time thing, but after reading all the posts that might be wishful thinking.
I called the number back and asked them who they were trying to reach. The name they told me was not one that I recognized. After I told them that it wasn't me, they said they would remove my number. I haven't heard from them since! That was 4 weeks ago. There is hope!
Been happening to me for a good 3 months - finally upgraded my phone service to have Caller ID. Google search landed me here. They called yesterday, fiance answered. Said I owe SBC $300 or $400 (I don't remember) - but she told them they were full of it, we don't owe anyone anything, and to stop calling. They called today. I filed a complaint with the FTC...
And, now any time they call again, I file another complaint...
I recommend that everyone who's been having this problem call Paul Konkel, the CEO of TrueLogic. His office phone number is 720 974-0715. Read this to him (or to his answering machine):
47 United States Code 227
(b) Restrictions on use of automated telephone equipment
(1) Prohibitions
It shall be unlawful for any person within the United States, or any person outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States—
(A) to make any call...using any automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice...
(iii) to any telephone number assigned to a...cellular telephone service...
(3) Private right of action
A person or entity may, if otherwise permitted by the laws or rules of court of a State, bring in an appropriate court of that State—
...
(B) an action to recover for actual monetary loss from such a violation, or to receive $500 in damages for each such violation, whichever is greater.
If the court finds that the defendant willfully or knowingly violated this subsection or the regulations prescribed under this subsection, the court may, in its discretion, increase the amount of the award to an amount equal to not more than 3 times the amount available under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
Then tell him you've filed a complaint with the FTC, and that you're keeping a record of the calls from TrueLogic (and your cell phone bill will have them), and that you fully intend to sue him. A dozen or so calls at $500 a call adds up to a lot of money...
If anybody knows how to get ahold of this clown Konkel's home phone, that'd be great.
My god how glad I am that I decided to google that number that's been calling me!!! This company is such a pain in the ass!! I've had my number at home for about a year now and when I first got it, I got a few collection calls for some guy that had it prior to me. I kind of expected that as any time you get a new number there are bound to be wrong number calls. The collection agent I spoke to then was very nice (not truelogic) and said she would removed me, takes 48-72 hours, yada yada yada. So, 3 days later, I get another call from a different person. Advise them of pervious conversation. They tell me they see my removal order, apologize and end the call. Not another word until 2 weeks ago. Apparently TrueLogic bought out this company's stuff and I am getting calls 6 TIMES A DAY!! I am not exaggerating. Ok, want to talk spooky?? The phone is ringing RIGHT NOW for call number 4 today. I am at my wits end. I use this number for my home based AVON business and I"ll be damned if I will change it because of this company!! I have found out that they are harrassing my father in law too with a person with his last name and middle name. My FIL has never gone by his middle name... EVER. I just signed up for the national DNC list. Next time it rings (which will be in about 2 hours) I plan to answer and in the mood I'm in, the person on the other end is going to get an earful! I am NOT intimidated by phone drones. I was a floor supervisor at a call center and am used to dealing with morons on the phone.
Thanks for providing a place to vent and I wish luck to all of us caught in this horrible mess!!
April
After calling Konkel a few times at his office, and once at his home, filing a complaint with the FTC, and exchanging emails with Trulogic's lawyer, they have removed me from their list. Or so they say. I recommend being as aggressive as possible. It's not worth it to them to deal with someone who as disrectful of boundaries as they are themselves.
Another solution is to download a set of SIT tones (at the bottom of the page, here: http://privatecitizen.com/sit.html). When the caller ID shows Truelogic, pick up the phone and play the SIT tones. This will tell the automatic dialer that they've reached a phone number that's out of order, and the computer on their end will (probably) automatically take you off their call list.
Hi, Folks:
A few months ago I starting getting these calls. Did a quick Google search and came up with a dude named Paul Konkel who is the CEO of Truelogic. Did another quick Google search and came up with this: Paul Konkel, (303) 932-8718, 15 Honey Locust, Littleton, CO 80127. That's his home address and phone #. If u want to play hardball, u should use it freely. If they can call u at home, u can call him at home. I bet the calls would stop coming real quick if u did, and there's no way it's illegal to make a simple phone call (say at 2 in the morning) if u don't say anything like a threat or call 2 many times.
-- Darby.
OMG! OMG! This is Michelle Thomas' Myspace page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=86410519
Check it out! Bad poetry! Dirty pictures! Little remarks about how she likes making money! (By harassing old people for debts they never incurred.) She's kind of ugly, too!
And here's another one, who admits to being mentally unstable! http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=45795485
And here's another! http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=33655717
Maybe we shd leave them messages about how glad we are to be their friends!
If you think this is unfair, consider how much misery they cause for other people, how much time they waste, how much money they steal by threatening legal action against people who don't owe any money. They are crooks who prey on weak people and harass everyone! They deserve whatever they get.
My contribution: Michelle Thomas phone # is (303) 699-8926.next time she calls u at home call her at home
I've been called by these idiots for months! I've returned the call telling them I am not who they are looking for and to call US Cellular to confirm I am not whoever they are looking for. I got the 72 hour thing to remove my number (that was 3 calls ago) - I've filed a complaint with the FCC and sent a complaint to the Attorney General's office in Colorado. The message I got back from the AG's office is to send a request in writing (and sent certified mail - need the documentation that they received it)to TruLogic telling to stop calling. If they call after they have been notified then you can turn them into the AG's office since it is against the law for them to call after receivng a stop notice. -- Still waiting on the return card from the post office. New thing they have started the last 3 days (yes, daily calls) - the calls now come in as "unknown" and not with the 720 number.
Good luck getting them to stop calling - and thanks for the idea and the phone number so i can start calling their folks at home...