I received a phone call on my home phone demanding to speak to a deceased relative and I informed the person that the person was deceased and asked if I could help her... she then said she was trying to reach my son-in-law about a collection matter and that I should call him and tell him to call "Mrs. Riggins" at 1-888-219-4201 extension 6779 immediately.

I recognized that this same company had been calling and leaving messages on our answering machine. I had called them previously to tell them not to call our number about someone else's alleged debt and when I asked the name of the person I was talking to they refused to give it and then I informed them that I was recording the phone call and they immediately hung up. I called back twice with the same refusals and hang up.

They have since called four times after being told repeatedly not to call this number anymore for any reason.

First they were in violation of the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) by disclosing to a third party that they are trying to collect a debt. Second they are in violation by repeatedly calling my number after they were told never to call again. Third they refused to give the name of the person representing the company.

Even a quick check on Wikipedia under Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives the summarized rules that a Collection Agency must follow and it appears that this company ignores those rules as a general practice since there are numerous complaints about them on many consumer reporting sites as well as an "F rating" with the Better Business Bureau and numerous complaints and disciplines by various state agencies and the Federal Trade Commission.

In investigating this company I found that they customarily "buy" alleged debt for pennies on the dollar... often debt that is near or past the statutes of limitations in the states where the debt occurred and then they use unscrupulous tactics including but not limited to calling relatives and neighbors and other third parties making threats and harassing phone calls and character assassinations. When it comes to actual legal action, they almost never do it because they rely on bullying and intimidation instead of legal avenues to do their collections.

My advice is first to give them no or very little information if they call. Second if they are calling about a third party, immediately report them. Third demand that they put everything in writing and contact you only by mail... and follow up in writing to tell them the same thing. If they are in any way abusive or violate any part of the FDCPA file a complaint with the BBB, your state collection agency licensing board, and the Federal Trade Commission. The only way unscrupulous companies like this can profit is if they are allowed to harass and intimidate and bully by telephone. If they actually have to get off their lazy asses and do things legally, they move on to the next sucker. And check also to find out your state statute of limitation on collecting debt.

I believe that if someone justly owes a debt, then they should pay it, but the supposed debt to a collection agency is usually greatly inflated on top of the fact that they paid only small percentages for the debt anyway. After investigating many collection agency complaints, I have yet to see one that is professional and ethical in all of their practices. But United Collection Bureau scrapes the bottom of the barrel when it comes to scumbags.

I have poa for my sister. She has mental disability and is unable to work. Told the women that at this time she is not able to make payments on this account because she does not have the money right now. She threaten that if this account was not paid my sister would go to jail. Then she had the nerve to say that since I had my sister poa, I had opened the account and my credit was bad. When I asked for her name she only wanted to give me a last name.
asked for first name she told me "I'm the boss" finally got her first name not sure she was telling the truth