Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Oregon

Scam debt collectors

I have recently received harassing phone calls from someone calling themselves a collection agency. They claim it has to do a with a corporation I closed (owing no one at the time) back in fall of 1999. They claim I owe Sprint 7000 dollars. I have called the police about them and the police said to hang up on them and if they show up at my door to call 911.

My credit report is solid. I just recently opened an account with sprint for a cell phone - in June 2006. I pay it every month like clock-work. I have no knowledge of anything else owed to Sprint before now. My company never had any accounts with sprint.

As of today, the company harassing me has finally given me a name or at least three letters - UCB and a phone number to call them back. This is the first time they have given anything to me. I searched the phone number on the net and could not find anything associated with it. The number is: 866-216-3673.

I am considering calling the police again and giving them this number but thought I would write to you first to get your thoughts.

I appreciate any info you send. In this day and age of identity theft, I don't think you can be too careful what information you give by phone to unknowns.

thanks,


Asked on 4/19/07, 2:18 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Svitek Svitek Law Group, LLC

Re: Scam debt collectors

They most likely have violated several provisons of the Fair Debt Collections Act. For instance collection agencies have to identify themselves very soon after calling you and they need to send you a follow up letter within several days of their initial contact so you can write them to verify/dispute the debt.

If you can ever figure out who they are, you could bring a lawsuit to collect for each infraction (each being worth $1,000 and you would need to keep track). Assuming you win your lawsuit, then you would try to get at their assets.

You could attempt to get compensated, but if they are complete crooks, best to let the police handle them. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business affairs also regulates collection agencies, and you could also file a complaint with the Oregon Attorney General (that being said these agencies only have resources to go after the most egregious offenders).

You're probably wondering why you should have to deal with them. My guess is that if you can ignore them long enough that they'll go away (fortunately) but will move on and scam their next victim (unfortunately).

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Answered on 4/20/07, 2:50 am


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