I also had the same experience. On Thursday, I received a phone call at work by a guy with a strong accent. Stating he was calling to collect a debt. I explained I could not talk at the moment and would call back. When I got home I had two more messages. My caller id indicated it was from an unknown number. The next day I had a voice mail message from a Shawn Woods indicating I or my attorney needed to call him back. If I didn't call back I would be sorry.
Later that evening I called the number back that was left on the voice mail [protected]. I spoke with a man by the name of Michael (I could not get his last name because he would stumble through it) He explained I had defaulted on a payday loan by Fast Cash. I admit I have had some payday loans but Fast Cash did not sound familiar. He explained Fast Cash was a company that ran several internet pay day loan companies. He explained I owed $745.75. He indicated the company intended to take the lost but they were charging me with 1. Violation of Federal Banking Laws 2. Theft by Deception 3. (can't remember the charge). He further asked if I was on probation, if I have ever been convicted of a felony, and if I had ever filed bankruptcy or had judgments against me. He had a lot of personal information such as my references and my address, and the LAST 4 digits of my SS#. When I asked if I could settle he said he would have to speak to his "client". He put me on hold and said I could make the payment via credit or debit card. I said I did not have one and he said go to Walmart and get one. Also, they wanted a letter of apology stating that I had no intention to skip your payments but due to financial reasons I was not able to pay. He wanted me to sent attention to Fast Cash with a fax # of [protected]. I told him I would. He stated he was located in Californina and if I did not contact him back the charges would be filed on Monday. I again asked for his name and bar number due to claiming he was an atty. He fumbled through his last name and gave a bar number of 252554.
I immediately called my atty or assured me I could not go to jail and that they would have to file civil suit for damages. She then called them and Michale's "assistant" became flustered with my atty. and hung up on her. She called back and spoke with Michael who apologized but told her she was not a real atty. She again stated she was and wanted to know the underlying company this money was owed to and he stated Quick Cash. Again, the name did not sound familiar. She requested documentation which he stated he did not have. Before I agreed to send the money my attorney advised for me to sleep on it because it still did not seem right. In the mean time Michael was calling me again stating he did not receive the fax documentation.
The next day I was able to think clearly. I realized never once did they advise me that they were calling to collect a debt, everytime me or my attorney called we got the same person (how many times have you called a collection agency and spoke to the same person EVERY time?) He kept indicating we could reach him on his cell phone because he was heading to court (at 5:30?) How can you file paperwork on me in Californina and I live in Michigan. Would you not have to petition the Court in Michigan? He could recite the last 4 digits of my ss#. When I checked the internet I could find the name of the business on WhitePages, Better Business Bureau, or any other search engine. All I could find was complaints mirroring the same as mine. I called my atty back and she advised me to pay nothing and she faxed a letter to them explaining that I was hesitant and willing to settle the debt AFTER they provided documentation of the debt.
