Tag Archives: consumers
Live On-Air Radio Interview with the Author of Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors Book
March 7th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Just a quick note that I (Allen Harkleroad) have an on-air radio interview on KSVY – 91.3 FM Sonoma, CA, the GUYS@5Thursday show, to promote my latest consumer book “Stick it to Sue Happy Debt Collectors”.
Evidently I am a Creditor for the Now Defunct Debt Collector Mann Bracken LLC
March 5th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
I received a letter today from the receiver of the now defunct debt collector Mann Bracken LLC. I am assuming I am receiving the notice below because I filed a lawsuit against Mann Bracken for multiple violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). I am in discussions with a consumer protection attorney on how to proceed and file a claim against the estate of Mann Bracken, LLC (702 King Farm Boulevard, Rockville Maryland). If nothing else it is good to know the tables are turned and Mann Bracken is out of business for good.
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Evidently I am a Creditor for the Now Defunct Debt Collector Mann Bracken LLC
Debt Collectors Will Pay More Than $1 Million to Settle FTC Charges – Credit Bureau Collection Services
March 3rd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Another unethical debt collector gets smacked by the Federal Trade Commission — A nationwide debt collector has agreed to pay a civil fine of more than $1 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated federal law by inaccurately reporting credit information and pressing consumers to pay debts they often did not owe. According to the FTC’s complaint, the company and two of its officers illegally tried to collect invalid debts and reported them to the credit reporting agencies without noting that consumers disputed them. In addition, even after receiving information from consumers that a debt was paid off or did not belong to the consumer, the company continued to assert, no longer with a reasonable basis, that the consumer owed the debt, without trying to confirm or dispute the consumer’s information, in violation of the FTC Act. The FTC charged that the company, Credit Bureau Collection Services, and two of its officers, Larry Ebert and Brian Striker, violated the FTC Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The company also is charged with violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act by reporting information to credit agencies that consumers had proved was inaccurate, failing to inform to the credit agencies that consumers had disputed the debts, and failing to investigate after receiving a notice of dispute from a credit reporting agency. In addition to imposing the $1.1 million civil penalty on the company, the settlement order: Bars the defendants from further violations; Prohibits them from making unsupported statements to collect a debt or obtain information about a consumer; Bars them from making claims that a debt is owed or about the amount, without a reasonable basis; Requires the defendants, when a debt is questionable or a consumer questions it, to either close the account and end collection efforts or investigate the dispute. If they cannot show that the consumer owes a debt, they cannot sell the debt or provide it to any business other than the original client; and Bars the company from re-reporting information to credit reporting agencies that it had voluntarily deleted from credit reporting before December 2008. The Commission vote to authorize staff to refer the complaint and consent decree to the Department of Justice for filing was 4-0. The documents were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division. The Commission recently released a video for consumers who are facing debt collection . The video is at www.ftc.gov/MoneyMatters , a site that includes information for consumers on managing credit, dealing with debt, and a variety of other financial topics. NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendants have actually violated the law. Consent decrees are for settlement purposes only and do not necessarily constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation. Consent decrees are subject to court approval and have the force of law when signed by the judge. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
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Debt Collectors Will Pay More Than $1 Million to Settle FTC Charges – Credit Bureau Collection Services
Attention Former Debt Collection Employees – I am looking for Debt Collection Policies that Advocate Illegal Collection Tactics
March 1st, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
To anyone in the debt collection industry, especially former debt collection employees. We am looking for official company internal documents that advocate the use of illegal debt collection tactics to collect debts. There is a CASH reward for verifiable documents that show proof that a debt collection company actively advocates illegal collection tactics. Use this contact form to contact us and to attach documents. Today could be your “pay day”. It’s time that bad debt collection companies are exposed for what they really are. All contact will be confidential.
FTC Halts Telephone Massive Cramming Operation that Illegally Billed Thousands; Alleges Scam Took in $19 Million over Five Years
March 1st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A U.S. district court judge has ordered a halt to the illegal practices of an Internet services company that crammed unauthorized charges onto the telephone bills of thousands of consumers and small businesses for services they never agreed to buy. At trial the Federal Trade Commission will ask the court to halt the practices permanently and force the defendants to give up their ill-gotten gains. The FTC charged that Inc21 and its affiliated companies sold Internet services, including Web site design services, Web site hosting, Internet directory listings, search-engine advertising and Internet-based faxing, for charges ranging from $12.95 to $39.95 a month. The FTC alleged that the defendants hired off-shore telemarketers to call prospective clients. Sometimes the telemarketers offered a free trial, without explaining that consumers would have to take certain steps to avoid charges. In other cases the telemarketers said they simply were calling to verify their business contact information. The FTC alleges that Inc21 used third-party billing aggregators, to place charges on the phone bills of thousands of consumers and businesses that either: were never contacted at all; were told they were contacted only to verify business information; declined Inc21′ s offer of Internet services; or were told they would receive a free trial offer, but not informed that they would be charged if they did not cancel. In papers filed with the court, the FTC charged that Inc21 and its agents supposedly made tape recordings to demonstrate that its charges were authorized. But the FTC alleged that in many cases, the recordings were doctored to misrepresent the call and the consumers’ responses. In other cases, the voices on the tapes are not those of the consumers who were supposedly on the calls. The FTC charged the defendants with unfair and deceptive acts, in violation of the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. District Court Judge William Alsup issued a Temporary Restraining Order, and then a Preliminary Injunction to halt the unlawful conduct, pending trial. In his Order, Judge Alsup wrote, “It was Inc21 who orchestrated this overall scheme and set in motion an army of telemarketers who committed fraud. Even if Inc21 did not approve of the fraud (and it seems likely that it did approve), the fact remains that Inc21 is responsible for organizing this engine of fraud and reaping its profits. As such, Inc21 may certainly be held accountable and the engine of fraud may be shut down by court order.” The defendants named in this matter are Inc21.com Inc., doing business as Inc21, Inc21.net, Inc21 Communications, Global YP, NetOpus, Metro YP, JumPage Solutions, GoFaxer.com and Fax Faster.com, Jumpage Solutions, Inc., GST U.S.A., Inc., Roy Yu Lin and John Yu Lin officers and directors of Inc21. The FTC complaint also names Sheng Lin, the father of Roy and John Lin, as a “relief defendant” because he allegedly received funds that can be traced to the deceptive and unfair practices, and has no legitimate claim to those funds. The FTC received invaluable assistance in this matter from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS-Criminal Investigations Division. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint was 4-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law. The case will be decided by the court. The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm .
Payment Processing CEO Banned from the Business; Company Illegally Debited Millions from Consumers’ Bank Accounts
March 1st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The chief executive officer of a payment processing company will be banned from the business as part of a settlement resolving Federal Trade Commission charges that the company illegally debited millions of dollars in bogus charges from consumers’ bank accounts. In 2007, the FTC charged the executive, Tarzenea Dixon, her company, and others with processing unauthorized debits on behalf of deceptive telemarketers and Internet-based schemes they knew, or deliberately avoided knowing, were violating the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. In addition, the attorneys general of Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Vermont charged the defendants with violating various state laws. According to the FTC complaint, the company played a critical role in helping many of its clients carry out these illegal schemes by providing access to the banking system and the means to extract money from consumers’ bank accounts. Between June 23, 2004, and March 31, 2006, the defendants processed more than $200 million in debits and attempted debits. More than $69 million of the attempted debits were returned or rejected by consumers or their banks for various reasons, an indication that in many cases consumers had never authorized the charges. In many instances, the merchants either failed to deliver the promised products or services or sent consumers relatively worthless items. The settling defendant is Tarzenea Dixon. Her co-defendants are Your Money Access, LLC d/b/a Netchex Corp., Universal Payment Solutions, Check Recovery Systems, Nterglobal Payment Solutions, and Subscription Services, Ltd.; YMA Company, LLC; and Derrelle Janey. In addition to permanently banning Dixon from any payment processing, the settlement order bans her from substantially aiding any marketer when she knows, or consciously avoids knowing, that it is violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The order imposes a $22 million judgment that is stayed based on her inability to pay. The full judgment will become due immediately if she is found to have misrepresented her financial condition. The Commission vote approving the consent in settlement of the court action against Dixon was 4-0. The FTC filed the documents in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on December 22, 2009, and court entered the order on January 11, 2010. Litigation against Janey continues. On October 28, 2008, the court entered a default judgment against the corporate defendants, Your Money Access, LLC and YMA Company, LLC, barring them from payment processing for any client whose business practices are deceptive, unfair, or abusive within the meaning of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the state consumer protection laws. The case was part of the FTC’s “Operation Tele-PHONEY” telemarketing fraud law enforcement sweep announced in May 2008. Wachovia Bank Redress Program In December 2008, the FTC announced a settlement between the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Wachovia Bank, N.A. to issue more than $150 million in redress checks to victims of telemarketing fraud. The checks reimbursed consumers for funds deducted from their accounts by three payment processors that maintained accounts with Wachovia, including Your Money Access. NOTE: Stipulated final judgments and orders are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
Scammy Get Motivated Seminars Flood My Mailbox featuring Rudy Giuliani, Zig Ziglar, Dr. Robert Schuller and Terry Bradshaw
February 28th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
I got 6 scammy looking “business seminar” ads in my postal mailbox yesterday. All addressed to different people but the same postal address. It appears that Get Motivated Seminars, inc. (800-445-2162) scraped several of our websites and compiled a marketing list (just like
West Virginia AG Settles With Debt Collectors
February 23rd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
According to the State Journal , West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has reached settlements with three companies that used very different approaches to collect debts that were often disputed, sometimes non-existent, and in the case of one company, so old that the time to sue had expired. The three companies – Allied Interstate of Minneapolis, Minn; Jefferson Capital Systems of St. Cloud, Minn; and Wilhelm, West, Kacey & Associates (WWKA), of Canton, Ga. – promised to conform their practices with state and federal debt collection laws in the future. Collectively, they agreed to make restitution, cash refunds, and to cancel debts totaling $404,091.48 for 446 West Virginia consumers. Anyone wishing to file a complaint about a consumer matter or to alert the Attorney General about unfair or deceptive practices may do so by calling the Consumer Protection Hot Line, 800-368-8808. Read the full story on the State Journal .
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West Virginia AG Settles With Debt Collectors
Allen Harkleroad WANTED by the Debt Collection Industry and ACA International for Fighting Back
February 10th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
Live in Georgia? Get a Rebate for Buying New Appliances
February 9th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
While it isn’t quite ready for prime-time, the State of Georgia will be soon offering rebates to Georgia consumers for replacing old non-energy efficient appliances through the Georgia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program (GEFA Rebates). The program begins February 12, 2010. The State of Georgia will implement a mail-in rebate program to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR
The FCC Considers Ramping Up Crusade Against “Robo Callers”
February 8th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) already has regulations concerning the use of automated (predictive) dialers to cellular phone numbers. The FCC has proposed several new regulations that would curtail the use of automated pre-recorded message dialers and automated dialing systems. If adopted, the changes to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act would limit the use of prerecorded calls and automatic telephone dialing systems. The stricter guidelines proposed by the FCC on Jan. 20 have debt-collection companies in an uproar. Right now, non-sellers can make “autodialed” or prerecorded calls to wireless numbers. The ARM or “account receivable management” professionals claim they had consumers’ “prior express consent” for those calls when the customer provided a cell phone number on a credit application. Debt collectors have expressed outrage about the plan on insider Web sites. A few suggested suing debtors as a way to get even for the new restrictions . Some blamed voting in liberal Democrats when Republicans have been “traditionally better for the ARM (Accounts Receivable Management) industry.” ~ source Delco Times If adopted debt collectors are suggesting they will sue consumers in retribution if the new guidelines are approved, even though it is the US Government taking the action. This is exactly why I (Allen Harkleroad) wrote the book, “ Stick it to Sue Happy Debt Collectors ”. I say let them sue and then the consumer can beat them in court. It is a sad fact that only one out of ten consumers respond to a debt lawsuit, and 90 percent (or more) the debt collector had not physical proof that a debt is owed. It is time for the bad lawsuits to go away, consumers must fight for their rights.
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The FCC Considers Ramping Up Crusade Against “Robo Callers”
Score Another Consumer Advocate Victory for FMD Consumer Blog
February 6th, 2010. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
This was a hard ‘nut” to crack. I finally determined that FreedomRoad Financial was owned by Evergreen Bank Group / Bancorp Financial Inc, both of Oak Brook Illinois. The backstory A consumer and his family was being harassed by FreedomRoad Financial for being a credit reference on a loan application. Imagine that, being harassed over someone else’s debt for being a credit reference. FreedomRoad Financial’s alleged investigator even called the consumers family and scared the consumers mother to such a degree that she literally “freaked” out. I suspect though that the “investigator” is an employee of FreedomRoad Financial. Read the fill story here on FMD Consumer (opens in a new window). As a consumer advocate / Consumer Watchdog, I managed to contact the CEO of Evergreen Bank Group and the Vice President of FreedomRoad Financial and within 24 hours they contacted me and are investigating the issue. Hopefull they will fire the “investigator” and “Michelle” for violating collection laws. This is the response I received from Tom Collins the Vice President of FreedomRoad Financial: “Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Dell must defend suit alleging defective notebooks
February 6th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I have a cousin that had a Dell laptop, after Dell replaced the video card four times and the motherboard at least once, they ended up shipping a refurbished replacement. It took four months for my cousin Floyd to get a laptop that worked.
UPDATED: Freedom Financial of California Behind Harrassing Debt Collection Phones Calls – 866-354-5387
February 5th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
UPDATE: The consumer that was begin harrassed over a debt that wasn’t his, he was merely a reference on the original loan. He finally received a response, Freedom Road Financial in Los Angeles were behind the calls. I aso discovered the Freedom Financial involved with the harrassment is owned by Evergreen Bank Group which is owned Bancorp
UPDATED: Freedom Financial of Reno Nevada Behind Harrassing Debt Collection Phones Calls – 866-354-5387
February 5th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
UPDATE: The consumer that was begin harrassed over a debt that wasn’t his, he was merely a reference on the original loan. He finally received a response, Freedom Road Financial in
I Service and Repair More DELL Computers Than Any Other Brand
February 5th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I was thinking back over the last several years and I recall that I have repaired or serviced more DELL computers than any other brand that comes to mind. Many times it is a hard drive replacement. Not sure if it because Dell uses cheap drives in the PC’s or what as the brand of drive varies. Other times the problem arises when customers update drivers from the Dell website. “Cheap is as Cheap Does, I Guess”
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I Service and Repair More DELL Computers Than Any Other Brand
Debt Collectors No Text Message or Cell Phone Collections for You
February 4th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
It’s good to see that the FCC wants to further regulate the collection industry using the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Often debt collectors cross the line when attempting to collect a debt. It’s time to muzzle the collection industry even further. The FCC has proposed that the TCPA be brought into alignment with the FTC’s telemarketing rules. But the new proposal does not include an exemption for collectors and banks, effectively erasing decades of precedent. Last month, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
My Book is now ranked #1 for Consumer Law and #4 for Litigation/Courts on Amazon.com
February 4th, 2010. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
The Kindle version of my consumer book, Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors, is ranked #1 Best Seller
Stick it to Sue Happy Debt Collectors Book is now ranked #1 best seller for Consumer Law and #4 for Litigation/Courts on Amazon.com
February 4th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The Kindle version of my consumer book, Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors, is ranked #1 Best Seller
Not My First Time Dealing with DELL Computers
February 4th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A year or so ago I had to build a Dell Sucks website to grab their attention. #1 An overseas Dell technical support employee blatantly lied and told me several of my systems were out of warranty and proceeded to charge me for parts that were covered under warranty. They were in face covered under warranty #2 I had purchased a loaded DELL XPS laptop that shocked me every time I touched it. #3 I refused to pay my Dell account until Dell fixed my issues, they never got around to it, so I refused to pay Dell Financial a any money. Subsequently it was turned over to a collection agency. Eventually Dell came around and “fixed” the problems, and credits were given to satisfy my Dell account debt. Now I am having to fight Dell over shoddy capacitors in several of my systems and one of my customers systems. There is no telling what might have happened if the leaking and swollen capacitors had exploded, as they do many times. So I am back with “ Dell Hell Again ”. ~ Allen Harkleroad
FTC Warns 78 Retailers, Including Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart, to Stop Labeling and Advertising Rayon Textile Products as "Bamboo"
February 3rd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Seventy-eight companies nationwide have received Federal Trade Commission letters warning that they may be breaking the law by selling clothing and other textile products that are labeled and advertised as “bamboo,” but actually are made of manufactured rayon fiber. The letters, which the agency’s staff sent last week, make the retailers aware of the FTC’s concerns about possible mislabeling of rayon products as “bamboo,” so the companies can take corrective steps to avoid Commission action. “We need to make sure companies use proper labeling and advertising in their efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers,” said David C. Vladeck, Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Rayon is rayon, even if bamboo has been used somewhere along the line in the manufacturing process.” The FTC sued several companies last year for allegedly selling products labeled or advertised as “bamboo” that in reality were made of rayon. Rayon is a man-made fiber created from the cellulose found in plants and trees and processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree – including bamboo – could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon. “While we have seen action by some retailers to correct mislabeled clothing and textile products, our hope is that these warning letters will serve as a wake-up call to all companies, regardless of their size,” Vladeck said. The FTC staff letter outlines the requirements for proper labeling and advertising of textile products derived from bamboo. The letter states, “Rayon, even if manufactured using cellulose from bamboo, must be described using an appropriate term recognized under the FTC’s Textile Rules. . . . Failing to properly label and advertise textiles misleads consumers and runs afoul of both the Textile Rules and the FTC Act.” In the letter, the FTC tells the companies they should review the labeling and advertising for the textile products they are selling and remove or correct any misleading bamboo references. Along with the warning letters, the agency sent each company a synopsis of FTC decisions finding that the failure to use proper fiber names in textile labeling and advertising was deceptive and violated the FTC Act. Under the Act, the FTC can seek civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation against any company that receives this information but fails to correct its advertising and labeling. A complete list of the companies sent warning letters can be found on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release. They include small and large retailers, with both online and brick-and-mortar stores, and firms selling textile products labeled or advertised as “bamboo” that may be made of rayon. The more commonly known retailers include: Amazon.com, Barney’s New York, Bed Bath & Beyond, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bloomingdale’s, Costco Wholesale, Garnet Hill, Gold Toe, Hanes, Isotoner, JC Penney, Jockey, Kmart, Kohl’s, Land’s End, Macy’s, Maidenform, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, QVC, REI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, Shop NBC, Spiegel, Sports Authority, Target, The Gap, The Great Indoors, Tommy Bahama, Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart, and Zappos.com . Recent Enforcement Actions. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of four FTC enforcement actions brought against companies selling rayon products that were misleadingly labeled and advertised. According to the Commission’s complaints, filed in August 2009, the companies falsely claimed that their rayon clothing and other textile products were “bamboo fiber,” marketing them using names such as “ecoKashmere,” “Pure Bamboo,” “Bamboo Comfort,” and “BambooBaby.” The complaints also challenged a number of other deceptive “green” claims, including that the products retained the bamboo plant’s antimicrobial properties, were made using environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and are biodegradable. The four companies have settled the FTC’s charges and agreed to modify their labels to ensure their claims are not misleading or deceptive. (One of the cases still needs final FTC approval.) Press releases announcing the complaints and related settlements can be found at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/12/dynabamboo.shtm and http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/bamboosa.shtm , respectively. Business and Consumer Information. The FTC has a publication designed to help businesses that sell clothing and textile products that are labeled as bamboo to market their products in ways that are truthful, non-deceptive, and in compliance with the law. “Avoid Bamboo-zling Your Customers” can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo . The FTC also has an alert entitled “Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?” that provides useful information for consumers shopping for bamboo-based fabrics. It also can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo . The Commission vote to publicly disclose the warning letters was 4-0. Copies of the letters and a complete list of companies that received them can be found on the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo and as a link to this press release. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.shtm or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm .
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FTC Warns 78 Retailers, Including Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart, to Stop Labeling and Advertising Rayon Textile Products as "Bamboo"
Just Registered DellHellAgain.com Time To Get Busy
February 3rd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Just registered a new “sucks” domain, dellhellagain.com as this is my second major go around with Dell. I felt it only fitting. Everything will be up and running in short order. ~Allen
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Just Registered DellHellAgain.com Time To Get Busy
UPDATED: Abusive Debt Collection Tactics from 866-354-5387 Freedom Financial of Los Angeles
February 3rd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I received an email last night from a consumer that claims they are only a reference listed on an account. Supposedly he isn’t a signee at all, yet he and his family are being harassed by a caller (866-354-5387) claiming to be an investigator and stated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) didn’t apply to him. Hi, i have been contacted by a debt collector looking for a person who put me down as a reference, i told the investigator Davis i did not know where the motorcycle was and i had already told that to previous collectors from his firm, i asked him never to call me again, he then stated that he was not a collector rather an investigator, and was not bound by the collection laws, he then went on to call my family members telling them i was in major trouble freaking out my mother , is there anything i can do in this situation? i recorded a call from him. he would not give me a company name but did leave a number 866-354-5387 . What are my options? If it were me, I would temporarily block my caller ID and call the number to see if the number is legitimate. If it is find out who they are and then run to the closest consumer protection you can find. “Investigator” Davis” is not an investigator, he is a debt collector using illegal tactics, that is why he refused to give you the company name, he knows he he is breaking the law by calling the consumers family members and scaring them. If he calls back again ask him for his state investigator license, if he isn’t a debt collector (he probably is though) then remind him that investigators in your state are licensed by the state and he must provide you his investigators license number. What will mostly likely happen is one of the following: (a) he’ll hang up and not call again, (b) Give you some sort of bogus license number. If he does then you can get your state involved by filing a complaint with the state regarding a fraudulent investigator. After all if he gives you a bogus number than he is incriminating himself. If he refuses to give you a license number you bet he is a debt collector that breaks the law. Either way you got him and the company involved by the “cahones”. While I believe it is a debt collector it may be a collection scam, there are quite a few of them making the rounds across the U.S. I would suggest talking to your family and tell them that it is a debt collector using scare tactics. Ask them if possible to record future conversations or at least keep a log with the dates and times that they call each family member. If you do find the company behind the number and sue them, you will need the times/dates for use in court. I did look into the phone number, I didn’t find the company behind the number but did find references to complaints of “Marshalls” and “Investigators” calling from that number. Typical rouge debt collector scare tactics. Until such time that the identity of the company behind the 866-354-5387 is found, a consumer has limited resources in which to fight back. I would start with my states consumer affairs division and file a complaint. You may also want to consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it probably won’t help you personally but there will be a record of the abuse. You could also file a report with the local police regarding the harassing phone numbers and then have the phone company put a trace on the line. The phone company generally won’t put a trace on a line unless a police report has been filed. I once had a debt collection company call me claiming to be an officer of UCB (United Collection Bureau) and she got all kinds of nasty, even told me she would call my neighbors and while on the phone with me she did, and my neighbor called me and told me immediately. I should have sued them, but at the time I didn’t know how (now I do). I did call United Collection Bureau and talked to the vice-president of compliance. After playing back the conversation between myself and the UCB officer, he said measures would be taken and I never go hassled by UCB again. Like I said I had the physical evidence, I just wish I knew then what I know about suing debt collectors for violations of state and federal law. UPDATE: The consumer that was begin harrassed over a debt that wasn’t his, he was merely a reference on the original loan. He finally received a response, Freedom Road Financial in Los Angeles were behind the calls. “I told “agent Marshal Davis” out of “northern CA” that i did not trust that he was a real investigator, and might be a phishing scam. I managed to get him to tell me that he is working on behalf of FreedomRoad Financial www.frf1.com he then gave me his contact at freedom road financial Michelle Peacan and her number to verify that he was working for them, i called her at 775.562.3816 and asked if i could record the call and she said no and that she knew who i was and that she has an agent working the case, i then said i did not trust that she worked for freedom road financial and she gave me the their 866.455.7623 main phone number to verify that she was a company representative, stating that she was the only michelle working there, sure enough dial by name brings you to Michelle Peacan, I told her that i was recording the call, i said that i never signed for anything and was not contractually obligated to them and wanted them to stop calling me, she stated that i was involved because i had once told their collection agent i knew where my friend lived and where their bike may be, i then asked if i was in trouble she said that i was involved with the theft of the bike, again i asked if i was in trouble and she said she was not a lawyer and that she would do what she had to to get the bike back and hung up on me.” Need help in dealing with crazy or sue happy debt collectors? Give my book a read .
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UPDATED: Abusive Debt Collection Tactics from 866-354-5387 Freedom Financial of Los Angeles
Think Twice Before Buying a Dell Computer – They Use Shoddy Motherboard Components
January 31st, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
At first I thought what I am sharing with you was a single isolated incident, after the third discovery of the same issue with Dell motherboards, in three different models I decided that it is time to disclose Dell’s use of cheap and/or shoddy electronic components. The first incident I discovered in one of our PowerEdge 4600 hosting servers. The server in question is worth more than the card I drive. A year or so ago one of the four hot-swap power supplies began to cause errors and subsequently the server would randomly shut down. This affected many of our customers financially. After babysitting the server for several days, I pulled the malfunctioning power supply out and let the server run on the remaining three. The server stopped shutting down and for the time being I forgot about the issue. About 9 months later (3 months ago) another power supply started causing the same problems. The server again would randomly shutdown. I shut the server down and pulled it all apart and discovered the power distribution board than controls the four power supplies had swollen and leaking capacitors as you can clearly see below. I did manage to talk to Dell Support on a Saturday morning and they gave me the part number(s) for the power distribution board. I called Dell parts the following Monday and they did not stock the part, I was told that it would have to be manufactured (?) and the couldn’t tell me when a board would be available. I couldn’t wait indefinitely for a board from Dell so I ended up getting the board from a Dell equipment surplus company. I got the board in three days and after installing haven’t had any further problems with the server. Shortly after that a customer brought me a high-end Dell XPS tower PC that would not startup. After troubleshooting the power supply I started looking at the motherboard. Initially I saw no immediate problems with the board. However, upon removing the fan shroud from the processors I discovered swollen and leaking capacitors on the motherboard. Dell XPS motherboards are extremely difficult to match as the only documentation I can find are “generation” notations (gen 1, gen 2, etc.). I am still trying to match the motherboard so I can buy a surplus board to install. Next my Dell Precision 650 workstation began randomly shutting down, often times while I was in the middle of working. I pull the system offline and opened it up. I am guess by now you know what I found. Once again I found leaking and swollen capacitors. By this time I am seeing a pattern of shoddy/cheap/defective electrical components on system critical boards. The above are three different computer system that were manufactured in different years and yet have the same identical problem. I have never seen leaking and swollen capacitors in this many computer of the same brand in all my 16 plus years of performing computer repairs. The only thing that can cause this sort of problem is that Dell is buying cheap components for their motherboards in an effort to boost their profit margins on the computers they sell. To top it off one of my family members has a Dell XPS laptop and the motherboard has been replaced four times by Dell to date. I am not positive it’s a capacitor issue but you can bet I believe it may be. I encourage you the next time you shop for a computer stay away from Dell computers. Take a look at Acer, HP and Gateway computers. You’ll be better off if you do.
Originally posted here:
Think Twice Before Buying a Dell Computer – They Use Shoddy Motherboard Components
A Free Legal Resource for Pro Se Defendants and Litigants
January 31st, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
I just discovered that Google Scholar now has State and Federal Law, including citations, opinions and decisions. What’s even better there are no fees involved. When searching select “Legal opinions and journals”, it yields better legal research results. Google Scholar is a great starting point for consumers defending themselves in court on credit card debt lawsuits, not to mention Pro Se litigants such as myself that sue debt collectors over FDCPA and FCRA violations. The common consumer now has access to legal opinions and decisions that can be used in court filings. I’ve also found it invaluable for seeing what bad debt collection companies are being sued for, this makes it easier for me to file stronger cases against them I encourage anyone that is researching legal issues to give Google Scholar a try before spending money on other online resources. You may just find what you are looking for without having to spend a dime. If you are defending yourself in court against debt collection lawyers and don’t know what to do, you need to get this book, Stick It To Sue Sue Happy Debt Collectors , It shows you exactly how to defend yourself and win, and how to sue debt collectors for harassing you.
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A Free Legal Resource for Pro Se Defendants and Litigants
Virginia AG Goes After Capital One for Debt Collection and Re-Aging
January 25th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
I’ve had dealing with Capital One myself, they are a sneaky bunch, it appears that the Virginia Attorney General decided to do something about it. Hopefully other State’s Attorney Generals will dig deeper into Capital One’s business practices. West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw announced Friday that his office has sued credit card issuer Capital One and a debt collection agency for “unconscionable conduct in connection with their credit card lending and collection practices.” The complaint alleges that Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF), tricked consumers into payment plans by sending them solicitations disguised as offers of new credit. The arrangement allowed Cap One to re-age the debt so that it did not fall under the statute of limitations.
Hope For Haiti Program – Did it really need to be on 26 TV channels at the same time?
January 23rd, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
Last night the wife and I settled into our normal Friday evening routine of watching television. Unfortunately Hope for Haiti was on 26 channels and the same time. While I do admire the fact that the television networks were trying to reach out to viewers in an effort to help with the Haiti disaster, I can’t help but think that there was some sort of monetary gain for the networks as the show ran on (at last count) 26 different channels at the same time. Why else would so many networks run the same exact show? It makes me wonder now much of a “cut” each TV network got from the donations. The show was even on Comedy Central which almost never runs anything of that nature. I am afraid that in running the same program on many channels had more of a backlash effect than a positive effect for the Hope for Haiti. My wife and I after watching the same thing on
The FDCPA Does Not Give Debt Collector the Right to Leave Voice Mail on Answering Machine
January 21st, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
I am so glad the 11th circuit court ruled properly on this. I am about to rip a big hole out Hollander Law Offices LLC
Beware of the Fake IRS – Unreported/Underreported Income Scam Emails
January 20th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Luckily I read all email in plain text format as opposed to HTML email,, because I do that I can see the actual links in emails instead of the links being hidden in HTML format email. I got this scam email this morning and for a moment I thought it might be legit until I saw the last portion of the link. It directs to a site in Poland (.pl). The Internal Revenue Service does not use email regarding problems with your taxes. They always correspond via printer letters sent via US postal mail. Any time you get an email from the US government regarding a problem like taxes, do not click any links, print it our and contact the agency, as in the case the IRS ( www.irs.gov ).
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Beware of the Fake IRS – Unreported/Underreported Income Scam Emails
Owner of New York Process Server L.I. Process Pleads Guilty to Fraud
January 16th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
These kinds of folks have caused so many consumers all kinds of problems. Nice to see the owner is going to jail. The owner of a Lynnbrook process server company pleaded guilty to fraud Friday after his company failed to properly notify thousands of people that they were facing debt collection lawsuits. William Singler, owner of American Legal Process, admitted in Nassau County Supreme Court that he knew some of his employees didn’t properly serve court papers the company was hired to deliver. Prosecutors said that left many debtors unaware they were being sued until their cases were over. A pending lawsuit by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo seeks to toss out nearly 100,000 legal judgments related to cases on which the company worked. “Many (victims) had their bank accounts frozen, their wages garnished and liens put on their homes, all because they were denied their day in court,” Cuomo said Friday. Source: Long Island Press
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Owner of New York Process Server L.I. Process Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Video Intro to My New Book – Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors
January 15th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
Below is the video introduction for my new book.
Maryland Court to Dismiss Thousands of Mann Bracken Debt Collection Lawsuits
January 14th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
In a win for consumers, a Maryland court is dismissing tens of thousands of lawsuits filed by the Mann Bracken law firm. Mann Bracken was one of the largest nationwide debt collection law firms until recently. When the state agency that licenses debt collectors investigated, it concluded that the firm no longer met the licensing requirements. On Monday, the licensing board issued a cease-and-desist order directing Mann Bracken to immediately stop collections. Earlier this month, Mann Bracken LLP began sending letters to Maryland District Court clerks saying the firm — which is national but has a major office in Rockville — would shut down at the end of January. – source: The Daily Record Now if the other 49 states would take the same action Mann Bracken will only be an empty shell of the past. Yep, Karma has kicked Mann Bracken square in the ass this time! All I can say it is high time that all involved with Mann Bracken go broke and get harassed by debt collectors. That would be the ultimate irony, wouldn’t it.
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Maryland Court to Dismiss Thousands of Mann Bracken Debt Collection Lawsuits
Marketers of Unproven Weight-Loss Products Bronson Partners LLC Ordered to Pay Nearly $2 Million
January 11th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Court Rules in Favor of FTC in Case of Diet Tea and Bio-Slim Patch A federal district court has ordered the marketers of an herbal tea and a diet patch to pay nearly $2 million to the Federal Trade Commission for making deceptive claims that both products would allow users to lose weight quickly without diet or exercise. For nearly two years before the FTC complaint was filed, Bronson Partners, LLC and its officer, Martin Howard, marketed Chinese Diet Tea, telling consumers they could lose as much as six pounds a week by drinking one cup of the green tea after each meal to “neutralize the absorption of fattening foods.” Advertising in national magazines such as USA Weekend and Clipper Magazine, the marketers charged $24.95 plus shipping and handling for a month’s supply. Also during this time, the marketers sold the Bio-Slim Patch, a diet patch that contained extracts from the fucus, garcinia, and guarana plants. Instructing consumers to wear the patches 24 hours a day for at least three months, the marketers claimed that “repulsive, excess ugly fatty tissue will disappear at a spectacular rate due to the combination and synergy of these three natural ingredients.” The marketers advertised the patch in national magazines and in a company catalog, and consumers paid $24.95 plus shipping and handling for a month’s supply. In addition to ordering the nearly $2 million payment, citing “obvious and widespread” violations of the FTC Act, Judge Stefan R. Underhill of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut granted the FTC’s request to prohibit the defendants from selling or advertising any weight-loss products. “Future violations of a similar nature would surely result in financial harm to consumers, and possible physical harm if consumers engage in risky weight-loss techniques in reliance on (the) defendants’ misleading representations,” the judge wrote in his December 2009 ruling and order. He also ordered the defendants to help the FTC identify consumer victims who lost money on the products, so that restitution can be made. The FTC filed its complaint against Bronson Partners, LLC and Martin Howard as part of the “Big Fat Lie” law enforcement sweep in November 2004. The sweep targeted marketers of bogus weight-loss products, such as pills, powders, gels, green teas, and diet patches. In July 2008, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut granted the FTC’s request for summary judgment against Howard and Bronson Partners, LLC – also doing business as New England Diet Center and Bronson Day Spa. Copies of the November 2004 complaint and the December 2009 ruling and order are available on the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
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Marketers of Unproven Weight-Loss Products Bronson Partners LLC Ordered to Pay Nearly $2 Million
It’s No Wonder Mann Bracken, Axiant, et al are Going Out of Business
January 10th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Everything is starting to make sense as to why Axiant and Mann Bracken are running and hiding. It all stems back to Accretive LLC which owns Axiant which in turn owns Mann Bracken LLC/LLP, and Wolpoff and Abramson LLP (both debt collection law firms). Their parent company Accretive and the National Arbitration forum are being sued for antitrust violations and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Racketeering (RICO) Act violations. Take a look below the U.S. District Court (Federal) court filings against them.
Debt Verification versus Validation – It’s the Same Thing
January 10th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I read a lot online, and one of my biggest interests is reading about how debt collectors abuse and harass consumers. One thing that crops up a lot are the terms “Debt Verification” and “Debt Validation” and I believe these is a bit of confusion surrounding them both. These terms are both one and them same, legally speaking under 15 U.S.C.
Debt Verification versus Validation – It’s the Same Thing
January 10th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I read a lot online, and one of my biggest interests is reading about how debt collectors abuse and harass consumers. One thing that crops up a lot are the terms “Debt Verification” and “Debt Validation” and I believe these is a bit of confusion surrounding them both. These terms are both one and them same, legally speaking under 15 U.S.C.
Motion for Summary Judgment by Mann Bracken in Class Action lawsuit DENIED
January 10th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Mann Bracken may be going out of business, however
It’s Official Mann Bracken the Debt Collector is Out of Business in Atlanta
January 6th, 2010. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
I just watched the WSB-TV channel 5 Mann Bracken report ( not sure how long the video will be up ) by Jim Strickland that indeed Mann Bracken the debt collection law firm in Atlanta is indeed closed. He also reported that the State of Georgia is continuing it’s investigation of Mann Bracken. The company that own(ed) Mann Bracken, Axiant has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and I am betting that Mann Bracken LLP will be doing the same in very short order. Supposedly Axiant owes Mann Bracken around 10 million dollars. (I think I am going to print and frame this image) Mr. Strickland and also reported that the State of Georgia is requesting the appellate
Are Any Former Mann Bracken Debt Collector Employees Reading this Blog?
January 4th, 2010. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
New Book – Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors
December 28th, 2009. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
I (Allen Harkleroad) am about to release a new book titled “Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors”. This is my second consumer book and I believe is a much needed resource for consumers having financial difficulties. What you will read in my book is based on own personal experiences and what I learned from dealing with debt collector lawsuits over the last couple of years. For the record I have been sued so many times over the last couple of years that I have literally lost count. I can tell you one thing with one hundred percent certainty; I win in court and stick it to sue happy debt collectors, attorneys and law firms. It took a while to learn out how to represent myself in court and win against lawsuit happy debt collection law firms and debt collection companies. Most consumers have no idea how to deal with debt lawsuits and most cannot afford to be represented by an attorney. This is why I wrote this book. In this book I will cover original creditor lawsuits and junk debt buyer lawsuits. Both are very similar in the way that you will deal with them. I will also cover how to keep debt collectors off your back before any lawsuits are filed. I also cover how and when to sue a debt collector for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). My ultimate goal is to show you how to overwhelm the opposing attorney and to show them that the burden of proving the debt is going to be an arduous, long, tiring and expensive (for them) journey. Most attorneys will bailout (voluntary dismissal) once they see that they
Sallie Mae Sued for Illegal Calls – Consumer Wins
December 26th, 2009. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
Big behemoth companies are ripe consumer lawsuit targets, mainly because they ignore rules and regulations. Here is just such a story. This may not work for everyone, but it worked for Jeff. He tells Consumerist that after he filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy, Sallie Mae representatives continued to call him, which is sort of illegal. So his bankruptcy attorney sued them. And won a $4,000 settlement. – Consumerist If you are having financial difficulties and the debt collectors start calling, be sure to document everything. It could mean a payday for you. I’ve successfully sued three debt collection companies and have two more in the court system. Make em’ pay for harassing you… RELATED The FREE Definitive Guide on Beating Credit Card Suit on Account Lawsuits How to SUE Debt Collectors for FDCPA violations Dealing with Debt Collectors – How to Take Away Their Power Dealing With Debt Collectors – The NEVERS and the ALWAYS Hitting Deceptive Debt Collectors and Debt Buyers where it HURTS – In the Wallet A Debt Collectors Dirty Little Secret Something Harassing Debt Collectors Rather You Didn’t Know
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Sallie Mae Sued for Illegal Calls – Consumer Wins
I Can’t Say This Enough: When Sued By a Debt Collector You Need to Respond and Show Up
December 25th, 2009. Published under Business Scams. No Comments.
According to a Scripps News article ( read it here ) upwards of 70 percent of consumers sued over credit card (or other) debts never show up, either because they don’t think showing up will help any, or they are too embarrassed or never receive notification of the lawsuit. Debt collectors are filing lawsuits and winning judgments against thousands of Americans every year, often without having any concrete evidence to support their claims. That’s because the defendants often don’t appear at the hearing. Not showing up in court results in an automatic win for the collectors, and that, in turn, often gives them the legal right to tap a debtor’s bank account or salary. “I’m behind the eight ball,” said James Flanagan, a Suffolk County, N.Y. judge who oversees 25 debt collection cases a day. In all but one or two of Flanagan’s cases, the defendant does not show up, Flanagan said. “I can’t do anything about it.”
Judge Bans Closed Debt Collection Firm Bush & Kennedy, Ferguson and Parrott from Louisiana
December 23rd, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.
It’s a shame that bad debt collectors operate for a very long time before being put out of business. If state(s) Attorney General’s would be more aggressive in investigating debt collection complaints, there would be far less questionable collectors in business. A Baton Rouge debt collection company that the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office says has been the subject of dozens of complaints from at least 30 states since 2001 was prohibited Tuesday from doing business. J.E. Cullens, who represents Parrott, revealed in court Tuesday that Bush & Kennedy is the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.
FMD Consumer Forum is Now Open
December 19th, 2009. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I have had several inquiries about adding a forum to the FMD consumer blog and as of this morning it is live an ready for you to participate on. You can get to the forum at http://forum.fivemilliondots.com If you have a problem with the forum you can contact me here: http://fivemilliondots.com/contact.aspx
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FMD Consumer Forum is Now Open
Lawsuit Filed Against Portfolio Recovery Regarding Unfair Arbitrations
December 17th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Lawsuit claims that Portfolio improperly filed claims against consumers with an arbitration service it knew to be biased in its favor.
Escape Sprint Without Paying an Early Termination Fee
December 10th, 2009. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Now is your chance to get out of your Sprint contract and move your service to a better cell phone provider without paying an early termination fee (ETF). Sprint is about to change it’s regulatory fee from .20 cents to .40 cents on January 1, 2010. Because they are doing this, it triggers what is called a materially adverse change to your cell phone agreement. Legally speaking they are changing the terms of the original agreement you signed, and because they are going to charge more money ongoing it is a materially adverse condition and thus causes the agreement to be null and void. Here is how you’ll need to get out of your contract. 1. You must cancel between January 1 and January 31, 2010. 2. ( Important ) When you call to cancel your service the Sprint customer service reps will try their best to get you to say that you are unhappy with some portion of your service. Don’t fall into that trap. Stick to your guns and tell them repeatedly that the only reason you are canceling is because you are rejecting this materially adverse change in contract terms and conditions. 3. Port your number to another cell phone provider and you are rid of Sprint!!! If you want to have a bit more fun at the end of the conversation, tell them you heard about this from the guy (Allen Harkleroad) that Sprint screwed out of $50,000.00 dollars. I would love to hear about it if you do!
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Escape Sprint Without Paying an Early Termination Fee
Let’s Require Congress to Enroll in any Government-run Health Plan as Well
November 30th, 2009. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
Please read and act, only takes a minute. On Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn that would require all Members and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan. It took me less than a minute to sign up to require our congressmen and senators to drink at the same trough! Congressman John Fleming ( Louisiana physician) has proposed an amendment that would require congressmen and senators to take the same healthcare plan they force on us (under proposed legislation they are curiously exempt). Congressman Fleming is encouraging people to go on his Website and sign his petition (very simple – just first, last and email). I have immediately done just that at: http://fleming.house.gov/index.html Please urge as many people as you can to do the same! If Congress forces this on the American people, the Congressmen should have to accept the same level of health care for themselves and their families. To do otherwise is the height of hypocrisy!
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Let’s Require Congress to Enroll in any Government-run Health Plan as Well
Let’s Require Congress to Enroll in any Government-run Health Plan as Well
November 30th, 2009. Published under Business Scams, Fraud. No Comments.
Please read and act, only takes a minute. On Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn that would require all Members and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan. It took me less than a minute to sign up to require our congressmen and senators to drink at the same trough! Congressman John Fleming ( Louisiana physician) has proposed an amendment that would require congressmen and senators to take the same healthcare plan they force on us (under proposed legislation they are curiously exempt). Congressman Fleming is encouraging people to go on his Website and sign his petition (very simple – just first, last and email). I have immediately done just that at: http://fleming.house.gov/index.html Please urge as many people as you can to do the same! If Congress forces this on the American people, the Congressmen should have to accept the same level of health care for themselves and their families. To do otherwise is the height of hypocrisy!
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Let’s Require Congress to Enroll in any Government-run Health Plan as Well
Recession Menu – Part 2 How the Changing Economy Will Affect Your Food Shopping Habits
November 9th, 2009. Published under Economic News. No Comments.
Business journalists are reporting that Generation X and Y, the 25-35+ age group will be the consumers most challenged by an economic slowdown. It will be a test of monumental proportions for them; they have never had to economize. It takes skill and practice to know the particulars of dynamic cost-saving shopping. Whether for food
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Recession Menu – Part 2 How the Changing Economy Will Affect Your Food Shopping Habits
Don’t Be Fooled by Sweepstakes Scammers Posing as Federal Officials
September 28th, 2009. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Don’t be taken in by con artists who pose as government officials and claim consumers have won what turns out to be a bogus sweepstakes prize. Although these scammers say they represent the Federal Trade Commission or some other government agency, the FTC would never call consumers on behalf of sweepstakes programs, and consumers should never send money up front just because someone promises them a prize. Crooks often take advantage of Internet technology to make it seem that they are calling from Washington, DC, or the consumer’s hometown. They could be calling from anywhere in the world. To learn more about how to avoid this type of scam, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt167.shtm . The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
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Don’t Be Fooled by Sweepstakes Scammers Posing as Federal Officials