first source advantage collections just got this letter

[ready2puke]

Looks like they work for B of A. I did a search on these guys... OMG they are the worst. Feeling a bit nervous now that they are contacting me..
Anyone have any dealings with these guys.

[catleg]

start learning about sending them a "DV" (demand validation) and C&D (cease and desist) letter.
it's as simple as saying
Hey Collection Agency,
I dispute this alleged debt and demand validation.
It is inconvenient for me to discuss this matter with you by telephone at any time. The address given on this letter is my correct postal address where you can reach me for future written communication.
Regards,
A. Deadbeat

Send it certified mail, return receipt requested. Costs $5.32.
After they receive it, as evidenced by the reply card (green card) they can contact you one more time by telephone and that's it.
This really does shut them down cold. I have done this about 4 times now. The collection agency eventually returns the account to the bank and eventually the bank sends it out to another collection agency.
If they keep harassing you, you can find an attorney to take a FDCPA case on contingency and you will get some share of the $1000 statutory damages.

[ready2puke]

Thanks I will do just that...

[catleg]

Another thing, each new CA that makes contact is supposed to send you a letter telling you that they're collecting on such-and-such an account and give you the "mini miranda" with your rights as a debtor to dispute the debt. This is supposed to happen within 5 days of initial contact.

Most of the more "ethical" (if there is any such thing) CA's send the letter first then start calling. The more aggressive ones will start calling, preferring to give you no chance to C&D them.

I found this to be the case with Forster & Garbus located in NY collecting for HSBC. They started calling and claimed they had send a letter but as it turns out I only got it in the mail about 10 days after it was dated. USPS may have problems but they're not that bad...these clowns definitely wanted a chance to work me over by phone for a little while.

In this case, I just asked them for a payment address and used that to send the letter. Since they thought they were getting a payment they didn't bother me for a week and by then they had gotten the C&D. I got one more call and that was it.

I got another written dunning letter from them a few weeks later, I'm wondering if that constitutes a FDCPA violation since they never DV'd. I probably won't pursue it unless I get ticked off at them for some other reason.

[BigJohn]

Another thing, each new CA that makes contact is supposed to send you a letter telling you that they're collecting on such-and-such an account and give you the "mini miranda" with your rights as a debtor to dispute the debt. This is supposed to happen within 5 days of initial contact.

Most of the more "ethical" (if there is any such thing) CA's send the letter first then start calling. The more aggressive ones will start calling, preferring to give you no chance to C&D them.

I found this to be the case with Forster & Garbus located in NY collecting for HSBC. They started calling and claimed they had send a letter but as it turns out I only got it in the mail about 10 days after it was dated. USPS may have problems but they're not that bad...these clowns definitely wanted a chance to work me over by phone for a little while.

In this case, I just asked them for a payment address and used that to send the letter. Since they thought they were getting a payment they didn't bother me for a week and by then they had gotten the C&D. I got one more call and that was it.

I got another written dunning letter from them a few weeks later, I'm wondering if that constitutes a FDCPA violation since they never DV'd. I probably won't pursue it unless I get ticked off at them for some other reason.

I once got a summons in the mail on a Saturday and was suppose to show up in court the following Monday. The problem with that service was it was dated one month earlier but was postmarked only a few days before delivery.