Santa Cruz county residents have made reports to the District Attorney’s Consumer Affairs unit of threatening and harassing calls made by automatic dialers using prerecorded messages.This week several calls were made to a retired Santa Cruz resident who complained that her son, at a separate phone number, received the exact same accusing and threatening call. The retiree said that the caller announced:
* There is an outstanding judgment against you over a Payday Loan.
* A Restraining Order and fraud charges are pending.
* The Citation number is 7598393 and you may be arrested.* There is an Affidavit and an Order To Show Cause.
* You must call 304-400-6117 and pay the debt immediately. You only have 48 hours in which to pay.
Santa Cruz Consumer Affairs office did some investigation and found that the phone number reverses to a debt collection company in West Virginia called American Document Service which may have an association with some Payday Lending companies. American Document Service may have access to records of names, addresses and social security numbers for people who have received a payday loan. The Better Business Bureau has had so many unresolved complaints about the company that they have given them an “F” rating.
The Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Consumer Affairs unit advises consumers to be wary of aggressive debt collectors:
* A debtor cannot be arrested for an outstanding debt unless there is an illegal activity by the consumer.
* Ask for the full name and address of any debt collector who may call you. Send them a letter to request proof of any debt and advise them to cease all further calls.
* Do not be intimidated by scare tactics from debt collectors.
* Calls from American Document Service should be reported to the West Virginia Attorney General at 800-368-8808.
Contact the District Attorney’s Consumer Affairs Unit at 454-2050 if you have questions about debt collection or other consumer issues.
