Elmwood Associates, L.L.C.

Review: On Apr 16 I received a telephone message from and unidentified party from a blocked number. The message stated that a civil claim had been filed against [redacted]. The message further stated that [redacted] was being notified that court papers would be served at my home and if "I" was unavailable, the documents would be served at "my" place of work.

The message stated to contact the complaining party at ###-###-#### ref case number [redacted] before the documents were served.

I called the number above to inform them that I am not [redacted] and to ensure that all information on this record was correct to ensure that documents were not served to me at work in an effort to find someone else.

A person answered the phone at the number above identifying themselves by first name only which was unintelligible (hello my name is ________). This person did not identify themselves as a collections agency or provide any additional information.

I informed this person that I had received the above listed message this afternoon and provided the case number. I then asked what agency I was speaking with, the person did not respond. I informed this person that I was not [redacted] and did not live with a [redacted] and had never been married to a [redacted]. I asked to speak with a supervisor as this agency (which the person on the phone had still not identified) had threatened to adversely affect my employment over something that had nothing to do with me. The person on the phone said "Hell no I am not giving you a supervisor; I told you it was an error." I asked the person for her name again, she refused to provide it. I asked the person again to identify the agency she represented, she responded "Elmwood”. I asked the person to provide the spelling, she stated “why in the hell does everyone want to know how to spell Elmwood, no I won’t spell it, I ain't giving you a damn thing, and I’m hanging up on you.” The person then disconnected the call.

I began an internet search for Elmwood, and after several attempts identified Elmwood Associates LLC, a collections agency from New York. I called the number listed and reached a representative (first name unintelligible) who identified himself as working for Elmwood Associates. I relayed the details of my previous call and the case number. The man confirmed that they did have my phone number. I further identified that I wanted to speak to a supervisor, as this company had threatened my employment over something that obviously had nothing to do with me. I further informed him that I intended to file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office Collection Agency Regulation and the Colorado 4th Judicial Districts Attorney’s Office. The person on the phone then disconnected the call.

I left a message with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office Collection Agency Regulation, Consumer Protection Office at 4:55 p.m. and asked for a return call in order to file a complaint. I attempted to contact the 4th Judicial Districts Attorney’s Office however, they were closed. I will attempt to contact them again tomorrow.

I believe that Elmwood Associates is engaged in egregious unethical collections practices. It is apparent that this company garnered my information from a skip trace and it appears the company left me a phone message under the guise of governmental process server in order to get me to contact them. The company has threatened my continued employment and livelihood.Desired Settlement: I demand a letter from this company detailing how my information was obtained and the details surrounding the call placed to me identifying that court papers would be served to be at my place of employment. Further this letter will address specifically that the company is not attempting to garner a debt from me, has never attempted to garner a debt from me and has no civil action pending against me that would occasion me being served documents at my place of employment.

I request an apology from the company concerning the behavior of their call center employees and their conduct during my phone conversations with their representatives along with their failure to ever identify themselves as a collections agency attempting to garner a debt.

Business

Response:

April 23, 2013

Review: this company sent me mail, they said I owe them money and I don;t. I don't know who they are.

Business

Response:

March 11, 2013

Review: A message was left on my work phone number by a [redacted]. He stated that he was a county process server and that he would be serving me papers on Monday, October 29, 2012. He stated that I should be sure to be home to receive the papers. He stated that I could contact the filing party and he left the phone number of ###-###-#### and a reference number of [redacted], he did not identify the name of the company and said his last name so quickly that you could not understand it. I contacted the number to see what company this was. It was Elmwood and Associates. I looked them up on the internet and found a large number of complaints and statements of others that had received the same threatening phone call and no-one ever showing up to actually serve papers. I looked in our State licensing data base and Elmwood and Associates are not licensed to conduct business in the State of Washington. I contacted the County and there are no court documents on file to be served to me. I have not received any notification prior to the phone call from Elmwood and Associates. Threatening statements or deceitful tactics are against the Fair Debt Collection Act.Desired Settlement: The fine for violating the Fair Debt Collection Act is $1000. I am requesting that they be required to pay me the $1000 for violating the Fair Debt Collection act and for using deceitful and unlawful collection tactics. I am also asking that they stop contacting me.

Review: My chief complaint, this company has called me and threatened to take me to court,they were that the loan had beed placed in their office for recovery. They were withdrawing money from my account, $50.00 a month.One day I gotten suspicious, and went to my bank asked them to look up this company, So we found that this company,was on a list as not being a legitimate company.The bank refunded my $100.00 back into my account,that was taking out.The company called me, on 10-19-2012 at 9:33a.m. and told me that they had no choice but to take me to court, if I did not come up with the money which is $399.30. that they want.Desired Settlement: No settlement. Just stop the phone call's and harassment.

Review: I received a payday loan in 2009 which was paid off through payments in my savings account. I sent all of of my information with the bank statements to that company. In the meantime, they sold their accounts. I have sent numerous complaints -- which occur it seems yearly with a "new" company. I filed with Consumer Protection Division of Maryland and have a claim number. I have that file at home. A few of the companies were threatening that I was going to be arrested the same day as they were calling my place of work. And, numerous claims that they were going to have me in court and arrested in the same day. Also, threats and calls to a person I used as a reference. He received the same call today, 111/6/12. Their contact number is ###-###-#### and a Maryland number ###-###-#### - the OAG stated that these companies buy up state phone numbers to use and to make it "look" local when the call comes in.Desired Settlement: That this should be corrected to be "paid in full" as I have the bank statements showing payments/withdrawals from the initial company.

On Apr 16 I received a telephone message from and unidentified party from a blocked number. The message stated that a civil claim had been filed against [redacted]. The message further stated that [redacted] was being notified that court papers would be served at my home and if "I" was unavailable, the documents would be served at "my" place of work.

The message stated to contact the complaining party at ###-###-#### ref case number [redacted] before the documents were served.

I called the number above to inform them that I am not [redacted] and to ensure that all information on this record was correct to ensure that documents were not served to me at work in an effort to find someone else.

A person answered the phone at the number above identifying themselves by first name only which was unintelligible (hello my name is ________). This person did not identify themselves as a collections agency or provide any additional information.

I informed this person that I had received the above listed message this afternoon and provided the case number. I then asked what agency I was speaking with, the person did not respond. I informed this person that I was not [redacted] and did not live with a [redacted] and had never been married to a [redacted]. I asked to speak with a supervisor as this agency (which the person on the phone had still not identified) had threatened to adversely affect my employment over something that had nothing to do with me. The person on the phone said "Hell no I am not giving you a supervisor; I told you it was an error." I asked the person for her name again, she refused to provide it. I asked the person again to identify the agency she represented, she responded "Elmwood”. I asked the person to provide the spelling, she stated “why in the hell does everyone want to know how to spell Elmwood, no I won’t spell it, I ain't giving you a damn thing, and I’m hanging up on you.” The person then disconnected the call.

I began an internet search for Elmwood, and after several attempts identified Elmwood Associates LLC, a collections agency from New York. I called the number listed and reached a representative (first name unintelligible) who identified himself as working for Elmwood Associates. I relayed the details of my previous call and the case number. The man confirmed that they did have my phone number. I further identified that I wanted to speak to a supervisor, as this company had threatened my employment over something that obviously had nothing to do with me. I further informed him that I intended to file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office Collection Agency Regulation and the Colorado 4th Judicial Districts Attorney’s Office. The person on the phone then disconnected the call.

I left a message with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office Collection Agency Regulation, Consumer Protection Office at 4:55 p.m. and asked for a return call in order to file a complaint. I attempted to contact the 4th Judicial Districts Attorney’s Office however, they were closed. I will attempt to contact them again tomorrow.

I believe that Elmwood Associates is engaged in egregious unethical collections practices. It is apparent that this company garnered my information from a skip trace and it appears the company left me a phone message under the guise of governmental process server in order to get me to contact them. The company has threatened my continued employment and livelihood.