CREDITHOUND.... Read this ASAP regarding LENAHAN

[JeanW]

These people are scam artists...

DON'T send money!

http://www.budhibbs.com/budhibbs/agencydetails.asp?ID=118

[sisflomi]

Contact these guys

http://www.edcombs.com/FSL5CS/Custom/home.asp

[JeanW]

And More...

http://www.classactionamerica.com/message_boards/mb_displayMessage.asp?messageId=3957

Regarding a class action suit against them.

http://www.classactionamerica.com/message_boards/mb_displayMessage.asp?messageId=5141

Regarding a Business article regarding Lenahan

[Spiderella]

My DH's employer handed him a fax from "The Law Center" in Virginia Beach, VA this morning. The fax requested DH's contact phone #, date of hire, position with company, rate of pay and current address.

After doing some research online I discovered they are part of the Lenahan Law Office group:

http://www.lenahanlawofficeexposed.com/

http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/lenahan_law_offices.htm

http://www.budhibbs.com/coll_to_avoid_list.htm

They are also the group that made an inquiry on his credit report last week that we didn't recognize.

Question ... do we acknowledge their request? If we don't, what do we do if they keep contacting DH's employer? Should we fax back the request saying he doesn't work there (they used a short version of his name instead of the entire legal name, so maybe we could get away with that?)

What about a cease and desist /do not contact letter? Would that be a good move at this point?

All of DH's debts are past the SOL in Texas, so we're not that concerned about collections; what we're trying to avoid is a problem with his employer. Is it legal for a collection agency to ask for employment information this way?

Thanks for everyone's help!

[divemedic]

If you are out of SOL, send a C&D and also make sure that you stress that they not contact his employer. That way, if they do it again, you have 3 violations. You already have one or possibly several, they cannot contact third parties about a debt.

[Spiderella]

Thanks for the input. Here is little more info that leads to another question:

The fax doesn't indicate that they are a CO; It looks like a legal document from a law firm; there is no reference to an account number, only a file number.

The name "The Law Center" threw my DH's employer off and he did verbally tell them that DH worked there, but he wouldn't give them further info without written permission from DH; that is how we discovered what was happening.

So ... how do I write this C&D letter if I don't know what account they are collecting for?

Would it be better to ignore it at this point?

I'm really torn between being aggressive and just sitting back to see what might happen.

Any thoughts/opinions?

[KentWA]

At the very least you should DV them with a limited C&D, On first go around with them. They are likely to cause a few violations then you can use that as leverage to make them go away and make sure they stay gone.

[Spiderella]

I agree, but how can I do that when I don't know the account they are collecting for? I know they're collectors from my research, but that is the only reason I know. Their fax didn't indicate that they are collectors in any way and there was no mention of an account they are collecting for, so how can I DV on an unknown debt?

[ggluvbug]

just dv them using the file number they provided.

as far as not looking like a co, they are. lots of them have scum bag lawers so they can say "law center" or "law firm" and scare people into paying them.

when you send them a dv letter, make sure you tell them to only contact you via mail. then they can't call. if they do, it is a violation. just make sure you send cmrr and make copies of all correspondence you send to them, and do not call them!!!! if you do, they will use whatever you say against you.