WNY Debt Collectors still at their old tricks

[WhoCares1000]

Interesting that some WNY debt collectors are up to their usual tricks still. They close 10 companies and 20 more open up.

https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/ny-ag-shuts-down-predatory-debt-collection-operation-based-in-getzville

[BackFromTheDebt]

The fact that they often close down sometimes makes it hard to sue them. 
 

No matter what you think of Andrew Cuomo as a person or as a governor, he was very proactive about closing down some of the worst firms when he was NY AG. 
 

I had experience with two NY state debt collectors in the bad old days, both with C1 accounts.  
 

The first was the notorious Mitchell N Kay firm in NY City.  Closed down before I could sue them. 
 

The second was a Buffalo collector.  I sued in Circuit Court, they moved it to Federal court, and we settled for a few thousand.  NDA so I can’t say who or exactly how much.  
 

C1 also used what is in my opinion by far the sleaziest law firm I ever dealt with — Messerli & Kramer.  
 

Back in those days C1 had an arbitration clause.  They ignored my arbitration filing so no NDA.  I can call ‘em as I see ‘em.  
 

[Flyingifr]

On 5/23/2022 at 4:42 PM, WhoCares1000 said:

Interesting that some WNY debt collectors are up to their usual tricks still. They close 10 companies and 20 more open up.

https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/ny-ag-shuts-down-predatory-debt-collection-operation-based-in-getzville

You do realize that many of these operations lease their collectors from inmates at Attica prison.... Therefore the collectors have very little to lose. "Sue me, heck man, if you want to do that you will have to wait another 15 years until I am eligible for parole..."

[WhoCares1000]

4 hours ago, Flyingifr said:

You do realize that many of these operations lease their collectors from inmates at Attica prison.... Therefore the collectors have very little to lose. "Sue me, heck man, if you want to do that you will have to wait another 15 years until I am eligible for parole..."

It is not the collectors being sued by the State AG but the companies themselves and those that own the companies. Of course, even the owners are pulling fast ones such as hiding assets in hopes of going to prison and not pay any restitution.

[Flyingifr]

20 hours ago, WhoCares1000 said:

It is not the collectors being sued by the State AG but the companies themselves and those that own the companies. Of course, even the owners are pulling fast ones such as hiding assets in hopes of going to prison and not pay any restitution.

and it takes just a day or two to open up a new corporation in NY, leaving the old one bereft of assets. This game of "whack a mole" has been going on for decades, and so far he moles are winning.

[BackFromTheDebt]

I once was actually able to sue a WNY collection agency.  They settled for a few grand. 

[WhoCares1000]

50 minutes ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

I once was actually able to sue a WNY collection agency.  They settled for a few grand. 

You got lucky, or one of the few reputable debt collection firms in WNY.

@Flyingifris correct in the fact that many of these organizations are fly by night that close down (or are shut down by New York State) only to reopen tomorrow under a new name, even if the shut down order requires that the old organization owner not start a new one. Not only that but most of the owners of these businesses do not even follow government discovery orders. Below is an example of the actions of a WNY Debt Collector when New York demanded restitution from them:

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/clarence-debt-collector-who-owes-60m-told-to-show-finances-or-expect-to-be-jailed/article_ebf0e09a-5f50-11ec-b3bc-5f5d955f766e.html