This company purchases very old debt way after the statute of limitations has long past. They use fear and misrepresentation to scare people into paying a debt that no longer is legally required to be paid. They also claim when they call that they are calling on behalf of your local county court to make it seem like like a legal matter.
I was called on my cell phone by Tim Johnson about a debt from when I was in college back in 1993. I was told that it was about to go to court and that my wages were going to be garnished. ALSO very early in the call they ask for your email address which is very weird. He told me that the total was over $7k. Then he put me on the phone with Stephanie Yates who was "his boss". She told me I could settle for $3k. I said I would have to think about it and call later.
2 days later, i received a call from my PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT while i was travelling for work, telling me that a Timothy Johnson called, saying he was an attorney and that my wages were going to be garnished!!!! This would NEVER EVER happen. You cannot say that to someone other than the actual person. They also use the tactic of mentioning the name of the person in charge of wage garnishing at your company (which is easy to find out) to make it sound like it's really going to happen. Only a court order/judgement can cause this.
I then called back, beside myself and spoke to Stephanie again who now LOWERED the settlement to $1400. Another indicator that they just want anything they can get because that's what bottom feeders do - they take anything that they can get.
They are NOT lawyers. They are miserable, undereducated, unprofessional examples of human garbage who can't make money any other way than to lie to people to collect debts that are no longer vaild.
I never post complaints about ANYONE but this experience pushed me over the top and I can only hope it is read by people who I can spare this embarrassment and grief. They call from 630-599-5060. They are located in Villa Park, IL. After doing my research, not only did I find out there are several complaints on this site about them, but I have contacted an attorney who informed me that they have been sued over 19 times for abusing consumers in this way. I was intimidated and lied to and misled into paying them $1400 and i am beyond disgusted but taking the step of calling my place of employment and saying these things to people i work with is a major issue for me.
Here are their numbers:
Your caller ID will show 630-599-5060.
Their "contracts" say (888)-409-5060 - fax (888)-315-1550
ARA
Asset Recovery Associates
P.O. BOX 5002
Villa Park, IL 60181
MY ADVICE: before calling ANYONE back about any "financial matter", look them up online first to know who you are dealing with. I was travelling for work and thus was caught off guard. Do not make the mistake I made.
I received the message below from a voicemail call that was transferred to my email yesterday morning:
Hello Susan it is imperative that you speak with Tammy Bloomberg regarding your case. I L3159319. My number is toll free 1-888-686-9475. My extension is 3049. You must contact my office immediately.
When I returned Tammy's call yesterday, she informed me that I owed Master Card $14,000 and had to pay it immediately or they would cancel my credit cards and close my bank accounts. When I started laughing at her, Tammy said that they would be issuing a warrant for my arrest, also, which only induced more laughter on my part since I knew immediately it was some kind of fraudulant scam.
After calling her a litany of well deserved derogatory names, I hung up on her. Just a few minutes later I got a call from 314-394-2016 from a man who started the threats again immediately. I called him a few choice names and hung up. Got call #3 just a few minutes after that from 630-250-5644 with Tammy back on line with even more threats screaming at me that I'd go to jail. Of course, I knew better and hung up on her.
Also, very disturbing is the fact that ARA had my SS#, unlisted landline phone and tracphone number when I've only had these lines about a year. I called my telephone provider, and they did assure me that my phone number was listed as private. There are hundreds of complaints on line similar to mine, except most people were intimidated enough to give them money. These people need to be stopped. They are extremely viscious and it would be enough to frighten most people. I can see how so many caved into these crooks.
I've reported them to the Dept of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Oregon Attorney General's office and the FBI fraud Dept. which I strongly encourage all to do. The FTC # is 877-382-4357.
On April 27th, 2016 I was contacted by ARA who told me they were attempting to make one last attempt to settle a debt I owed before garnishing my pay checks at 40%. They instructed me that a judgement had already been won against me and that I owed $5,819.86 for an account with Harris Bank Trust. Initially I was very scared and wanted to get more information in an effort to resolve the matter. I had previously cleaned up my credit many years before and had searched all debts I could find and paid them all off. I've never seen anything from Harris Bank Trust on my credit reports and didn't know who they were or what this debt was about as I've never received anything in the mail or had any previous knowledge of what this was. ARA operator transferred me to a Tammy Bloomberg who called herself a Collection Manager. Although the phone call was over an hour long and despite many requests to Tammy and a man calling himself the floor supervisor, I was never given any details about the debt other than the Harris Bank name. I asked if they could give me some kind of proof the debt was mine, date the account was opened, anything and all she would say is Harris Bank, call off my social security number, the amount owed, and that "she could care less what I do, she's just informing me a judgement was won against me and she was moving forward with the garnishment of my income if I didn't make payment that day". She made it very clear that I had to pay right then or my income would be garnished for the full amount of debt plus thousands of extra dollars in collection fees and legal fees.
Out of extreme fear and after Tammy threatening my credit would be destroyed I made a payment on my credit union account which she told me the exact balance of my accounts and told me I had money to pay it. Tammy offered me a $2,500 settlement and said I had to pay $1,500 minimum that day, another $400 by check and then had to mail in another $600 by check. I gave her my credit card number and then a check by phone for the $400. At the end of the conversation I again told Tammy and supervisor who took my payments that I am requesting they send me information about the debt to proof it's mine and what it was for because I was afraid I had been a victim of credit card fraud. After that conversation I then started thinking about the situation and how incredibly stupid I had been and begin researching the company and debt. I contacted the Arguss Law Firm in the same state as ARA and they told me there was a good chance they could assist me and informed me of the many laws ARA had broken. I was so happy to think there may be something I could do and that they would help me demand the proof of debt that ARA has never sent me. I was instructed not to pay the final payment.
On April 29th my bank contacted me and told me that a $600 check had been run through my account by ARA. What ARA did after realizing I wasn't going to mail in the final payment and after they realized I had gotten an attorney was they fraudulantly used the next check number from the one I gave them and tried to run the last payment through my bank although I had never authorized it. In fact when I provided ARA my payment details they put me on a recording and asked me to speak the payment I was authorizing and on that recording I specifically stated the amount and that it was a one time payment and they had no authorization to take anything more. Basically this is a company who might be a legitimate collection agency or they may be a complete fraud. I just don't know because I've never been given any details.
One thing is for sure, they lie, they break the law, they absolutely don't play by the rules and NEVER GIVE THEM ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION cause they will use it in the same manner as scam artists and fraudsters. Tammy Bloomberg told me she was a Christian woman trying to help me out of this situation. What Tammy did was to violate the elementary teachings of Christianity and in those actions and decisions Tammy emptied monies from savings that I had been saving for several years to go towards a surgery for a family member who has cerebral palsy. It was a horrible setback and I'm still struggling with the guilt that I was so stupid to allow this company and woman to hurt me and my family as they did. I'm hoping that I find an attorney who can help me fight back against this company who prey on people like this. Any person or company like ARA that knowingly and continuously violate the laws of this great nation are CRIMINALS. There are laws for collection agencies and this is a company that has thrown those laws out the window and appears to seek out employees who have a knack for psychological manipulation and who are experienced in the art of the hustle.
ARA is a group of thugs that prey and scavenge on decent, hard working people!! If the Arguss Law Firm is actually able to assist me then I will update this post with the overall outcome of this pending matter. Considering ARA responded to the Arguss Law Firm by upping their criminal activity by forging an electronic check, lying to my bank, continues to call me which I was told would stop after seeking legal representation, they seem to show little regard for the Arguss Law Firm and little concern for the law which makes me question if the Arguss Law Firm can really help me. In fairness it's only been a few weeks and I need to give them time to work. Ryan, Fort Smith, AR
I recieved a threatening phone call from ARA inc stating that I had a pay day loan from a business called Access Processing from 2008 and that I owe them $450.00. I have never heard of this company and never had anyone deposit money into my account. The lady was basically threatening me with being arrested, being charged with bad check charges, and when I pushed for more information on what it was about she hung up.
The next day I get a phone call from my ex husbands wife and she said they contacted her and said that I am being charged with bad check charges. When she asked her how they got her name she said they did a search and their name came up on court documents, mind you I have been divorced from him for about 25 years!
I did some searching online, found this company ARA has been reported for fraud, and that the company called Access processing is not a real company and flagged with the BBB. I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission,and the BBB and then called them back.
I talked with a samantha who didnt give any information and when I told her that I had filed a complaint with the federal trade commission, guess what, she hung up!
I then typed up a letter and faxed it to them via the number on their website stating I would get a lawyer involved if they continued to call people or myself concerning this matter.
I truly hope someone checks this company out and puts a stop to this fraud they are committing!
I received a call from these ppl regarding a load I supposable took out a 50 loan and ara whats me to settle for 790 The lady was really rude and threatened me with court and serving me paper said I had comitted fraud And they said they just opened 3 months ago they try to scare you into paying
Asset Recovery Associates Reviews
This company purchases very old debt way after the statute of limitations has long past. They use fear and misrepresentation to scare people into paying a debt that no longer is legally required to be paid. They also claim when they call that they are calling on behalf of your local county court to make it seem like like a legal matter.
I was called on my cell phone by Tim Johnson about a debt from when I was in college back in 1993. I was told that it was about to go to court and that my wages were going to be garnished. ALSO very early in the call they ask for your email address which is very weird. He told me that the total was over $7k. Then he put me on the phone with Stephanie Yates who was "his boss". She told me I could settle for $3k. I said I would have to think about it and call later.
2 days later, i received a call from my PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT while i was travelling for work, telling me that a Timothy Johnson called, saying he was an attorney and that my wages were going to be garnished!!!! This would NEVER EVER happen. You cannot say that to someone other than the actual person. They also use the tactic of mentioning the name of the person in charge of wage garnishing at your company (which is easy to find out) to make it sound like it's really going to happen. Only a court order/judgement can cause this.
I then called back, beside myself and spoke to Stephanie again who now LOWERED the settlement to $1400. Another indicator that they just want anything they can get because that's what bottom feeders do - they take anything that they can get.
They are NOT lawyers. They are miserable, undereducated, unprofessional examples of human garbage who can't make money any other way than to lie to people to collect debts that are no longer vaild.
I never post complaints about ANYONE but this experience pushed me over the top and I can only hope it is read by people who I can spare this embarrassment and grief. They call from 630-599-5060. They are located in Villa Park, IL. After doing my research, not only did I find out there are several complaints on this site about them, but I have contacted an attorney who informed me that they have been sued over 19 times for abusing consumers in this way. I was intimidated and lied to and misled into paying them $1400 and i am beyond disgusted but taking the step of calling my place of employment and saying these things to people i work with is a major issue for me.
Here are their numbers:
Your caller ID will show 630-599-5060.
Their "contracts" say (888)-409-5060 - fax (888)-315-1550
ARA
Asset Recovery Associates
P.O. BOX 5002
Villa Park, IL 60181
MY ADVICE: before calling ANYONE back about any "financial matter", look them up online first to know who you are dealing with. I was travelling for work and thus was caught off guard. Do not make the mistake I made.
Best of luck.
I received the message below from a voicemail call that was transferred to my email yesterday morning:
Hello Susan it is imperative that you speak with Tammy Bloomberg regarding your case. I L3159319. My number is toll free 1-888-686-9475. My extension is 3049. You must contact my office immediately.
When I returned Tammy's call yesterday, she informed me that I owed Master Card $14,000 and had to pay it immediately or they would cancel my credit cards and close my bank accounts. When I started laughing at her, Tammy said that they would be issuing a warrant for my arrest, also, which only induced more laughter on my part since I knew immediately it was some kind of fraudulant scam.
After calling her a litany of well deserved derogatory names, I hung up on her. Just a few minutes later I got a call from 314-394-2016 from a man who started the threats again immediately. I called him a few choice names and hung up. Got call #3 just a few minutes after that from 630-250-5644 with Tammy back on line with even more threats screaming at me that I'd go to jail. Of course, I knew better and hung up on her.
Also, very disturbing is the fact that ARA had my SS#, unlisted landline phone and tracphone number when I've only had these lines about a year. I called my telephone provider, and they did assure me that my phone number was listed as private. There are hundreds of complaints on line similar to mine, except most people were intimidated enough to give them money. These people need to be stopped. They are extremely viscious and it would be enough to frighten most people. I can see how so many caved into these crooks.
I've reported them to the Dept of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Oregon Attorney General's office and the FBI fraud Dept. which I strongly encourage all to do. The FTC # is 877-382-4357.
On April 27th, 2016 I was contacted by ARA who told me they were attempting to make one last attempt to settle a debt I owed before garnishing my pay checks at 40%. They instructed me that a judgement had already been won against me and that I owed $5,819.86 for an account with Harris Bank Trust. Initially I was very scared and wanted to get more information in an effort to resolve the matter. I had previously cleaned up my credit many years before and had searched all debts I could find and paid them all off. I've never seen anything from Harris Bank Trust on my credit reports and didn't know who they were or what this debt was about as I've never received anything in the mail or had any previous knowledge of what this was. ARA operator transferred me to a Tammy Bloomberg who called herself a Collection Manager. Although the phone call was over an hour long and despite many requests to Tammy and a man calling himself the floor supervisor, I was never given any details about the debt other than the Harris Bank name. I asked if they could give me some kind of proof the debt was mine, date the account was opened, anything and all she would say is Harris Bank, call off my social security number, the amount owed, and that "she could care less what I do, she's just informing me a judgement was won against me and she was moving forward with the garnishment of my income if I didn't make payment that day". She made it very clear that I had to pay right then or my income would be garnished for the full amount of debt plus thousands of extra dollars in collection fees and legal fees.
Out of extreme fear and after Tammy threatening my credit would be destroyed I made a payment on my credit union account which she told me the exact balance of my accounts and told me I had money to pay it. Tammy offered me a $2,500 settlement and said I had to pay $1,500 minimum that day, another $400 by check and then had to mail in another $600 by check. I gave her my credit card number and then a check by phone for the $400. At the end of the conversation I again told Tammy and supervisor who took my payments that I am requesting they send me information about the debt to proof it's mine and what it was for because I was afraid I had been a victim of credit card fraud. After that conversation I then started thinking about the situation and how incredibly stupid I had been and begin researching the company and debt. I contacted the Arguss Law Firm in the same state as ARA and they told me there was a good chance they could assist me and informed me of the many laws ARA had broken. I was so happy to think there may be something I could do and that they would help me demand the proof of debt that ARA has never sent me. I was instructed not to pay the final payment.
On April 29th my bank contacted me and told me that a $600 check had been run through my account by ARA. What ARA did after realizing I wasn't going to mail in the final payment and after they realized I had gotten an attorney was they fraudulantly used the next check number from the one I gave them and tried to run the last payment through my bank although I had never authorized it. In fact when I provided ARA my payment details they put me on a recording and asked me to speak the payment I was authorizing and on that recording I specifically stated the amount and that it was a one time payment and they had no authorization to take anything more. Basically this is a company who might be a legitimate collection agency or they may be a complete fraud. I just don't know because I've never been given any details.
One thing is for sure, they lie, they break the law, they absolutely don't play by the rules and NEVER GIVE THEM ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION cause they will use it in the same manner as scam artists and fraudsters. Tammy Bloomberg told me she was a Christian woman trying to help me out of this situation. What Tammy did was to violate the elementary teachings of Christianity and in those actions and decisions Tammy emptied monies from savings that I had been saving for several years to go towards a surgery for a family member who has cerebral palsy. It was a horrible setback and I'm still struggling with the guilt that I was so stupid to allow this company and woman to hurt me and my family as they did. I'm hoping that I find an attorney who can help me fight back against this company who prey on people like this. Any person or company like ARA that knowingly and continuously violate the laws of this great nation are CRIMINALS. There are laws for collection agencies and this is a company that has thrown those laws out the window and appears to seek out employees who have a knack for psychological manipulation and who are experienced in the art of the hustle.
ARA is a group of thugs that prey and scavenge on decent, hard working people!! If the Arguss Law Firm is actually able to assist me then I will update this post with the overall outcome of this pending matter. Considering ARA responded to the Arguss Law Firm by upping their criminal activity by forging an electronic check, lying to my bank, continues to call me which I was told would stop after seeking legal representation, they seem to show little regard for the Arguss Law Firm and little concern for the law which makes me question if the Arguss Law Firm can really help me. In fairness it's only been a few weeks and I need to give them time to work. Ryan, Fort Smith, AR
I recieved a threatening phone call from ARA inc stating that I had a pay day loan from a business called Access Processing from 2008 and that I owe them $450.00. I have never heard of this company and never had anyone deposit money into my account. The lady was basically threatening me with being arrested, being charged with bad check charges, and when I pushed for more information on what it was about she hung up.
The next day I get a phone call from my ex husbands wife and she said they contacted her and said that I am being charged with bad check charges. When she asked her how they got her name she said they did a search and their name came up on court documents, mind you I have been divorced from him for about 25 years!
I did some searching online, found this company ARA has been reported for fraud, and that the company called Access processing is not a real company and flagged with the BBB. I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission,and the BBB and then called them back.
I talked with a samantha who didnt give any information and when I told her that I had filed a complaint with the federal trade commission, guess what, she hung up!
I then typed up a letter and faxed it to them via the number on their website stating I would get a lawyer involved if they continued to call people or myself concerning this matter.
I truly hope someone checks this company out and puts a stop to this fraud they are committing!
I received a call from these ppl regarding a load I supposable took out a 50 loan and ara whats me to settle for 790 The lady was really rude and threatened me with court and serving me paper said I had comitted fraud And they said they just opened 3 months ago they try to scare you into paying