Complaint / Review
Merchants' Credit Guide, Ken Hughes
Merchants' Credit Guide Attn: Ken Hughes debt collect on non-existing account called credit card company fraud unit to report

I played along with these people the first round to get information—that was a trip. The woman started off first with trying to verify social security number and got no where, I don't give that number out unless I initiate the call and depends upon to whom I am talking.

She then proceeded to tell me that there were nine (9) accounts due, these accounts wouldn't come off my credit report for another 3 years, and then says, "Where shall I begin" to which I replied, "I don't think that's necessary, you have the wrong person, it's not me", and slammed the phone down. I have copies of all my credit reports, know what is on those reports, and am a documentation hog so that threw up red flags all over the place—I checked that documentation before I called anyone. Documentation is where I caught the signer's name for the same collection company in Massachusettes for a national department store credit card account that wasn't me because I worked with the collection company and the credit card fraud unit (it took two tries to get that one straightened out).

I then called the bank fraud unit for the credit card number on the letter and verified that it wasn't me. I then gave the bank fraud unit all the information that was on the letter including contact information and phone numbers to call.

Half an hour later, the collector from Merchants' Credit Guide Co. Calls me back madder than a wet hen—and nasty too. Needless to say, the woman has not called me back.

A timely article appeared in the local newspaper about a collection scam going around town a few days later. I e-mailed the reporter and told her how I pushed that envelope, as she had stated that some people push the envelope.

Today I received the same stupid letter from that company, so here we go with Round #2.

I also checked out another collector representing himself as an attorney in Arlington, Texas... I've worked for attorneys, and this was no attorney by any means. My chat friend checked the city phone book for his company and his name as an attorney... No listing for either and the collection letter looks like it was signed by a 10 year old. Wait til the guy calls back and I ask him for his Texas Bar number.