Allied Interstate
Misleading representation, high pressure to respond, somewhat threatening, ripoff

I received my first call from this company just last week, although I didn't know it was them! A message on my answering machine asked for me by name, then the caller identified himself as Tom Hanson from the SBA. He said it was urgent that I call back immediately (800-554-8786) concerning my "business."

Now, I don't own a business and I have not been in touch with the Small Business Administration for any reason. But I called the number anyway, where I was fed into a phone bank and put on hold, without the system identifying where I had called. Since I didn't know who I was calling, I certainly wasn't going to stay on hold and waste my time. I hung up.

Suspicious, I emailed the SBA and told them about the phone message, noting I couldn't find this 800 number on their website. They replied the next day that "no one named Tom Hanson works for the SBA."

Since that day - Nov. 28 - I have had a message left nearly every day, altho' "Tom" doesn't identify himself, it sounds like the same voice. He did say he was with Allied Interstate, not the SBA, and said he had "important business" to discuss with me. Didn't say what, however, and left the same 800 number. Suspicious again, I hit the web and did a search for the phone number and Allied Interstate. Boy, I'm glad I did!

Despite daily high-pressure messages, which I am keeping for future reference, I have no intention of returning the calls. Number one, I am not in default of any debts, so I have nothing that would be at a collection agency. Number two, I now know my rights, and Allied is already violating them. The Consumer Credit Protection Act states they are required to issue a written notice to me within the first five days of initial communication, and they haven't. I have received no debt validation or written statements of any kind.

I just finished composing a Cease and Desist letter and a debt validation request, per the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. I had to word them a bit different, since I am unaware of any debt, but they're going to have to deal with me by USPS from now on. I plan to send the letters via certified mail with return receipt - money well spent.

After reading about Allied's abusive phone practices, I really don't want to talk to them on the phone at all. I believe I'm doing the smart thing by responding by mail. But my question is this: there are numerous addresses posted for Allied, located all across the country. I believe my calls were coming out of Michigan, but I can't find a Michigan address. Will my letters get to the right place if I use the Minneapolis address? (I mean the right place to get the calls stopped.) Or, if anyone has the Michigan address, please share!

Thanks.

Company: Allied Interstate
Country: USA
State: Minnesota
City: Minneapolis
Address: 435 Ford Rd. 800 Interchange West

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