In October I began receiving phone calls from Phillips & Burns. My first call came from Jay Rodriquez, who introduced himself as an attorney. The call was concerning an old debt from inwhich I had believed was wrote off.infact, I had heard nothing of this debt since 2003 until now. I do know that it is reflected on my credit report to this day. I asked Mr. Rodriquez why wasn't I contacted by mail concerning this matter? He replied that I was contacted. I still say that I was not contacted by anyone. Mr. Rodriquez told me that I owed almost $6,000. I replied, "how when my owing balance at the time was $2,000"? He said the rest of the charges is interest. He then asked how I was going to pay it? I replied that I was willing to make payments but I could not pay anything in full at once. He tried to get me to give him my credit card info. I would not share that info. He told me that I was only days from being sued. He said that once I go to court that I will owe even more money for the court costs and attorney fees.
Once again I offered to make payments but he refused to accept anything under $4,000 at one time. I told him that there is no way that I can get that kind of money at one time. He then said that they would take me to court and garnish my wages.in my mind I was thinking... Why would an attorney be calling to collect a debt? I also thought that if attorneys did infact do this, then I would not hear from Phillips and Burns again until they were ready to take me to court. I was wrong to think that I wouldn't hear from them again. The calls keep comming. These past few times have been from a female calling herself "Amber" no last name. She refuses to give it. She also introduced herself as an attorney. Amber, quotes a different amount of money that I owe. Same debt but the amounts keep changing. When I asked about that she denied that the figures have changed. I also asked her why didn't they send me something in writing from her comapny? She claims that they sent a letter and she gave my old address. I told her that I never got a letter from them. She also likes to use scare tactics and threaten garmishment of wages. She told me that she can take away the interest leaving $2,500 balance. That is much better than paying almost $6,000. However, I do not have $2,500 in cash to pay at once so she tells me the offer only stands if I can pay the $2,500 at one time. She said if I must make payments, she can not take the interest away. I am still unsure of them, of who they are and what they really can or can not do. I told her that I need to check with someone about borrowing $2,500 and I need to call her back. This day is Thursday so she asked if I could call her back on Friday 12-07-07, before 4pm. So, I agreed that I would. Later that same day (Thursday) she had called me again asking if I had got the money? I told her no that I was waiting for a phone call back from the person who I was asking to borrow from. I assured her that I would call her the next day, Friday before 4pm, as I had agreed.By now I am thinking about all of this that has transpired with this company and how they have refused every paymant that I have tried to make thus far. I think of the scare tactics and how they keep calling. I think of the threats of garnishment of wages. I decided to see what I can find out online about Phillips & Burns. I discovered first off that they are not attorneys. There is no Law Firm called Phillips & Burns. They are a collection agency and not so legal one, at that. I read complaint after complaint against them on three websites that I found. I can relate to most of the victims stories, as I have one simular myself. Using peoples fear to scam them. Using threats of different types the main one, garnishment of wages. Claiming to be attorneys to increase your fear and motivate you to pay. Now in the meantime, my friend had returned my call and told me that due to the holidays, he simply did not have the money to loan. I kept my word and called "Amber" since it was nearing 4pm. I told her that I couldnt get the money. I had also took the advice of one of the consumers and asked "Amber" for her bar number. She kept trying to change the subject asking me when I was going to pay this debt? I then said I have to know who I am paying first, now what is your bar number? She became very angry, raising her voice and finally admitting that she wasn't an attorney. I reminded her that just yesterday when I asked her if she was an attorney she said yes. She of course denied telling me that. After this she then did something even more stupid than ever, she asked me what my name was and asked for my social security number. I wouldn't tell her either. I replied that she had my name and my social security number because they had contacted me, not me them. I also told her that I never give my SS# over the phone since I do not know who I am speaking with for sure. She was really mad and told me that when I was serious about this to call them back. She then hung up on me. Not even 5 minutes later "Amber" calls back again and without introduction she said, "Sandra, let me blow your mind". She then read off my SS#, my husbands SS#, our current address and also added that she knew we owned a home, a car and gave a value of a home. This is personal info and she could not have known for sure that she was speaking to Sandra. After she gave the personal info out over the phone, I only replied, I told you that you had the info, why ask me? She said that she didn't have my file at her desk at the time. She again asked me when can I pay this? I replied I can make payments. She simply said when you are serious about paying call us back. She then hung up.
A few days later she called and spoke to my husband and he told her again what we could afford to pay each month. Again she refused. My husband finally told her, hey, just do what you got to do to us. We have told you from the beginning what we can do, you refuse to accept. The call ended. They still call us but we don't talk.
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