Note: Do not forget to look at the category immediately
below this one: "Collection Agency's" for more info.
Six months ago, there was nothing on the internet concerning these people (I looked, and looked, and looked). The miracle of modern technology!
Now there's this wonderful thread on this wonderful website. I post this as information for all victims, and not to encourage any unlawful or mean conduct toward the perpetrators of this fraud.
I'm presently suing the people responsible for bringing you "mapnad viatel cons." They are (drum roll, please), Danny Lyle Becker, Jr., a/k/a Dan Becker, a/k/a D.L. Becker, a/k/a Daniel Becker, and his lovely wife, Pamela Kay Bussell Becker, a/k/a Pamela Becker, a/k/a Pam Becker.
Now, when you see a trail of aliases like this, you've got to know something's up! I'm presently suing this lovely consortium of crooks and cheats, in the
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Urbana Division). You may sign up for a PACER/ECF account at any U.S. Court's website
(near you) to access all the documents I refer to here. They're cheap (you can download pages for $. 08 each - that's cheaper than Kinko's) and it's free to sign up. Or, just email me directly and I'll send you a. Pdf of my current complaint against these people, gratis. Custom tailor it to your situation and file it in your local court.
First, mapnad viatel cons. Is just a phony name. It is not a corporation, nor an LLC, nor an LLP. There were a number of telephone service companies using the name Viatel (incorporated and bankrupted in Delaware) in the early 00's, but they're gone now. One of Viatel's companies, or subsidiaries, was called econophone (I'm skipping all the corporate mumbo-jumbo here because it just doesn't matter). Econophone provided telephone service.
It looks like the Beckers acquired econophone accounts
receivable in the bankruptcy. The legitimacy of these receivables is, by the comments on this thread, often in question.
In fact, that's one of the bones of my contention. I never had an account with econophone. I believe they "slammed" my long distance service. That's when they switch your long-distance phone service without your authorization or approval and then start billing you.
The total bill the Beckers were trying to collect from me was under $21.00 the whole time. They sent me numerous letters and also reported this bogus debt to the national consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus) Experian and Equifax. All for less than $21.00! They did this in spite of my demands that, if they reported the bogus debt, they were to report that I disputed the debt (which is required by FCRA). Now, if
you know that they've reported a similar bogus debt to the CRA's, you must write them (the Beckers and the credit bureaus) and ask that it be removed (you can get your top three reports by going to freecreditreport;
they're reliable and quick!).
If the Beckers don't indicate that your "debt" is disputed, they've given you the right to sue them. I am! Unfortunately, most people would probably just pay that $21 rather than bring a federal suit. I would have if I had a financial transaction coming up where I knew my credit reports would be pulled, but I had no plans to apply for credit, insurance or a job, so I knew I could take the time in order to address their illegal conduct in court. The Beckers made a lot of money from those people who didn't know their rights. Most people probably don't know the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides for as much as $1000 in statutory damages (which are usually awarded without argument). Or if you retain an attorney, that Act provides for an award of his or her fees, too. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides for statutory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees. So, if you have to hire an attorney, they'll probably be paid by the bad guys! You may not want to file suit yourself but, do be aware that the government (Midland County, Texas District Attorney) is probably going to very soon, and you can assist this by filing another complaint with them (addresses below). Or, if you want to just mimic my own pleading, you have my best wishes. Go get 'em!
The important thing is, if we all sue the Beckers, they'll just disappear sooner or later. They're pure trash! I am not an attorney (and what I say here is not legal advice), but the more people who file suit against these crooks and complain to law enforcement officials
the better. You can visit their website and I suggest you send them a lot of phony requests for information, like you're a business needing collections services!), or you can call them at home.
The Beckers' home (rented, I believe) address is 4202 Amistad Dr. Midland, TX 79707 and their phone number is (432) 262-3660 (though I suspect that'll be disconnected pretty soon!). You may also learn about the horrid way the Beckers have treated their former business associates and friends by searching the bankruptcy court docket for the Western District of Texas, Midland Division (Bankruptcy Petition #'s: 03-70437-rbk and
#: 02-70018-rbk).
Now, I do not urge retribution or retaliation against anyone, but these people are just inherently dishonest, so if you need to find them to have them served with summonses, this is all I encourage. It appears that they have four young children, so I'd hate to see anyone scare or harm the kids (that's unthinkable and utterly off limits!).
Note this, do not contact the children for anything! However, lying cheats like the Beckers should also not be able to hide behind their kids, or by avoiding phone calls and refusing to respond to letters sent to their business address (which, by the way, is Business Office Systems & Solutions Collection Services Division [another phony name! ] 511 W. Ohio, Suite 501 Midland, TX 79701 (800) 687-6344, (432) 570-9009).
Most of the crap you read on their website is phony, deceptive or misleading. For instance, their business may once have been in a partnership with a valid, legitimate and honest business called Texas Business Office Systems & Solutions (TBOSS) but TBOSS no longer has anything to do with the Beckers. That relationship was severed long ago. They don't explain that. Please do not hound TBOSS, its former agents, officers or attorneys. They are honorable people and have better things to do than defend their prior relationship with someone who may have pulled the wool over their eyes, just as they have so many other people.
Mapnad viatel cons. Is a phony name, and using it is illegal under federal and Texas law. Business Office Systems & Solutions (LLC, LLP or pdq, whatever names they use) is a phony, fictitious name, also illegal under
Texas law, and use of it in connection with the collection of debt is also unlawful. They have failed to register any of their phony names with the Midland
County Clerk or, in the case of their corporate alter ego, with the Secretary of State. The Beckers hold some interest in a legitimate Texas corporation (SCAT Corp.—get it? Scat, as in offal?). However, I expect in my lawsuit in the federal court in Illinois that I'll get an order (quo warranto) ousting the corporation from its franchise. A corporation cannot engage in all these illegal activities without recourse to consumers like you and me.
In Texas, an action in quo warranto
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