One year ago, when I was living in Seattle, I received a letter from CMS (check and merchant services) saying I needed to pay $577.98 for a bad check I supposedly wrote while living in Chicago in 1999. I told them I needed to see a copy of the check to see if this was for real. The guy named Gary became really argumentative with me saying they didn't do that. He told me I had to get a copy of the check myself. I ignored his letter and received another two over the next year threatening criminal proceedings if I did not pay. Not one letter contained a copy of the check.
Finally, I received a letter saying my case has been transferred to 'legal' and that criminal proceeding were to be started. I called the company and spoke with Gary again (one year later) and he asked if I had signed for anything. When I told him I didn't, he said that there might still be a chance and that he would contact legal and call me back in 15 minutes. During that time, I looked online to see if the company had a website which they did not. What I found instead was usacomplaints.com. I called them back, told them I was suspicious of their validity and refused to pay until I got a copy of the check. Afterwards, I wrote a complaint to FTC. Gov and to my state attorney's office. I doubt I'll ever get a copy of the check.
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