In the way of helping to establish my credibility, prior to my retirement I was a high ranking law enforcement official. After my retirement I started my own business. I had the misfortune to be contacted by Joseph Steven and Associates. I contracted with them to collect and aging debt. They informed me very clearly that if they could not collect that my two thousand dollars would be refunded. I discussed this matter with them twice on the phone. They said that they would have their legal staff pursue the matter and they would obtain a judgement and attach wages if they could not come to some amicable agreement with my client. My first contact with Joseph Steven and Associates (hereafter known as JSA) was in May.
For many months I received no contact from JSA, and when I would contact them they could provide no real answers as to the status of my file. I remained persistent, and made contact with them and they informed me that they had in fact received a letter from my client to which I would need to respond. Please keep in mind that they have still never once initiated contact with me. Towards the end of 2007 my patience was beginning to wear a little thin, and I called them and was informed that the matter was scheduled to be heard in court in February.
In the middle of February I had the futile task of finding out what happened in court, as I was instructed by JSA not to appear. I was told after several phone calls that there was a judgement in the matter and that my client's bank account would be levied. Please keep in mind again that I have never been contacted by JSA, and that all contacts were initiated by me.
After another fourteen phone calls, it turns out that this was all a big lie. There was no judgement in the matter and in fact my client had not been served. I got no cooperation from anyone on the matter. One employee was honest when she informed me that nothing had been done.
Well, one year later and two thousand dollars poorer, I am writing to make sure that others do not fall into this same trap. This company is dishonest and fraudulent. I will be pursuing this matter from both the civil and criminal standpoint. Seldom have I seen this type of conduct that is so blatantly fraudulent and on such a large scale.
Just in case you missed it... I'm mad as h*ll. Each day I will take some action towards helping to bring this fragile house of cards down. This company is purely fraudulent.
Please contact me if you have information that I can forward to the IRS, as I believe that there are cash transactions that do not make it to the books.
As to the criminal issues, I would appreciate any additional information that you might have that will help send those in charge to a place where they can contemplate their wrongdoing in great solitude.
I am also open to fronting the cash for a class action lawsuit. As legitimate business people we must stand and be counted.
Dash
Oakland, California
U.S.A.
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