Process Server call (credit report, loans, lawyer)

[JoeShades]

On Friday, I get a call from a restricted number at 5PM, I was really busy at the time. The lady says she needs a time to serve me with a summons, I am being sued about a civil matter, I said I do not know what this could be. She then gives me my SSN and transfers me to a so called lawyer. Apparently this firm is MSM & Associates in Los Angeles. The Lawyer tells me it is about an old credit card debt in 2006, she gives a valid CC number from long ago, it is a valid debt. I am thinking ok this something I should take care of now, they settle for 900 which is down from 1800. I pay on my credit card. Today I started looking into this law firm or collection agency and there is nothing at the address they have on their letter head they sent me. I called other businesses in that area and they have not heard of this place. First I should have told them the debt was past the SOL in jersey and second it seems odd for a process server to call first. Luckily the CC company said I can get the charge removed but I am not sure if this is a scam or not. I guess it is possible these people somehow got hold of an old debt illegally. Before I paid they sent me an authorization request from company called BAYVIEW LLC, this seems like a real company. I saw the following on the BBB website about this bayview company. The bayview company is what appears on the credit card statement.Would like some advice how to proceed here. I attached the demand letter



"The FTC alleged that the business posted consumers' bank account and credit card numbers, birth dates, contact information, employers' names, and information about debts the consumers allegedly owed on a public website. The business exposed this sensitive information in the course of trying to sell portfolios of past-due payday loan, credit card, and other purported debt."

[Blue biker]

I'm thinking you got scammed, see if you can get your credit card company to reverse the charge. The "debt" is over 10yrs old. Let alone you should have gotten something by registered mail. While the debt may be true, as you said too much time had passed. This company may search old debts and make attempts to collect them. If they get even $500 on an old debt that isn't valid anymore they're ahead of the game.

[JoeShades]

Yes the CC said i can get it removed but by making a payment doesn't that reset the SOL? because this bayview company is real, but I don't think the MSM one is

[daliowa]

You may want to ask your credit card company to cancel that card, and issue you a new card with a different number.


It wouldn't surprise me if this "lawyer" starts shopping with your credit card info.

[JoeShades]

I will hold off on that probably, i always check my statements , so if i see anything weird i will then do that. I am more concerned about my identity, they have my SSN, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER

[daliowa]

Originally Posted by JoeShades

I will hold off on that probably, i always check my statements , so if i see anything weird i will then do that. I am more concerned about my identity, they have my SSN, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER

There is some kind of a lock that you can put on your credit reports (all 3) so that new credit cards can't be taken out in your name (or loans, etc.)


Problem with that is if you go to buy a car and need a loan, or buy a house, or try to get a new credit card for yourself, then you can't until you unlock.


I forget the name of this, but someone else here should know what it's called.

[Retriever]

Originally Posted by daliowa

There is some kind of a lock that you can put on your credit reports (all 3) so that new credit cards can't be taken out in your name (or loans, etc.)

Problem with that is if you go to buy a car and need a loan, or buy a house, or try to get a new credit card for yourself, then you can't until you unlock.

I forget the name of this, but someone else here should know what it's called.

It's called a "security freeze".

http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/New...dit-report.pdf