[Bren's Mom]

Hundreds of former Hollywood Video account holders are being scammed by a fraudulent collection agency. Many aren't even being notified, and collections are being placed on their credit reports. I just discovered one has been on mine since October, and never received anything from Hollywood OR the collection agency. Our local store (Ansonia) closed last summer.

I received my first communication from the collection agency last week. The collection has already been deleted from my CR, it was only on one and they responded to my online dispute (by deleting) within 24 hours. But there are reports online that many others are being suckered into paying.

I just received my first letter yesterday, and will be sending a Debt Validation letter. No doubt they will go away once they receive that, but I feel awful for anyone who gets a call/letter like this and doesn't know what to do about it. The vast majority of these are NOT valid debts!

If you do find this on your CR or start receiving calls or letters and you did NOT owe Hollywood Video money:

Do NOT pay the collection agency or give them any info
Request the agency send you the details in writing
Send a Debt Validation letter
If they don't respond by deleting within 30 days then dispute with the CRA and it MUST be deleted.
Keep a log of all calls, correspondence, etc. You may be able to sue for violations of FDCPA at a later date if the agency persists in illegal collections.
Call the FTC and file a report with them. If enough people file they will investigate and possibly close them down.

[kidyankee764]

Thanks for the heads up. I never used Hollywood Video but that's nuts. I don't even use Blockbuster, I go to the Redbox.

[AngryAtCollections]

Just happened to me an hour ago. I am in the process of purchasing a house and only AFTER my bank pulled my credit report was I even aware of the debt. My credit score is now too low to get the house. I'm ****ing PISSED to say the least. Hopefully I can get this fixed and removed from my credit report before I lose the opportunity to get this house.

[andthentherewere3]

I've never even heard of this company. At first I thought this thread was some kind of porn spam.

[JayCT]

There were not a lot of Hollywood stores here in Connecticut but there were a few. I think there was one in Fairfield that I remember. I never went there but some of my relatives may have. Thanks for the notice. I will pass it on. Jay

[Bren's Mom]

Originally Posted by AngryAtCollections

Just happened to me an hour ago. I am in the process of purchasing a house and only AFTER my bank pulled my credit report was I even aware of the debt. My credit score is now too low to get the house. I'm ****ing PISSED to say the least. Hopefully I can get this fixed and removed from my credit report before I lose the opportunity to get this house.

You can dispute it online with whichever credit bureau recorded it, I had mine deleted within 24 hours. Can't hurt to try. If they delete, your mortgage company/broker can do a rapid rescore. It will be ok.

And I'm ROFLMAO andthentherewere3...I wasn't posting porn spam!! LOL

Thanks Jay. There was one in Ansonia near Big Y. That's the one we rented from.

I'm so irritated that this collection agency is scamming so many people that I decided to hire an attorney to sue them for the FDCPA violations. She was happy to take the case and if she recovers anything great, if not I'm not out any money as she's working on contingency. I want to stick them where it hurts!! Even though it's done no damage to me at this point, it certainly has to many others who aren't aware of their rights (or their ability to sue).

[Bren's Mom]

And an update, Montana's AG has filed suit. Aside from the fact that many of these collections cannot be validated (meaning the late fees weren't really owed), the collection agency was charging outrageous fees to collect on them.

Consumer Protection - MT Dept of Justice

[JayCT]

Where is CT's AG on this? You should contact them. Jay

[Bren's Mom]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Where is CT's AG on this? You should contact them. Jay

I don't know, I just asked my attorney this morning when she sent me the Montana info if they knew about it. She's handling it, so I'm just going to let her do her thing. This is her specialty, so I have no doubt she's got it covered.

And as an aside, in response to the letter she sent them they sent me a very nice one that said basically we're not going to bother you anymore and we won't put anything else on your credit report.

[Bren's Mom]

Update:

This collection agency agreed to settle my case against them for a significant sum.

Take that illegal debt collectors!

I hope anyone who reads this who ever has this happen to them, learns their rights under the FDCPA and does not pay debts that they do not owe out of fear for their credit score.