Push Button Paradise

Micah Dubinko

Mon, 13 Jun 2005

The new ambulance chasers

Note: for obvious reasons, various details in this post have been changed.

Last week I got a call from the official sounding Anderson, Crenshaw & Associates, claiming I owed an extraordinary amount of money for past home alarm system monitoring, and would I be able to pay up today before they are forced to file suit for breach of contract... They had an old address they suppose I once lived at, but didn't have any actual contract in hand (hmmm).

I did some research on these guys. They actually have an "alarm debt liquidation group", where they boast "our trained collection agents utilize specialized discussions to obtain personal information about the debtors". They also show up on a site called ripoffreport.com.

The main problem with this is that I consider it unethical to try to charge people for services not rendered. I would guess that the alarm company knows what's going on, but enough people roll over and pay at the mere mention of a lawsuit that this is a profitable racket. The collection agency too seems to my eyes to be an accessory. They're "just doing their job", but if they have knowledge that that many of these cases are bogus, they should share some of the blame.

So, in my case, let's just say a third party called them back in my behalf, and I'll be surprised if I hear anything more from them. IMHO, if you encounter these guys, don't give out any personal information, and definitely don't give out any bank account/credit card/financial information. -m

posted at: 09:34 | under: 2005-06 | 6 comment(s)

okay, if I was a young lawyer who wanted to make a good deal of money I would file a class action suit against these people, try to find people who had paid these false charges, and derive a good commission off of bankrupting both parties.
Posted by bryan at Tue Jun 14 00:58:52 2005

They called my house today.

What a scam!!!

They would not even tell me who they represent or what they were calling about because they were calling for my father. So I googled them. I found the site u were talking about in your blog.

I may even call them back to tell them that I am reporting them to the better business bureau.
Posted by War Eagle at Mon Jun 20 16:20:14 2005

"IMHO, if you encounter these guys, don't give out any personal information, and definitely don't give out any bank account/credit card/financial information" - you're right, we gotta stay attentive. However, we are supposed to give out some information so that we could live the life we are used to. What I mean is shopping online and all the stuff like that.
Posted by Ambulance Nurse at Thu Jul 7 04:25:24 2005

They also called looking for my mother threatening her with a lawsuit. They were very rude and made mean comments to me and my husband. They hung up on us, called us back and said really horrible things to us. I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau and warned my mom not to give them any info. I also looked them up online and saw the rip-off reports. They are a very bad company.If they threaten you, just change your phone number because they will keep calling.
Posted by Libby at Fri Jul 15 15:14:48 2005

Please check your credit report although I do not recall ever having any contact with a firm called Anderson Crenshaw and Associates they put a collection on my credit report, which I now have to dispute. I am at a loss on how to deal with this comapny and also Protect America (the so called alarm system company they are representing.

I also filed a report with Rip-off.com hoping this may help.
Posted by Sherry at Sun Jul 24 09:16:01 2005

I had the pleasure of speaking with these idiots today. I was lucky enough to also speak with the manager (John Goetz) who also had no problem insulting me as the other two I spoke with before him. We had cancelled our contract with the Alarm Team and now they are no longer in business so there really is NO debt. So good luck to me trying to solve this one. My husband filed a complaint with the Attorney General in their state and will do the BBR as well. They had the gall to tell me that me Husband probably does not even work at the same company (they have old info) because people who have credit problemd usually don't keep jobs??? He was right in the fact that he does not work at the same ompnay becasue they were bought out moved the operation and laid everyone off. Now my husband in in Rea Estate and makes a middle six figues income. But I was not going to give them new information and I will never give them a dime! I feel for anyone having to deal with these complete a*******!!!
Posted by Sherry at Wed Aug 10 12:55:07 2005

Syndicate:

What am I reading?
Don Quixote
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
The Complete Joy of Homebrewing
Analog magazine
Compilers
TAOCP

Archives:
Link