Anyone Know Merchants Credit Guide Co

[Ladynred]

Its probably not. Have you not been paying attention to the thefts of records from ChoicePoint, LexisNexis, AmeriCredit and others ?? Thousands of personal information records have been STOLEN. Its not a stretch that some thieves bought this info and are trying to extort money out of people !!

Call your State AG, file a complaint. Get the information from the original creditor IN WRITING regarding your record with them.

[DruckerVA]

Ladynred,
I am in Va and recieved the same letter but with a differnt name instead of mine. When i called i got about the same answer. The had my SS# but told me to write to the main office include my SS and they would explain the problem. Should i just send them the same letter (Validation) that ever one else is sending? i checked my credit report and there is no such outstanding account. in fact i have never done bussines with this company. I am worried that someone has my address and ss but someone elses name . What other steps should i be taking?
thanks for your help

[Ladynred]

Sounds like we got a real scam going here. Yes, file the same sort of complaint with your State AG. Asking you to SEND them your SSN and info before they'll tell you anything is bullcrap, don't fall for it. If you have an address, send them a cease and desist letter and tell them to get lost, you've never dealt with they company they allege you owe the debt to and they are never to contact you again. You ALL should contact the FTC with the details of this scam operation.

[DruckerVA]

Ladynred,
thanks for the help. what type of letter should i send? the Validation letter or the get lost letter?
thanks again for all your help

[klhofbauer]

State: Arizona

I've been doing some research on Merchants Credit Guide Co., and they are a very, very bottom pond-feeding scum, sucking JDB.

There are many credit repair forums out there, and Merchants has recently been sending a slew of notices out, trying to collect on 10+ year old debts that are WAY past the SOL. I've notated approximately 50 different usernames thus far that are or have been contacted and threatened by Merchants.

My husband received one just on Wednesday from merchants for a CC that he had charged off in 1993. I am sending them the SOL C&D letter, quoting the TILA for CC's, the FDCPA, the state statutes regarding SOL, and everything else I can think of.

That said, I went to EdCombs.com - which is a law firm in Illinois that specializes in filing class action lawsuits against JDB's for illegal practices and FCRA and FDCPA violations. I spoke directly with the assistant of the Senior Partner there, and let them know that there are many, many people - just on credit repair forums - that are getting contacted by Merchants. She asked me to fax him a copy of everything I've received, and to include any and all information, as if it warrants, they will most likely look into filing a class action against Merchants.

I would advise that anyone who is dealing with these people to think about contact the above URL (there is contact info there, with a brief description, and the lawyer(s) will email you directly).

Whether-or-not this EdCombs decides to pursue this, I honestly do not know, but they will take a look - and if enough consumers are getting threatened, scammed, etc.. by Merchants, -well, you never know what may happen.

Good luck.

[oldladyblue]

I'm in Arkansas and also received a letter from Merchants Credit Guide Co. I posted a message here and based on a reply from dc417 I sent a letter to them letting them know that an 11 yr. old bill is past the statute of limitations in Arkansas. I did not challenge the validity of this bill which I believe was paid-I only addressed this one issue. I sent letters to Merchants Credit Guide in both locations on my letter--Hauppauge, NY and Chicago, IL. -2 letters to each location, 1 by certified mail and one with certificate of mailing(proof of mailing). I just did this last week so really don't know what the response will be. My thanks to dc417 for the advice.

[custerhead]

Hey, not to make light of anyone's situation, you folks are lucky.

I got a bill that is nor ever was mine and for $4,456!

Glad I tried searching information on these folks.

[mindfulsilence]

I live in Michigan now, but used to live in California.

I just received a letter from Merchants' Credit Guide stating that I owe $1705. First off, I'm not sure if this is even a valid debt. Secondly, if it was, it was probably about ten years ago. And, if it was a CC I had, I NEVER had a limit of anything over $500 and I haven't had a CC in ten years...

I just got this out of the blue...

I just recently ordered my credit report from 3 different agencies and I did not see this debt ANYWHERE.

Thoughts?

[Ladynred]

If you're certain its past the 6 year MI SOL, then send them the same cease and desist letter I linked in this thread before. It would seem that Merchants has bought themselves a huge portfolio of very old debts and is pursuing people. Tell them to go take a long walk off a short pier.

[RayNJ]

I also received a letter also from Merchants' Credit Guide Co.

I have sent the Request for Validation letter and in addition filed complaints with

The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois, Inc.
[url]http://www.chicago.bbb.org/complaint.html[/url]

and

State of Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulations
Division of Professional Regulation
Complaint Intake Unit

[url]https://www.idfpr.com/dpr/FILING/Complaint.asp[/url]

I hope others will follow suit if they haven't already

[GINAK]

I just received a msg from this company also- no letter.. not sure if I should call them back and find out what the debt is, send a letter now or wait for a letter and continue to ignore the calls..

Something that caught my eye on these posts was that a couple people mentioned just having credit reports pulled. I am in the process of buying a home right now.. I wonder if there is a connection?

[Ladynred]

Oh you BET there's a connection !!! The collection agencies and junk debt buyers PAY the CRA's for a 'service' that the bureaus provide to find debtors. ANY action on your reports, such as mortgage shopping, is a big red flag and the collectors circle like buzzards !!

Do NOT call them, send them a debt validation letter - they'll go away because they can't ever prove anything.

[GINAK]

Thanks..

for those who have successfully sent a letter to this company (or received a letter from), what address are you using? I have found two addresses, one in Chicago and one in NY.. I am going to avoid talking to them on the phone so wont be able to ask. I was thinking it may be best to send one to each address.. these are what I have:


223 W. Jackson Blvd.#900
CHICAGO, IL

PO. Box 18053
Hauppauge New York 11788-8853


If you sent to a different address or one of these are inaccurate I'd appreciate a correction.


Thanks

[ccdquarcini]

Thank you so much. I followed your advise (sending a validation and claim dispute certified letter} and received a letter of apologize form these people!

If not but for you, I would have been stressed a great deal more. Thanks!!!!!


Celeste

[GINAK]

Hi Celeste,

Do you remember which address you sent those to?

Originally Posted by ccdquarcini

Thank you so much. I followed your advise (sending a validation and claim dispute certified letter} and received a letter of apologize form these people!

If not but for you, I would have been stressed a great deal more. Thanks!!!!!


Celeste