public record searches - current civil lawsuits etc

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
So my wife recived a call today from a guy claiming to be an investigator looking for me to settle an unpaid debt. Allegedly many years ago, has been turned over to a civil suit, yada yada.
I'm sure it's a scam or bogus deak trying to get access to info or a credit card, but I figure what the hell, I'll call them back (they already have my phone number so no loss there) and at least find out how much info they have on me.
I'd like to be prepared, however, w/ my proof in hand of their complete BS.

What are osme good resources for searching for current litigation (they arapently even claim a potential arrest, hahaha) etc for somebody? I knwo thsi is public record, just not where to look. 4 million places claim to provide info in change for $$ of course....
 
go ahead and give me your social security number..I will look into it for you.I dont want to see a fellow wheeler go to the hooskow. Probably should give me a credit card number also, so I have 2 forms of your id....just in case!!!:popcorn:
 
If it is really an old debt that is owed then it would be a civil matter. Civil and criminal are two different things. Civil matters are NOT arrestable offenses. You could get a criminal summons to appear in court on a civil matter which is what a deputy would serve you but you wouldn't be arrested. Once you find out more about it PM me and Ill help point you in the right direction.
 
If papers havent been served on you, there is no pending litigation. Point blank that is step one.

Just remember if a CC debt collector is talking he is lieing
 
Well, I went ahead and called him, curiosity got the best of me.
First flag is that while they had my name, it was what I go by and not my first name.
Supposedly it is "some contractural agreement made between myself and 'MS Financial' in Aug of 1997". He had no records or info other than that as to what the agreement was about or anything... could only tell me this company supposedly does personal and car loans etc...
Basically the deal was that they are contracted as a last-effort collector just before being served papers. Yeah, classic deal, "We can settle right now out of court for only $571, or I will file it and you will be served the full amount (which supposedly is like $2k) plus court fees blah blah blah".
Fellow was pretty hostile from the get go, clearly he's used to dealing w/ people not listening to him. His tactic being to scare me into some kind of commitment by saying things like "Well once I file this you'll be served, maybe tomorrow or Monday.." Really put me off... I was just trying to get info about this alleged record, but his response was just "it's not my job to research the info, just to let you know about it and offer a deal 'at pennies on the dollar'."

I know the claim is either bogus or incorrect. The immediate proof is in the fact that no financial institution would ever grant a loan or any kind of contract w/o having my actual full name on the record.
What I'm wondering now is, if for some reason there actually is some kind of incorrect record or claim that some company has w/ my name on it, I want it addressed/fixed. This guy was being a real PITA about giving me any info that could be used to back-track it.

Actually what really bugs me most is that he had my full SS# w/ the record. And yet not my full name, or the address I lived at at the time of alleged broken contractural agreement...
 
You need to pull your credit report and put a fraud alert on it. It might be that someone with a similar name didn't pay their loan, and a scavenger collector is just hunting, looking for anyone with a similar name to pay the so called debt.

If there's any credit on the report that is not yours, challenge it, if your not planning on taking any loans out, I would put a freeze on your credit.
 
Wife here (SECU employee)

Definitely use the annualcreditreport link above - they are the real legitimate free credit report and the one that State Employees' recommends. Be sure and print it while you're there because you can only access it once every 12 mos.

I look at credit reports every day, and have seen instances where accounts are listed incorrectly, had a lady in not long ago whos dead ex-husbands accts (from after the divorce) were listed as active on her report. All sorts of weird things can happen, and accounts (and finance companies)can be sold over and over again so just because he is saying "MS Financial" it might not be the original company from 1997. Good luck, if you need any help deciphering let me know.

Also, ask for settlement details in writing. If its a scavenger collection agent, they will shy away from anything but phone calls.
 
Thanks.
I actually have copies of my credit file already (at least the Experian version), I have an ongoing contract w/ Identity Advisor through my CC for monthly reports etc. It's been clean for several years. I'll get the full one from the other two agencies though, I know there can be discrepancies between them.
 
and if the debt is not list anywhere on any of those 3 then it isn't real. There isn't a real financial instituation that would not have reported this years ago on your record.

Pull all 3 though just because it is possible it is on one but not the other two.

Finally, ask for written proof of the debt and details, by law they must provide written proof.

Getting your SS# is not that hard unfort, we are asked (illegally) to put it on all sorts of paperwork

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=3649


Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (1978): Federal law that prohibits debt collectors from engaging in unfair, deceptive or abusive practices when collecting debts.

Collectors must send a written notice telling the name of the creditor and the amount owed; collector may not contact consumer if he or she disputes in writing within 30 days (unless collector furnishes proof of the debt);

collectors must identify themselves on the phone and can call only between 8 am and 9 pm unless a consumer agrees to another time; and collectors cannot call consumers at work if they are told not to.
 
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