November 2008    This is the most unprofessional, uneducated, collection agency/law firm I have ever experienced. The so-called managers clearly do not care about the collection laws and procedures. They train their employees to say rude and disrespectful phrases that are clearly against the FDCPA. Threats to garnish wages, liens on properties, and county sheriff involvement on states where this office does not even have jurisdiction) are expected to be part of an employees

October 2008    These guys are a real piece of work. My first call from them was the first time I ever knew that a Best Buy credit card wasn't paid. After telling them I had a balance I said let me call me wife because I didn't know anything about it. He said you have 10 minutes to call me back or we will take you to court. He wanted me to send over 3000 bucks over the phone in a matter of minutes. Believe me I will be calling the California Bar Association and Best Buy has lost a customer for life. Since my wife and I are separated I still haven't gotten a statement. Best Buy wouldn't send one and neither would Curtis O Barnes. Boycott both of these companies they are both scumbags.

October 2008    My daughter got a letter from Curtis Barnes debt collectors out of California. She called them to see what the letter was about and to see if she can work out some kind of payments with then to resolve the money owed. They wanted $4000.00 from her immediately she told them if she had that kind of money she would have paid off this debt. They got her very scared and wanted her to call me her mother and see if I could help pay this off. I got the call from Bernie Shaw and he told me that we were on a 3 way call. He asked if I can send him the money and I told him no way, so he said what kind of mother are you that you cant help your daughter out from being sued. I told him that I can help her with payments ---but that was not good enough they want the money now. Then he would settle for $3000.00. He told us that we are people with bad morals and low life and he will get money out of her account and I said I will get a lawyer to help her , he wanted the lawyers name. I told him I do not have a lawyer yet but I will get one and he will contact him. He was ranting and raving on about what kind of bad people we are and we will be sued. This man was very horrible . He said my husband has a lot of money and should pay off her debt. How does he know this info.I am filing a complaint against Bernie Shaw for harassment

September 2008    Dealt with these slime balls awhile back ago and got the typical harassment phone calls. Was trying to work a payment plan with them, but they will not accept any payment plan, but to pay in full. Threatened to garnish my wages and lawsuit so I got my lawyer and had him talk to them. They immediately settled for a payment plan and lowered the amount they claim I owed.

If any of you are getting any harassment calls from them, have your lawyer (or go find one) to deal with them. Once they talk your lawyer, the scenario changes and will definitely work with whatever payment plan you can afford, and perhaps lower the amount owed.

August 2008    I used to work at LOCOB.  It was the most horrible place.  They under pay their people and make them work their butts off.  My doctor had to put me on pills while working there.  (Yeah, I know, the sign said "Welcome to Hell" but the heat, they never said anything about the heat.)

August 2008    Went through all of the same stuff as the rest of you re LOCOB....I got an attorney, told them I would see them at trial, and the day prior , the lawsuit was dismissed! Call their bluff and win!

July 2008    These people called and harassed us about a debt and we tried to see how we can make payments we can afford but they won't accept it --just the full amount. We have worked with other debt collectors with no problem. But when these people called we were shocked to hear all the screaming from there part of how we were bad people and making sarcastic comments.

June 2008   Well, just like everyone else who has posted for C. Barnes, I have received threats for wage garnishment and law suits from these guys, and they have been harassing my parents. I offered them $500.00 in eight days (next pay date) and a hundred dollars a month for a $2000.00 debt, Brian Shaw refused and said I should access my mother's American Express Card. (How can getting this info be LEGAL??) When I told him my mother was elderly and that was not an option, he quipped, "Well, your mother must not care about you." He then said I needed to give him my bank info over the phone and give him permission to draft the entire balance out of my account. Do they really think I am going to give them that information? Shaw stated repeatedly that I must not have friends or anyone who cared about me, or I would be able to borrow the money from someone. After attempting to convince me that I am a terrible person and just don't want to pay my debts, he then told me that he KNEW I could pay him because my credit report showed all my other obligations (car, mortgage, etc.) were always paid and up to date. So which is it, Shaw? I don't know what kind of training these guys get, but I don't know how they sleep at night. I wonder if their children know they are paid to abuse and insult people. I have met child molesters with more conscience. There must a sign on the door when you walk in to work that says "leave your conscience at the door." I plan to pay the debt, of course, but on my terms, through monthly payments.

May 2008  I know that this section is for complaints about these agencies but I just have to say, I used to work for COB, granted for a very short period of time but I never saw anyone breaking the law. We had to take several training classes to teach not to be like every other collection agency breaking the FDCPA left and right. He wanted us to collect debt the fair and legal way. The fact is everything I saw there was perfectly legal and follows the FDCPA to a tee. I do love this website and I think it's a great tool for people who have simply fallen on hard times and cannot honor their obligations at this time. I was not a very good collector because I'm a little too quiet and I feel bad for everyone, even the people lying through their teeth, but I would have stayed working for COB forever if I hadn't moved. He and his boys are genuinely nice people and like I said, I never saw or heard of anyone there breaking any laws or even using harsh methods to collect debt. If I was going to have a collection agency call me, I would want it to be LOCOB.

May 2008   My place of employment received a call for me from a Tammy Clark at 866-477-8222 ext 4404. They took a message for me and I called her back on Tuesday. She said she was from a law office  have wrote  and asked me for some personal information to verify the info they had. I asked her what the call was regarding and she said she couldn't tell me until she verified my info. So I waited and waited, then she said she couldn't find me in the computer. After speaking with someone else she simply said I wasn't the person she was looking for and hung up. All day Wednesday I was freaking out thinking that this was a scam and that I was the next identity theft victim. So I decided to Google 866-477-8222 and several sites came up reporting harassing calls from these people who are actually from a collection agency. I hope someone can put a stop to this!

April 2008   My wife just got a call at home from Robert McKnight of Curtis O. Barnes law office. He was looking for someone in FL and calling me in VA because I have the same last name. My brother does live in FL but how can it be legal for a law firm in CA to call someone's assumed relative in another state to get information? I called Robert McKnight back to ask why he was calling my house looking for someone in FL and he became VERY rude with me on the phone and said he can get information any way he sees fit...even through relatives. This seems very unethical if not illegal...to harass someone that he ASSUMES is a relative of someone he is collecting a debt on.

2007     In August of 2007 I used my Discover card to payoff a debt of my wife's. This was thru the Curtis Barnes office in California. There was a screw-up between myself and Discover card and Discover card overpaid the office of Curtis Barnes by $2321.55. Not exactly a drop in the bucket.  Because of the way the screw-up happened Discover card told me  credit had to be issued back to me by Curtis Barnes. I've talked to a Colt Abram numerous times to get this resolved with no success. I've sent them copies of my Discover card statements showing the payments. I had Discover card contact them directly and send add ional documents. The reply i get from Mr. Abram every time I call is that they never received the $2321.55 payment. So far they Colt Abram) refuses to research the overpayment from their end. As it stands now I'm out of a rather large amount of money. I don't intend to give-up on this but I'm just mad that people can actually get away with doing things like this to people. What makes it harder for me is that they are located in California and I'm in Pa.

2007     Curtis Barnes keeps calling my home for my son. I told him several times the phone number does not belong to my son it is mine and that I would no longer give messages. I also faxed him notice not to call. He refused to listen. He harasses me and my other family over the phone and when we hang up he calls right back. He also had personal information that he divulged to me about my husband and I. He is not allowed to have that information. I have filed a complaint with the California Bar Association as he is a real attorney. The phone number to the Bar Association for complaints is 1-800-843-9053. His collection tactics are illegal and should be handled as such.

2007     I received in the mail today notice of Lien on my property and a copy of the judgment. LOCOB called and harassed me many months ago. I rebuffed them as I was BK and had protection via stay. The collector just kept on going. I asked for details which they would not release, similar to the other comments here. I have no idea what they think I owe this money for but they are successful. Successful at breaking the law! I was never served, so I did not show at court so they got a default judgment. Then since we retained our home through the BK, they have now put a lien on our home. It si a strange world, Michael Vick is going to prison and hsi life is ruined for killing dogs, granted killing dogs is not nice. Barnes is BREAKING THE LAW - PERIOD! Why can't the State AG, Fed AG and/or the Law Bar take notice. Poor consumers are being taking advantage of and this guy is smiling all the way to the bank. It is another perfect example of under-handed lawering PAYS and PAYS big. I plan to fight back, but where do I get the money to fight with??? We need an all-encompassing class action against LOCOB and put this guy away.

2007     Contact your 80 year old grandmother", "go ask your neighbor for 10,000 dollars...I'll stay on hold", "your sorry", ....some of the less colorful comments from Ms. Atoyyah (whatever) at Curtis O Barnes. These people have harassed almost everyone I know and threatened to garnish my wages after a lawsuit. They are terrible, terrible, terrible. I am not a deadbeat I just fell on some hard times after Katrina and Wilma. I offered to make payments but OH NO....we will sue This kind of harassment should be illegal and someone needs to do something about these bottom feeders!

2007        i JUST RECEIVED A 'SO - CALLED SUMMONS' filed in the courthouse in my city from some loser right at my door, actually talked to my husband not me, trying to act like I was being served. of course he was just a paid jockey probably paid peanuts by these crooks. And it also says now the creditor is Atlantic Credit and Finance, instead of original Household bank. I don't believe it is real. I fell behind on the payments a year ago and now make the payments to the original creditor via a debt consolidation program/company. Has anyone had this happen before with this place? What judge would accept a case when the defendant is make payments to the original creditor. Can't believe a judge would have someone make payment legit thru DC program and then allow a bottom-feeder like this to get a garnishment? can be fought right....if summons is even really every filed and done with. anyone???

Check with your local courthouse.  You need to appreciate debt collection lawyers are in judge's courtrooms every day and some of them get very chummy.  It makes the judge do things he wouldn't otherwise do - like see the consumer's side...

2007     I received a call from Cutis O. Barnes Law firm yesterday. I spoke with them, since I am trying to clean up my credit. I have settled with other collectors and had professional conversations with them. However this company has shocked me at how someone does business. I told the person on the phone that I will be taking care of this, just don't know when. he proceeded to say that I own the company and pay salaries and have a car but can't pay the debt to their client (Costco?). I didn't even go in detail that I don't pay salaries, or for my car. He just kept saying that I don't care. He is going to take me to court, then my amount owed will be doubled, then he is going to garnish my wages (what wages? I earned $11,000 last year). The he is going to call Better Business Bureau and make sure my business is publicized. Publicized as what? That I don't pay my old bill to Costco? He even left a message to another person in my company with the same last name, calling him my husband and that we need to take care of this matter. We are not even related!

2007     Curtis Barnes office is calling three times a day for my husband. We're in Texas. A search on the state site that shows all currently bonded collection agencies that are legally allowed to collect a debt in Texas shows that he had a bond, once - he no longer does. Both bonds show expired, and there are none active. Apparently, they're really nasty to people when they don't pay their bills - but it's ok for Curtis not to pay his bills or operate within the laws of the states he tries to collect in. When he shows up on the state site with a valid bond, I'll view it as a valid collection attempt and answer the phone.

2007     Just to let you know that Barnes is collecting for Fortis Capital previous creditor: Best Buy. Fortis is the one that told me that "incarceration is a remote possibility." --Got the tape!

2007     Notice call there buff especially if you don't own your home are on welfare, unemployed with no assets I guarantee you they will leave you alone. I used to be the one of the ones calling you and if you didn't have assets I closed it and moved on. All they do is ask if you all those questions and try to get you to pay a percentage don't whatever their desk requirement is go from there because if you tell them your not working what can they do. Oh yeah, "call your grandma, Don't you have someone who LOVES you!" Most people break and actually do it but I'm telling hang up change your number, act like you don't know who or what they are talking about. And if any one of you loser Barnes workers are reading this then after lunch pack your bag because you know what Curtis said anyone he finds out about reading or post things on this site will be termed immediately losers. LOL

2007     Curtis, Angel, Marty James McBee, James Mace aka Andy, Gary Fatman Edwards, Colt Abram, Heather Ricks, Lori B., Lauria, Shauna C., Heather S., The Entire Calf office, Robert Barnes, Greg Barnes, Andrea Airhead, Noelle, Terrence aka TJ Yuckmouth, Carl Yuckmouth, are all losers. The only honest person there is ED Potts and Quintin Holloway. I was only there for a few weeks but man I glad to be gone. They lied and me becoming a Manager and had me locating and since I didn't learn the 1st Dunn they gave me a hard time. So I quit and now there getting sued for sexual harassment because one the managers  grabbed a young female on the rear-end and no one would help when she told.

2007     The LOCOB does not follow the law. A representative from that office recently called me in regards to an account that they purchased, which was in my wife's name. Miss Antoyo began the conversation the same way that most others here have described. She threatened a lawsuit and wage garnishment. When I told her that I didn't have $3400, and could I make payments, she stated that the LOCOB was not in the business of setting up payments and  I would have to pay the balance in full by electronic check right there and then. When I told her that a payment schedule would be the only way in which I could pay, she sternly said "You do not dictate the terms here. I do." She talked in circles for a few minutes until I hung up on her. Rather than taking no action, I decided to call back and speak to her manager. That was a mistake. This guy started with the same thug tactics that she did: "Stop right there. Don't you realize that we are going to sue you?" I told him that I would send half of the money now if he would give me a mailing address. He refused: "I'm going to ask the attorney." While this was going on, Miss Antoyo called my wife at work. Miss Antoyo claimed to be an attorney and went on to say that she was going to call my wife's HR department and take her wages immediately. When my wife said that she would talk to me about this, Miss Antoyo went on to say, "Why do you stay with your husband? He put you in this situation." I decided to wait until today to call her and relate what my wife said to me about her phone call, but if LOCOB is in the practice of forging papers that a defendant was served, what leverage do any of us have in regards to standing up for our rights as prescribed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices?

2007     Curtis and his "professional" staff contacted me about a debt that they are handling for Fortis which was purchased from Providian in the amount of $4700. They told me that they will settle for $4300. However I must act soon in order to avoid a lawsuit. They are currently in the process of turning it over to a lawyer in my county for suit. They will only accept $3,000 by electronic check with an additional post dated check of $1300 at the end of July. I must turn over my bank routing number and account number in order for this to stop the legal process. When I asked for verification she started reading my credit report which sounded as if it were at least 10 years old. What are my options? I owe the debt and I am willing to pay it, but do I have to pay them and do I have to give them my banking information to stop the legal process? Can I simply contact the original creditor and ask for a settlement amount?  (Providian doesn't exist anymore.  You should contact us.)

2007     The reps for this company are among the most low of low. Actually, they aren't even that great. These scumbags will do anything to make you feel horrible and ruin your day. Don't let them! Yes, we can cause ourselves much un-needless hardship by overspending but we are not less human and don't deserve to be treated as such. Every rep from this firm that I have spoken to has tried to prey on fear while maintaining there absolute and most disrespectful manner. Boo to them. Send them to the cleaners. Make them earn every penny of their low life jobs. I may be in debt but at least I'm not a debt collector. Good luck.

2007     Curtis O Barnes contacted me in August 2006, saying I owed them $5100. I refused to speak to their collector until I received validation for the debt. They never sent any validation. Next thing I know, they're serving me with papers. Fine. After they served me, they continued to call and harass me, telling me that I have to settle, or the judge will garnish my wages, etc. I didn't cave in to their threats, and responded to their suit. Even then, they still called, threatening to take me to the cleaners. I told them I'd see them in court, and refused to speak to them, anymore. Yesterday, I received a letter from the court. Curtis O Barnes motioned the court to dismiss the case. NOTICE TO ALL OF YOU- CALL THEIR BLUFF! Don't negotiate with these low- lives.

2007     I believe its time for a rebuttal. Let me start off, not everyone at locob is a collector, or a attorney. If people had read the correspondence sent to them, they would know this. As a employee of locob I could tell you that we are held to a high standard. Many people are upset with locob, but shouldn't they upset with the court system? I'm pretty sure that the courts would not issue a judgment without diligence. You know what diligence is right?, since most people had had commented on this site are "legal experts." They think they know what they are talking about, maybe this is why they are in the trouble and upset? Now I'm not protecting the name of Curtis Barnes, since I could tell already that his name has been tarnished on the world wide web. I'm saying that this firm and the employees that work in it abides by the law. Try this instead of ranting and complaining about how locob is so and so, take responsibility and pay your debt. Regardless if its locob or not.  Why do people complain so much about LOCOB and the others?  There are literally thousands of collection agencies out there and we never have to write a word about them because they collect by respecting the law.  The only way we hear from consumers about LOCOB is because the FDCPA has been violated.  IF LOCOB obeyed the law like they claim, they'd disappear from this site and all others.

2007     I work for Curtis and it is unfortunate to read these comments. I have also been in collections and I know it can be a troubling experience. Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah   Sorry, it just kinda runs together after awhile...

2007     Curtis is not so bad. He is actually a pretty nice guy who happens to have a business is a rotten field  who happens to like puppies and kittens. I worked for the man for years, no I was not a collector but he was always very good to all his employees on time for work. Yes he does sometimes have employees that do not abide by the rules and they are usually fired given a bonus when this is brought to light. But he is a family man both his sons work for him provide cover for his questionable collection activities and he tries to please all his employees. Oh and just in case you are wondering he NEVER talks to ANY of the debtors and he does not sign documents  or false documents, in spite of what you and your network of attorneys have uncovered until they get to the legal status or close to the legal status. The Law Office is very profitable (not unlike bank robbing) and they are doing well so as you can imagine there are hundreds of letters and false affidavits going out everyday. He has nothing personal against you or your families he is just running a business. He is being paid to collect money rightfully owed  on debts he purchased for pennies on the dollar and has no documentation to back up and though I know you may be in tough situations and you may not be able to pay it now (and I as a human understand this and sympathize) but he is just running his business. Give the man poor millionaire debt collector whom you don't have a legal contract with a break. And no yes, I am not saying he is up for saint hood I am sure he has made plenty of mistakes in his life, but obviously so have you if you owe money. If you have something against the particular collector ok but how can you say such things about a man you do not know and know nothing about.  There.  We fixed that for you.  Thanks for writing Mrs. Barnes.

2007     I am the employer of staff who owes money apparently. I was contacted by Curtis O Barnes staff on my personal cell phone and while trying to cooperate with their questions I asked how they got my personal cell phone and why didn't they direct their inquiry through my business contact information. The "gentlemen" responded by stating...(paraphrasing), "I know alot about you...he began reciting my social security number, and proceeded to recite my social security number again, then saying blazingly, "Sound Familiar?" I was shocked that he had my SS# personal home address, my birth date, and it goes on, when I got upset and hung up on him. How could this be legal?! First of all, how could my personal information be so accessible? Secondly, I DON'T EVEN OWE ANY MONEY! I AM JUST THE EMPLOYER! In a world full of ID theft, etc. I think it is reprehensible to threaten individuals ID who have a working relationship with those who owe money.  It's a rough industry.  No background checks, collectors who are former criminals, no regard for the law.  It's just one of the reasons we're out here fighting.

2007     Representatives from Curtis O Barnes contacted my parents in an attempt to contact me. The problem wasn't that they contacted them, it was that the representative informed my father I had been in an accident and they needed to contact me immediately. Of course, my father was immediately concerned for my safety and gave them my place of employment. They called me at work and immediately began to represent themselves as lawyers and that they were going to sue me and garnish my wages unless I paid them in full, or obtained, through them, a credit account for the amount that they say I owe (about $4800), secured by $4800 in cash (now.. why would I do this if I could afford to just pay it off?) Anyway, I was put on hold and told that my offer of $300/month was unacceptable and that they could get more in garnishment and I was transferred and threatened with immediate legal action if I hung up. I was at work, I don't receive personal calls, so I was at risk, but I hung on. A female representative then picked up and immediately began demeaning me: she suggested that I find new friends to hang out with, that I was a loser, and that I deserve to be sued. I have now received a letter from their law office and plan to file a dispute, but fortunately I have not received any more phone calls.

2007      We have been dealing with this so called law office since Aug 2006. They called my mother to get my current phone # and told her they were lawyers and needed to speak with me immediately. They then called me repeatedly and said if I did not pay them $400.00 immediately they would sue me and garnish my wages. Since then I have paid a total of $1,250.00 on a $2,204.01 debt. I have never received any validation from them up until Feb 13,07 and it was not even a validation letter as I had requested. This letter they sent does not even show the right information on it and says I agreed to a settlement of the final amount due within 2 weeks. This law office does not even own my debt, Asset Acceptance does and they have also refused to Validate the debt. I have never received anything from them and they are telling me I have to make settlement and payment arrangements with Curtis O Barnes. Neither company will validate the debt (I have sent them demand for validation letters, certified and return receipt requested) and heard nothing from either one and yet as of today they are still reporting this to the credit reporting companies and saying I owe more than I do. Help, should I get a lawyer?

2007     Well, I owed a debt of $1680 last fall and worked out a payment deal with Barnes to pay 1/3 up front and $200 a month until payment was made in full. We did EFT from my checking account. Everything went smooth and as regular, I received a letter in February stating that a payment of $200 would be deducted on the 28th or the next business day. Well that day came and went and they never deducted the payment. Now I get a letter demanding payment in full! Stating I had broken the agreement. When I contacted them they were rude and threatening, demanding payment or they would file a lawsuit. They denied sending the letter and said they had called and left multiple messages to make payment arrangements, which was also a lie. I have their letter in hand and they are still threatening to sue me for breaking our arrangement. Do these people have any concept of the truth? Yeah we should all be responsible for our debt, but people like this should not be allowed to profit on the misfortune of other, even if that misfortune was our own fault.

They called my mothers office number, which I had not provided to them in an attempt to collect on the debt. I have made several attempts to resolve the situation, all of which they have refused even though they agreed to work with me. I offered 600 down on a 4300 debt and 400 a month until it was paid off-- they refused. I also contacted Consumer credit counseling service, and a debt relief firm for help. The representative from Barnes's agency said they would not accept third party help and I could only make arrangements with them. He told me there was no way anyone would give me a year to two years to have the debt paid off yet they were offering me an arrangement that would take 17 months to pay off. They told me that if I accepted their agreement that I would have to post date out all the payments on the arrangement. They tried to see if I had any life insurance I could borrow against or talk to my family to see if they could get the money out of them. When I advised them I needed to discuss this with my family separate from the phone call the representative became increasingly hostile telling me that there was no one that could help me and if the settlement amount which he claims he gave me and never did was not covered that they would file a judgment against me and sue me regardless.

2007     I have been harassed at my work and home number by this agency, Law Offices of Curtis o Barnes. Please note: they are on your list of agencies. They have just issued a garnishment against my wages. I tried to negotiate a payment with them but they wanted full payment of 4900.00 for a Citibank credit card debt of 2000.00 that was from 1997. I sent them a cashier's check for 1000.00 last week, however, indicated that if they cash this check the debt would be considered paid in full. They mailed it back to me yesterday. The credit card has already passed CA's statute of limitations. Sounds like you just got off scot free...

2007     I was contacted by this company and they told me I must pay $6100 today to pay off a debt they now own. When I told them I do not have it they wanted to know if I had any life insurance I could cash in or a retirement account I could cash out. When I said No they wanted me to let them conference call my family to hear me ask for a
loan to prove to them I was trying to pay it. I could not do this and they told me they will contact my husbands squadron, he is AF, and have his wages garnished and do everything possible to get him kicked out of the military as soon as he gets home from Iraq. They told me to have someone to call when the attorney contacts me because my husband will probably divorce me and i'll still have to pay the debt   (Ohh, call us immediately.)

2007      I called CURTIS and tried to make a settlement with them but they would not drop it a penny (inf act my bill had went up another $1,000 since the last bill was paid). CURTIS said what has happened is ******* had bought the account and hired CURTIS to represent them. I said I wanted the account verified and they said if I do that that ***** would want to file a lawsuit immediately. Someone else picked up the phone immediately and barged in on the conversation and said if I don't want to pay the entire amount they will start the judgment, he was a little rude. I just hung up. The next day another guy called and did offer to come down 50% before I realized that, looking through my papers I had never received a 30 day notice from them. I had given them my checking account# to take the first payment out Friday and another in April.

2007     I am one of the lucky ones that has to deal with this group. I am getting calls non stop from Mr Vandyne stating that they are going to sue me and garnish my wages. My wife lost her job thanks to Katrina, had a baby 7 months afterwards, and just started working again. All of our debtors worked with us and were understanding except for one. Now we are trying to get back on our feet and get our debts paid off but Barnes' group does not like payments. They would either like half and half, or the full amount and right away or suffer the consequences. Now they are calling my place of employment and asking to get transferred to others if I am not available. I would like to know who these people think they are by doing these types of things, and why do they think they are above the law? 

2007     This past week I found out that a judgment was placed against me and was executed causing my bank account to be almost eliminated except for payments that were pending, leaving me nothing for food, rent, etc.. I did not know about the judgment and spent the better part of the last 3 days trying to find out who and what did this. Not to mention the unfortunate need to change bank accounts

2007     The biggest joke is reading the nonsense from employees trying to defend this lowlife. (We think Curtis pays a bonus to any collector who gets published here...) I had an unresolved debt with Wells Fargo years ago, the result of identity theft. The account has been sold to one junk debt buyer after another for years. I would receive the collection notice, request verification, and never hear from them again.

So today I get a letter from this joke of a law office. Apparently, they are planning to sue me on behalf of Hilco Receivables, whom I guess is the last buyer of this false debt. I never heard of this agency before today, and no contact was ever made.

The letter is an attempt to intimidate, listing all the dire consequences of their impending action. However, I contacted my attorney and learned that since Barnes is functioning as a debt collector, this office is indeed bound by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Secondly, his letter is actually a carefully framed collection notice, and does not contain the admonitions required by the FDCPA.

I am immediately referring this letter to the FTC and the California Attorney General's office, and filing a formal complaint against Barnes with the California and Ohio State Bars. The last phrase I heard from my attorney was, "I would love to sue this guy for abuse of process."

2007     I just saw your website! Curtis o. Barnes sucks! It's true! They called me up and harassed my four year old daughter on the phone and coaxed her to put me on the phone. When I refused to identify myself, they demanded to know why my daughter had put me on the phone and that I should put her back on...! I said that harassment was against the law and that I needed debt verification within thirty days. I have not heard from them since. Thanks for publishing the terror online.

"fas-cism (fash'iz'em) n. A system of government that exercises a  dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism."
-- The American Heritage Dictionary 

You must be mistaken.  Curtis O. Barnes and all his employees are currently being considered for Sainthood.  Perhaps if you could only see the view from their happy valley...

2007     The employees of Curtis O. Barnes have nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award.  He is the best employer a debt collector could ever have.  We get it already Curtis.

2007     this swine is hassling me for debit I have, I just received a letter with a threat that I have to pay it in
full 10 days from that date. problem is, it's the 8th today, how is that enough time to react to it?

He is also being a wimp behind a PO Box, I always get them from the following address: PO Box 1390 Anaheim CA 92815-1390  pretty sleazy "attorney" if you ask me, the letter is never signed with his name or a employees name, just has a generic template at the bottom with his law firm name.

2007     I used to work for Curtis and can tell you from experience that if anybody violates the FDCPA they are reprimanded, some even made to sit at the front of the rows right in front of the row manager. Now another issue, regarding how fast Curtis or other collection offices puts people on the floor and I admit it's true that time spent training is time lost on the floor. In those two weeks of training, we get heavy training on the FDCPA and even little subtle ways that collectors twist the verbiage so they are not technically violating, however Curtis nips that in the bud so to speak (no pun intended). Also every single week, collectors are pulled off the floor and made to attend "up-training" classes to brush up on current issues of the FDCPA that might be in question and just to refresh everybodies memories as to what is right and what is wrong. I have to say that it was a very positive environment to work in and although I had no previous collection experience, was quickly one of their top reps and I never violated the FDCPA. In fact, many of the people I collected from praised my professionalism and understanding of their situation to come up with a solution that was mutually beneficial. I understand many collectors do violate and intimidate consumers that do not know their rights, but thats not what we did at Curtis Barnes office I can tell you that from experience. I know you probably won't post this because there is nothing negative and we all know scandals are what sells papers, but I just thought that you would like to know what's really going on there.  Aren't selling any papers, just trying to hold debt collectors to the law...

2007     We have been dealing with this so called Law Office since August of 2006. They have repeatedly called and harassed us about paying on this account. When first contacted by them they told us we had to pay half up front with a check by phone. When we told them we do not give out that type of information by phone then they were unwilling to work with us and said they would sue. They have never sent us anything in writing verifying they even have our debt for sure. When my husband called them to ask for some type of paperwork validating our debt with
them we were told that they are not a collection agency and therefore do not have to send us anything. The checks we did already send them have come through are bank with such illegible handwriting that no one can even tell who signed them. These guys are rip-off artists and do not be fooled into sending them money. If you have to go back to the original creditor of the account and tell them you refuse to work with this Curtis Barnes and you need to work
directly with them otherwise my advise to you is to seek legal help right away. They are refusing to send us validation and we are most likely out $1250.00. Do not send them anything or you will lose out too!!!

2007     I just dealt with the people at the "law office" of Curtis o Barnes over the phone. i was told about a debt from a retail stare credit card. They would not accept my offer to make payments since i had an open credit card in my name with a large open amount and my choices were either to pay it in full, them garnish my wages at 350 a month plus attorney fees and interest, or they would file a suit against me if i got off the phone and did nothing. i explained to them i am just a card holder on the open credit card and its actually my dads card, and i would have to go through him to see if i can charge the 2400 existing debt. they said they would only do a conference call and if i got off the phone they would file the suit with the county superior court. I told them both my parents are at work and would not pick up their phones, the person on the phone hounded me as to why they wouldn't. i was finally able to let the guy allow me to get off the phone to call one of my parents for advise but he said if i didn't call the office back by 2 i would be sued. i spoke with my mom and i used money in my bank account to pay it in full, i did an electronic check. i didn't think this "law office" was up to no good till 2 nights later i received a call at 8:30pm pestering me about the same account. i told him i had paid it 2 days ago and then he said he say it on the file i paid. was what they did calling me the second time pestering me about my account after i had already paid it in full harassment? also too on the phone the first time they knew not only my parents names, but my sisters name and her married last name along with her husbands name and telephone number. was this info conducted by a background check? and if so are they allowed to conduct it?

Wouldn't flushing the $2400 down the toilet been faster and less stressful?

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