Debt Collector 101...

We recently received a complaint about an out of state debt collection agency harassing an Oklahoma family for money they don't owe. Sure debt collectors have a job to do, but that doesn't mean they have the right to harass, oppress, deceive or abuse you. Federal law also prevents them from scaring you with a lawsuit. Here's the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in its entirety. If you believe a collection agency is overstepping its boundary...you have the right to report them to the Federal Trade Commission. Here's some tips I came across while browsing the FTC's website.

Now...if you do in fact owe on a debt...here's some things to keep in mind when dealing with a debt collector (courtesy: getprequalified.com)
*Don’t talk on the phone to a collection agency. If you get on the phone with them they will try
to intimidate you so they can collect more. Remember, they collect more, they make more.
*Send a Validation Letter to Collector to confirm debt
*Get everything in writing first before you open your checkbook.
*Keep good records; don’t expect the collector to remember what you had agreed on.
*Send all correspondence by registered mail.6. Keep copies of everything
*If you do call the collector, keep a log of whom and when you called.
*Follow up a call with a letter.
*Penalties and interest are typically made up amounts of many added on by the collection
agency to increase profits.
*Time is on your side. The longer you can keep them off your backs, the better settlements
you can work out.
*Don't be eager to settle. Take your time. If you are trying to buy a home and you need to have
the delinquent account off your credit report, make sure they know about this. Ask them to
remove the account from your credit report if you pay them in a lump sum.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!

Life or Death Situation...

For months know we've been investigating the owner of a Colorado service dog company. Tina Rivero runs Noelle's Dogs Four Hope...it's alleged, her company sold seizure and peanut alert dogs to families across the U.S. without proper training. We were turned onto the story after an the Matlack family contacted us to complain about Rivero. The Oklahoma family received a service dog 'in training' from Rivero...but now worry the dog may never receive the training that was supposed to come with the dog. Mama Matlack (Becky) is worried sick. Her 3 1/2 year-old is serverly allergic to peanuts...the tiny girl (Jenny) is in desperate need of a peanut sniffing dog that can alert and protect her from peanuts...it's a life or death situation. So far...our investigation has turned up complaints in Colorado, California, and Nevada. The family from Nevada even sent its peanut sniffing service dog back to Rivero after it ate peanuts...putting their allergic child at risk. To this point...Rivero has stayed mum on the matter... refusing to comment specifically on any of the complaints. She told a reporter with our sister station in Denver that she's wrongly accused and ALL of her service dogs are properly trained...with the exception of those dogs that are still in training...like the Matlack's dog. Trust me...this story is far from over.

As it stands now...there's no one policing those who adopt, train, and sell service dogs. There are however non profits and other groups, like Assistance Dogs International, that specialize in training and placing assistance dogs.

Here's some things to keep in mind when searching for a service dog:
*What's the health of the dog? eyes checked...blood count...liver functioning correctly...bad hips?
*What are the trainer's credentials? What experience do they have training the dog?
*Track records of service dogs placed with families? Check with legit satisfied customers...
*Is there a support system in place for families?
*And read the contract carefully...that's a biggie!

Oh...and I also found this facebook page...where people for and against Rivero have been sounding off...

Now...I called Tina Rivero...but instead received messages from a lady named Tonia (I think she works for Rivero and her daugther has one of Rivero's dogs)...Not sure why Tina couldn't call me back herself...but oh well. Here's Tonia's (unedited) response to the Matlack family...
What I want to say : This is in relpy to a message from Noelle's Dogs Four Hope that Scott contacted them about a story with Becky Matlack involving the puppy-in- training, Penny.
Scott has contacted Noelle's Dogs Four Hope reporting to them that Becky Matlack is claiming she were promised things that she has not received from Noelle's Dog's Four Hope.
I would like you to note below is a list of the things that we are willing to provide to Scott and KFOR plus any other news station that request such information.
1. Penny, the puppy-in-training, is the property of Noelle's Dogs Four Hope along with proper documentation.
2. A statement declaring that the puppy-in-training should be surrendered immediatly.
3. A copy of Becky's payment records to Noelle's Dogs Four Hope and statement clarifying the amount overdue.
4. A copy of the contract between Becky and Noelle's Dogs Four Hope.
5. A statement of Becky's neglect of turning in your training logs for Penny along with supporting e mails.
6. A copy of all 50 plus e mails to and from Becky, since May of 2010.

Here's the thing...it's not just the Matlacks complaining about Rivero...we have like a dozen or so complaints...coincidence??

I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!

Pharmacy discount card raises suspicions...

The card in question is a pharmacy discount card marketed and distributed by Loeb Enterprises. The card is absolutely free and promises big savings...up to 75% off prescription drugs at your local pharmacy. Obviously this sounds too good to be true...but Loeb Enterprises says its discount card is the real deal. We're not saying it's a scam...but we're not giving the card our recommendation either. We suggest making your own informed decision...here's where you can read up on the card...

Here's some things to keep in mind...even 'free' discount cards come with administrative or service fees and some may require a monthly service following a free trial period. Scam artists will also use medical discount card offers to steal credit card or bank account information. When in doubt...check the company out with your state insurance department or attorney general's office.

I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!

'Get Rich Quick'...oldest trick in the book!

The email pretends to be a notification of a lottery win for Coca-Cola...the person who receives it is told they are one of only 20 lucky winners around the world who have been selected at random after computers found their email address online. Now, in order for the person to collect on their winnings...they must first call or fax an agent who claims to be working on behalf of Coca-Cola. Of course...all this is, is a ruse to steal your money and personal identity. It's a variation of the dreaded Nigerian sweepstakes scam. PLEASE DON'T FALL FOR IT!

*Remember, legitimate sweepstakes companies will not require you to pay taxes or fees before ever collecting on your winnings.

*You can also ask yourself this...did I enter the sweepstakes or lottery in question. It's likely you didn't...therefore you're not eligible to win in the first place.

Please forward all suspicious emails to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!

IYC Scam Alert

Our In Your Corner team is putting out a warning about a phone scam circulating the metro. Scammers posing as attorneys with the United Nations is harassing Americans...including a handful of people right here in Oklahoma. They use threats of lawsuits and jail time and to try to trick you into sending them money. DO NOT FALL FOR THEIR LIES AND DECEPTION! Honestly...their story isn't very believable...but it's our elderly and those who might not be the wiser...that we have to worry about. Just remember this...authorities aren't going to haul you off to jail because you owe money on a debt. If someone calls you demanding payment for an outstanding debt, ask to see proof. Demand documentation qualifying the debt they seek to collect on.

I pulled more Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs from the Federal Trade Commission's website...
If you hear these — or similar — "lines" from a telephone salesperson, just say "no thank you," and hang up the phone.
* "You've been specially selected to hear this offer."
* "You'll get a wonderful free bonus if you buy our product."
* "You've won one of five valuable prizes."
* "You've won big money in a foreign lottery."
* "You must send money right away."
* "This investment is low risk and provides a higher return than you can get anywhere
else."
* "You have to make up your mind right away."
* "You don't need to check our company with anyone"- including your family, lawyer,
accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.
* "We'll just put the shipping and handling charges on your credit card."
* "You don't need any written information about our company or references."

I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!

What the heck!?!

Monday @ 10…we featured an automated phone message that’s circulating the metro...talk about odd! It asks you to take a survey…answer a few questions…something like this: ‘Do you own a small dog? Please press 1 for No or 2 for Yes.’ Our intended victim pressed 1 for No and then hung up. The mysterious 208-758-0218 number appears to originate from Idaho, but it's likely the scammers just high jacked that number and are hiding out somewhere in Canada or overseas.

The worst thing you can do is play along with an automated message you're not familiar with. Should you answer 'yes' to a question even as innocent as something like, 'do you own a small dog'...scammers could then tape record your answer and fraudulently use it as proof that you agreed to buy a new service. What could potentially happen is you might be giving permission to a charge being placed on your phone bill. You think you’re pressing 1 because you have a small dog. What you’re actually doing is giving an authorization to put some kind of charge on your phone bill.

Should you receive a suspicious call, immediately hang up and contact your phone company to find out whether or not the call is legitimate. You can also contact the Attorney General and Oklahoma Corporation Commission with questions. One more thing...it's also a smart idea to check your monthly phone bill on a regular basis for any unscrupulous charges.

Work-At-Home Schemes...

Make big bucks working from home...sounds too good to be true...typically it is. Here's some tips to follow when searching for employment. (National Consumers League's Internet Fraud Watch)

*Know who you’re dealing with. The company may not be offering to employ you directly, only to sell you training and materials and to find customers for your work.

*Don’t believe that you can make big profits easily. Operating a home-based business is just like any other business – it requires hard work, skill, good products or services, and time to make a profit.

*Be cautious about emails offering work-at-home opportunities. Many unsolicited emails are fraudulent.

*Get all the details before you pay. A legitimate company will be happy to give you information about exactly what you will be doing and for whom.

*Find out if there is really a market for your work. Claims that there are customers for work such as medical billing and craft making may not be true. If the company says it has customers waiting, ask who they are and contact them to confirm. You can also ask likely customers in your area (such as doctors for medical billing services) if they actually employ people to do that work from home.

*Get references for other people who are doing the work. Ask them if the company kept its promises.

*Be aware of legal requirements. To do some types of work, such as medical billing, you may need a license or certificate. Check with your state attorney general’s office. Ask your local zoning board if there are any restrictions on operating a business from your home. Some types of work cannot be done at home under federal law. Look for the nearest U.S. Department of Labor in the government listings of your phone book.

*Know the refund policy. If you have to buy equipment or supplies, ask whether and under what circumstances you can return them for a refund.

*Beware of the old “envelope stuffing” scheme. In this classic scam, instead of getting materials to send out on behalf of a company, you get instructions to place an ad like the one you saw, asking people to send you money for information about working at home. This is an illegal pyramid scheme because there is no real product or service being offered. You won’t get rich, and you could be prosecuted for fraud.

*Be wary of offers to send you an “advance” on your “pay.” Some con artists use this ploy to build trust and get money from your bank. They send you a check for part of your first month’s “pay.” You deposit it, and the bank tells you the check has cleared because the normal time has passed to be notified that checks have bounced. Then the crook contacts you to say that you were mistakenly paid the wrong amount or that you need to return a portion of the payment for some other reason. After you send the money back, the check that you deposited finally bounces because it turned out to be an elaborate fake. Now the crooks have your payment, and you’re left owing your bank the amount that you withdrew.

*Do your own research about work-at-home opportunities. The “Work-At-Home Sourcebook” and other resources that may be available in your local library provide good advice and lists of legitimate companies that hire people to work for them at home. You may discover that these companies hire only local people and that there is nothing available in your area.