845-678-1296

A debt collector claiming to be “Erica Shaw,” a “legal processor” from a “law firm” called “Rephen Law Firm” (which she purposely pronounced “Restin” to avoid identification online) has attempted to collect a debt for a bounced check. Their phone number is 845-678-1296. It is obvious from the overwhelming number of online complaints made to debt/credit complaint forums and the Federal Trade Commission that they are an illegitimate operation and should not be paid a single dime.

It is also evident that the “processing fees” they are attempting to collect are illegal given the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm and therefore should not be paid either.  

When questioned, she cited the Uniform Commercial Code which can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Commercial_Code and seen as an obvious sham to be cited, as states adopt only parts of the Universal Commercial Code and in different ways, meaning there is no way for her to tell me how exactly how it applies. IT DOESN’T. It’s like saying the Bible says something is wrong, but without telling me the verse. Obviously bull.

It also clear to me that their threats to take legal action and “take me to court” are also illegal given the FDCPA as well. They also refuse to put anything in writing and refuse to stop contacting me after both verbal and written no-contact statements, which is also illegal.

No reputable company only takes payment through Western Union. No legitimate company refuses to put things in writing or on their “law firm” letterhead.  

This company has even set up bogus “consumer help/protection” websites to gather people’s information here: http://mharveyrephenlaw.com/ and posted online as phony "victims" of not paying the debt (and going to jail, etc.) WHICH WILL NOT HAPPEN TO YOU.

In short, do not give these people a dime. They prey on people who do not know their legal rights. They only buy bulk debt from companies who have already written off bounced checks. They intimidate people into thinking they are going to go to jail or be taken to court because their check bounced when this is simply not true.

I have reported them to the Federal Trade Commission and urge other consumers to do the same here: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

HI I GOT A CALL FROM ERICA SHAW LAST WEEK AROUND SEPT9TH 2009 SAYING THERE WAS A CHECK THAT HAD BOUNCED WHICH WAS OVER A YEAR AGO,SHE WAS REALLY RUDE TO ME,AND SAID SHE WILL TAKE ME TO COURT IF I DO NOT PAY.I TOLD HER I'D MAKE A PAYMENT BEFORE THIS MONTH IS OVER SHE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY PAYMENT PLANS AND IT HAD TO BE PAID OF BY THE 29TH.I ASKED MY BOYFRIEND TO TALK TO HER BECAUSE SHE
WAS RUDE AND IT SOUNDED TO ME VERY STRANGE.SHE REFUSED TO SEND US A BILL OR ANY PAPER WORK SHE SAID SHE SEND IT TO US ALREADY BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT ADDRESS SHE HAD SENT IT TO SO WE ASKED HER TO RESEND IT AND SHE REFUSED.SHE DID SAY SHE WILL TAKE ME TO COURT IF I DONT PAY AND IF SO ID BE PAYING 1,000 MORE IF I HAD TO GO TO COURT.I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A FRAUD BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO OWE ANYONE ANYTHING.THANK YOU AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

They are a rip off under investigation by the NY attorney generals office. I talk to a new city detective and they are BS co