Avoid The LeaseComm Hassle
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If you have stopped
paying LeaseComm because you feel you are being ripped off, please
follow our advice very carefully. This only applies if you have
already stopped paying. This does NOT apply if you simply went out
of business and didnt feel like paying (this is not LeaseComm's
fault).
Let me assure you that
LeaseComm will put up a fight and do what they can to collect not
only the money the feel you owe BUT they will tack on plenty of
extras. You are in for a fight. This is a fight you likely will
not be able to win legally, but you can damn sure make it as hard
on them as possible.
1. Go and rent a PO
Box at the US Post Office (NOT at a mail box rental place, they
can serve you at a mail box rental place that has a street address).
Make sure and forward ALL your mail, including your utility bills,
to that address. Make sure and contact all your creditors (including
LeaseComm), credit cards, loans, utilities, cars, etc and give them
your PO Box address and tell them that they must update their records.
(you may want to mention to LeaseComm that you are moving - whether
you are or not) Make sure when you rent the PO Box that you use
a friend or relatives address for the "street address"
that the post office requires, this is because it is possible for
LeaseComm to ask them to give them the "address of record".
The post office WILL ask for two forms of ID and one of them will
likely need to include a current street address. If LeaseComm can
not find you, they can not serve you lawsuit papers.
2. Contact the big 3
credit reporting agencies and put a fraud alert on all your credit
files whether that has been anything reported yet or not. As a matter
of fact, it is better to get it on there before you get beat. This
means that no one can verify your credit and/or run a report without
your expressed written consent. This is a very important step. Do
not skip this step. You also need to tell them that you are updating
your address to your PO Box for privacy reasons.
Equifax Web Site
customer.care@equifax.com
1-888-532-0179 , Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 8 PM EST
You must tell them you have either been denied credit in the past
60 days or are a victim of fraud to get a free credit report mailed
to you immediately.
TransUnion
fvad@tuc.com.
The Fraud Victim Assistance Department responds to your email as
soon as possible. However, should you require an immediate answer,
you may wish to call the FVAD toll-free at 800-680-7289, Monday
through Friday from 5:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
(PST).
Experian (TRW) File Right Online
3. You will need a new
identity so-to-speak. Not a fake one, just a different one. Here
is a good step in obtaining it. Go to the IRS website and apply
for an EIN (employer tax ID number). It is just like having a new
social security number. It can be used for many things such as opening
a new bank account. While your SSN and your new EIN are not completely
interchangeable, it is better to have one, than not. You must be
careful to NOT give out your "previous personal info"
when using your "new ID". Make sure and use your new PO
BOX and your new "company name" for this.
Click here
to get the form SS-4 and print it out
Click here for instructions for the form
Make sure and read the
directions very carefully. If you have questions, simply contact
the IRS VIA phone. For the very fastest service, fax the form in
and they will give you the number very fast and then mail your documents
to you.
You will also need to
go to the local DMV and get a new driver's license or ID card with
your post office box address and make sure and tell them you do
NOT want your social security number PRINTED on your driver's license.
4. IF you own personal
property, such as a car (that is paid for) or anything of fairly
significant value, you may want to sell it (before you get a levy
against you) or put it entirely in someone else's name. For the
record, Leasecomm can NOT go after your family, your children OR
your spouse UNLESS those people have specifically signed and agreed
to the LEASECOMM contract as well (it does NOT matter if they agreed
to any other contract, ONLY LeaseComm).
5. DO NOT, I repeat
DO NOT have ANY phone contact with ANYONE with, from or representing
LeaseComm under any circumstances no matter HOW tempting it may
be. Not only do they out and out LIE, but they have a high turnover
in their collections department and will only say that that person
no longer works there when you need to reference them. Avoid their
calls. The people in their collections department are not the brightest
in the world. This step is absolutely essential. If you disregard
this, you will regret it, believe me. Do not initiate any calls
to them. IF they call you and you happen to answer, simply tell
them that you will no longer speak with them and they MUST contact
you IN WRITING. Do not let them goad you or get you angry. Do not
tell them anything you are doing or anything about you. DO NOT SPEAK
WITH THEM.
6. Empty out your bank
accounts and do not forget to stop any debits coming out of the
accounts. Not just your LeaseComm debit, but also any others such
as insurance, etc. Do NOT close out the accounts, just pretty much
empty them. This will keep them monitoring the old account and putting
a lien on THAT account and not spend so much time wondering if you
have a new account. It isn't a guarantee, but every little bit helps.
It costs them plenty to do that so...whatever...
7. You will definitely
want to change and unlist your phone number and advise everyone
NOT to give it out. There is no law stating that they have to have
your number. Simply do not give it to them.
8. DO NOT APPLY for
any credit during this time at all. It is very likely that they
will be attempting to skip trace (find out info about you) and your
credit report is the first place they will look. And don't forget
to make sure and contact ALL your creditors and give them your PO
Box number.
9. Start filing complaints
EVERYWHERE as soon as you realize you have been scammed. This includes
all state and local law agencies, media, on-line, message boards,
the FTC, and anywhere you can.
10. Share your stories
and document other victim's stories. This will help you to fortify
your case against them, or at the very least, help people believe
you because believe me, no one will ever believe this story.
Go to your county's
District Court website and search for other victims and contact
them. I went to my county's site and I did a couple of different
search terms. In one search, I searched under corporations and used
the name Leasecomm and I also searched under "foreign judgments".
I came up with over 1,000 (search limit) victims right here in my
own city. You may also be able to search by lawyer's name if you
know it.
One last thing...they
WILL send a process server to your home or place of business. We
advise you simply say you are not you. We can not say this is legal
or not legal, we don't know. But what we do know is that you have
to fight. They may try to be tricky and ask for someone else, trying
to trick you into saying you are you. You have no idea how these
people operate. Remember, a process server is just a process server,
in most cases and most states, they are not the law. They are simply
paid individuals. We would not encourage you to lie to actual law
enforcement.
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