The Stark Agency

Review: I just received a phone call from my 75 year old mother telling me that Stark Recovery had called her at her home asking for information about me and that Stark Recovery left a message saying they were a collection agency looking for any information regarding myself and that this was in reference to a "bad check." My mother asked the woman to be transferred to a supervisor and told her she wants her attorney to call them back. The woman refused to give a name or number. Furthermore, it is AGAINST THE LAW to disclose information regarding a debt to anyone other than the person responsible. Stark Recovery has NEVER CALLED ME OR SENT ME A SINGLE LETTER IN THE MAIL. I will have my lawyer call them as soon as they send a SINGLE letter in the mail stating what this is in reference to. My address hasn't changed in EIGHT years. If they are saying it's a "bad check" then they would know my address is on the FRONT OF THE CHECK.Desired Settlement: I want a copy of the returned check and a letter from this agency.

Business

Response:

Dear Mr. [redacted],The Stark Collection Agency has received Ms. [redacted]’scomplaint and wants to make clear that Ms. [redacted] was not called by anyemployee of The Stark Collection Agency. Ms. [redacted] was contacted bya company referring to itself as “Stark Recovery” that is calling individualsacross the country with threats of lawsuits and/or further harassment. Stark Recovery calls from a variety of toll-free 844 numbers. This “StarkRecovery” is in no way related to The Stark Collection Agency and [redacted] does not have a single account with The Stark Collection Agency.Due to the similarity in name, this office has receivednumerous calls from disgruntled consumers who are searching for “StarkRecovery.” This office has, in turn, contacted “Stark Recovery” atseveral of these 844 numbers; the calls either go unanswered or reach cageyphone agents. Searching the internet by (http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/###-###-####),the particular number which Ms. [redacted] lists, will take you to websites similar to this onewhere victims of this fraud voice their concerns. After receiving Ms. [redacted] ’s complaint, The StarkCollection Agency’s President, Pauline K[redacted], reached out to Ms. [redacted] toexplain the situation but was only able to leave a message. “StarkRecovery” is, after all, causing this office a great deal ofconsternation. Ms. [redacted] hopefully will return our call so we can explain the situation and provide her with additional material to resolve her situation.The Stark Collection Agency respectfully requests that theRevdex.com close this matter and appropriately codify it to showthe complaint was filed against the incorrect company. In addition, thisoffice requests the Revdex.com to consider the above facts if a future consumersubmits a similar complaint.Thank you,Pauline K[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: Today I checked my Equifax credit rating and The Stark Collection Agency , Inc. has put a claim against it for an unpaid balance for [redacted] Service for services for 2013. [redacted] Service has never supplied me with services and I have never received any notification from The Stark Collection Agency in regards to this.

I have tried to contact both [redacted] Service and The Stark Collection Agency. [redacted] Service never returned my phone call. The Stark Collection Agency first told me my name did not show up in their system and transferred me to another number, where the manager did not return my call.Desired Settlement: I would like this removed IMMEDIATELY from my credit report seeing this charge is not for me. I take my credit rating very seriously, thus the reason I decided to check it today. I do not understand how The Stark Collection Agency can just put a claim against ones credit rating which is false!

Business

Response:

RE: Complaint [redacted]Dear Mr. [redacted],This office has received Ms. [redacted]’s complaint and has diligently investigated the matter. In fact, we were investigating Ms. [redacted]’s complaint before she filed with the Revdex.com, as Ms. [redacted] had telephoned this office with the same details she has provided to the Revdex.com.After discussing the issue with our client, [redacted] Brothers [redacted], we have determined Ms. [redacted]’s account was referred because our client had provided a service to her ex-husband who had listed Ms. [redacted] as a liable party. This mistake has since been corrected; Ms. [redacted] will receive no future communication from our office regarding this account and we have taken all available steps to have the account removed from her credit report. More specifically, we have updated our system to furnish removal data on or around the 25th of this month and have used an expedited process known as E-OSCAR via an interactive web site to immediately furnish such removal data. Please note, however, that once the data is furnished it is the credit reporting bureaus’ responsibility to properly update the account. Attached is a "draft" of the removal data we furnished to the credit reporting agencies.We trust our actions will provide Ms. [redacted] the relief she is seeking. We very much appreciate Ms. [redacted] reaching out to us as we were unaware of the circumstances. If Ms. [redacted] has any further questions we encourage her to contact our office at ###-###-####. I can be reached at extension 222.Sincerely,[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear

I would like to know a couple things that have not been answered in the reply & also in phone conversation.1) How it passed thru the agency that I am not related to Mr. [redacted]. Divorced in 1994. Yet the agency could locate my social security number for report to the credit report agencies but FAILED to note the divorce or my correct address. I have lived at my present address for over 20 years.

Review: This company has been harrassing me for 2 years about an alleged payday loan that I was supposed to have done. I have NOT taken any payday loans. They call my work, my family, my ex family, my in-laws. They are relentless. They threaten to serve papers, they threaten with jail. Thy will NOT stop calling. When asked to send proof, they do not send it.Desired Settlement: I want them to leave me and others like me alone. They are a horrible company that preys on people and takes the money of the trusting or gulliable.

Business

Response:

The Stark Collection Agency has received Ms. [redacted]'s complaint and wants to make clear that Ms. [redacted] was not called by any employee of The Stark Collection Agency. Ms. [redacted] was contacted by a company referring to itself as “Stark Recovery” that is calling individuals across the country with threats of lawsuits and/or further harassment. Stark Recovery calls from a variety of toll-free 844 numbers. This “Stark Recovery” is in no way related to The Stark Collection Agency and [redacted] does not have a single account with The Stark Collection Agency.Due to the similarity in name, this office has received numerous calls from disgruntled consumers who are searching for “Stark Recovery.” This office has, in turn, contacted “Stark Recovery” at several of these 844 numbers; the calls either go unanswered or reach cagey phone agents. Searching the internet by [redacted]), will take you to websites similar to this one where victims of this fraud voice their concerns. After receiving Ms. [redacted] ’s complaint, The Stark Collection [redacted], reached out to Ms. [redacted] to explain the situation. “Stark Recovery” is causing this office a great deal of consternation. The Stark Collection Agency respectfully requests that the Revdex.com close this matter and appropriately codify it to show the complaint was filed against the incorrect company. In addition, this office requests the Revdex.com to consider the above facts if a future consumersubmits a similar complaint.Thank you,[redacted]

Review: Hello

I just recently rec'd my state tax return less $20.00 + $5.00 processing fee by the State of Wisconsin. I received a letter from the State of WI informing me that my refund was less $25.00 due to an outstanding bill with the Stark Agency. I called Stark Agency to find out that they deducted my return because there was a collection for someone who's name was also "[redacted]" and matched at my address in [redacted] and my Date of Birth was one day off from the actual individual "[redacted]" that owed the Stark Agency $25.00. I'm concerned it about the business practice by Stark Agency. Legally, they should not be able to deduct money from my tax return unless its an exact match. I moved to this location on [redacted] September 2014. I spoke with a Stark Employee "[redacted]" today and was completely disgusted that because my first name, address match someone else and our birthdays were pretty close, they have the ability to reduce my State Tax returns. Since it was only $25.00, I suspect this is a fraudelent act. How many people may just ignore this attempt to collect money because the amount is only $25.00. When telling "[redacted]" I want my money, he responded it will take 4-6 weeks and I should try back in 30 days to make sure its processed. I responded this Stark Agencies mistake, why should I be inconvenienced and Stark should contact me, his response "we have hundreds of thousands of these each year and he will try to get back to me.

This is definitely not a legitimate business transaction. Withdrawing money from the wrong person based on inaccurate information and not providing a guarantee that I will receive my money back. How many other fraudulent transactions are they processing?

Please let me know if I can help in any way to make sure this does not happen again. Again, a verbal conversation confirmed that they only matched on my address & first name and the birthday was not even a match but according to [redacted](Stark employee I spoke with) d.o.b. were one day off.Desired Settlement: I want my refund in the amount of $25.00 back and I would like their business practices on matching collections with individuals reviewed and corrected. This is unacceptable to say the least.

Thank you for your time.

Consumer

Response:

On Wed, Feb 11, 2015 at 5:49 PM, [redacted] <[redacted]> wrote: Please note [redacted] contacted me this evening. She explained the error in detail, which also has to do with the state government incorrectly accepting the tax refund deduction even though specific criteria such as last name, etc.. did not match. Additionally, Stark Agency informed me that they use a third party company that matched me with this other persons debt due to first name and old address match. Apparently the happened to be the same road I lived on some 20 years ago. I feel a little better about the callback and that its not just the Stark Agency fault in collecting money in error. Please feel free to withdraw my complaint as it was an error. Stark Agency is taking the appropriate action to resolve the issue. Thank you.

I called to pay a collection, [redacted] was the first person I spoke with. She was very rude on explaining information and was not understanding at ALL. I felt very disrespected, so I decided to call back later and hoping to talk with someone else. I call back and spoke with someone else and paid my collection after all of my answers were answered. I needed proof this collection was paid off so I asked for a receipt. They said they couldn't provide me a receipt until the payment was processed through my bank. Ok I understood that. So the next day after looking on my online banking account I see the payment had been taken out of my checking account but still no receipt in my email. So I figured maybe they didn't have my email address correct or just forgot. No big deal I'll just call and ask for a receipt. After being transferred a several times, I get [redacted] on the line. I explained that I have paid my collection and it has been deducted from my account but I haven't received a receipt via email. She without letting me finish argues that they haven't received payment from my bank and it can take 3-4 days for the payment to process. I repeated again that it ALREADY was taken from my account and all I needed was a receipt. She continued to interrupt and argue that the bank has not released payment. I didn't want to argue as I've already wasted enough of my time on this ignorant lady. I called my bank to ask if the transaction has went through or if they had it on hold. They said the transaction was complete. All I wanted was a receipt not a ignorant lady with negative attitude. That's worst customer service ever and all I was trying to do was pay a collection and receive a receipt. They made something so simple a nightmare.

Review: I have recently gone through a divorce which has damaged my credit. After being ordered to move out of my house in June of 2014 I was told by the court that I could not disconnect any utilities until there was a divorce settlement. My ex-wife was not forwarding the bills to me so one was left unpaid. The creditor has since sent that unpaid amount to the Stark Agency. After recently checking my credit scores, I found where I was being reported to the credit bureaus, not once but twice, by the Stark Agency. First report was on Dec. 10 of 2014 (Account #1) and the second on Mar. 5 2015 (Account #2) and both for the same creditor. I have never received a call or letter from the Stark Agency concerning this debt even though I had setup a forwarding address with the USPS in June of last year. After talking to a collector this morning I was told that they had sent letters to me and the only way they can remove this was if I paid it in full. I informed the person (Stark Agency) that I had never received any communication from them and legally under FDCPA 809(a) they cannot report the debt to the credit bureaus until I am made aware of the debt and had a chance to dispute or pay it and promptly was transferred to a “manager”. I left him a voice mail. I received a call from the “manager” and was again told that they cannot remove the debt from the credit bureaus unless the accounts are paid in full. I again informed him that they are not legally allowed under the FDCPA 809(a) to report me to the credit bureaus without first notifying me of the debt. He then prceeded to tell me the same thing, that it is not illegal for them to report it without contacting me. After speaking with him I realized that he had given me two addresses, one was the address of my old residence (now the ex-wife’s house), and the other was my current residence at which I have never received any communication from the Stark Agency. I am not unwilling to pay the debt, when I can, but I am trying to rebuild my credit so I can pay off all my debts and the actions by the Stark Agency has severely hampered my efforts to do so.Desired Settlement: I would like for the Stark Agency to have the reported accounts removed from my credit reports.

Business

Response:

Review: they call daily saying I took a 300 dollar pay day loan in august of 2013 which I never have. they tell me I have to pay 690 or 2690 in court, I told them I never tookthe loan they argued with then hung up after I wouldnt pay them. they also call my sister and brother in law daily looking for me. they jave all my information which I dont like. ive searched these people and its the same scam for everone else they call.Desired Settlement: I just want them to stop calling me and my family about this fake loan scam and to destory my personal information they have on record

Business

Response:

RE: Complaint No. [redacted] Dear Mr. [redacted], The Stark Collection Agency has received Mr. [redacted]’scomplaint and wants to make clear that Mr. [redacted] was not called by anyemployee of The Stark Collection Agency. Mr. [redacted] was contacted bya company referring to itself as “Stark Recovery” that is calling individualsacross the country with threats of lawsuits and/or further harassment. Stark Recovery calls from a variety of toll-free 844 numbers. This “StarkRecovery” is in no way related to The Stark Collection Agency and [redacted] does not have a single account with The Stark Collection Agency. Due to the similarity in name, this office has receivednumerous calls from disgruntled consumers who are searching for “StarkRecovery.” This office has, in turn, contacted “Stark Recovery” atseveral of these 844 numbers; the calls either go unanswered or reach cageyphone agents. Searching the internet for a “Stark Recovery” 844 numberwill take you to websites similar to (http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/###-###-####)where victims of this fraud voice their concerns. After receiving Mr. [redacted]’s complaint, The StarkCollection Agency’s [redacted], reached out to Mr. [redacted] toexplain the situation and express her shared frustration. “StarkRecovery” is, after all, causing this office a great deal ofconsternation. Mr. [redacted] now understands the situation and, in fact,apologized for filing his complaint. The Stark Collection Agency respectfully requests that theRevdex.com close this matter and appropriately codify it to showthe complaint was filed against the incorrect company. In addition, thisoffice requests the Revdex.com to consider the above facts if a future consumersubmits a similar complaint.Thank you.[redacted]

Review: My father and myself have the same name, and I currently am living at his place so have the same address. I am trying to purchase a house so ordered my credit report to clean it up. I noticed on my report a collection form this collection company. I called to inform them that the collection was not mine, but was my fathers. The person I talked to talked to my father, to verify and try to collect payment from him. Once I got the phone back, the lady on the phone refused to send me information to show the account was not mine, she in fact told me that they would not remove the collection from my credit report into my father paid the bill in full. I asked to talk to a manager, she told me none was available and hung up on me. I called back and asked to speak to a manager, the person put me on hold and then someone answered saying they were the manager in charge. I told him the situation, and he told me there was nothing he could do that they were just a data collection company and did not handle money or collections, that is a complete lie, as they just tried collecting money from my father just moments before. I asked them to send me something I could use to dispute the credit burro and show that the account is not mine, and he refused saying I am not the person the account belongs to, I told him that is exactly my point and would like it removed from my credit report. Again he refused.Desired Settlement: I want the information they sent to the credit burros corrected, and the account that is not mine that they had the credit burro put there removed. I should not have to hurt my credit report for a bill that is not mine, never was mine and had nothing to do with me.

Business

Response:

September 25, 2013

Response to Complaint # [redacted]

To Whom It May Concern:

Mr. [redacted] did call this office on 9/17/13 to report a possible erroneous item on his credit file. The first representative had a difficult time with this first call as both a Mr. [redacted] and Mr. [redacted] were on the phone making rapid demands. Because of complicated federal and state laws we have to follow strict procedures and my staff followed those procedures perfectly upon my thorough investigation.

On a subsequent call, one of my managers talked to Mr. [redacted] Again, he was advised of our procedure which is dictated by law and by our client. Unfortunately, Mr. [redacted] was confused by the complicated set of laws we have to follow and thus the call was transferred to me as the owner of the company.

I was able to secure cross authorization from the two [redacted]s until I could sort out who exactly was the liable party. The end result was us furnishing deletion request data to the credit reporting agencies for Mr. [redacted]

I would like to point out that same name confusion occurs all too often. When a consumer calls, we have to try to sort through the information given to us the best we can. Many times that is difficult at best when an angry consumer calls and wants immediate action. And again, because of the plethora of laws governing our actions we have to have very strict procedures in place to safeguard both the consumer and us. When emotions run high, many misunderstandings and miscommunication occurs.

I thank Mr. [redacted] for filing this issue with you so that I had a venue to express our frustration with the laws that do not allow us to resolve issues with an immediate response and laws that lead to misconceptions about collection agencies.

Because I myself dealt with Mr. [redacted] I am hopeful he got the resolution he was looking for. If not I welcome him to call me.

Sincerely,

The Stark Collection Agency

###-###-####

Consumer

Response:

Review: I had a debt that was turned over to Stark Collection agency and I made contact with them and told them I did not owe the bill. They stated they would file the dispute. This was the end of 2014. I made contact again with them today and a woman named Diane told me it would be easier to just pay the $81.00. I told her that I would not pay something I did not owe and she tried to talk me into paying it. I am requesting that my name be removed from their collection list. Thank you.Desired Settlement: I want my name removed from Stark Collection agency's collection list. Thank you.

Business

Response:

Review: I have gotten several phone calls from this company. I returned the call and the person on the phone said they were collecting a debt over $2000 for a pay day loan I apparently took out april 15, 2014. there are several things wrong with this. 1, they did not have some of my information correct. they did have my social which causes me concern. 2, I live in nj, pay day loans are not allowed in the state of nj. when I asked her to send me something in writing she kept telling me they did, even though I told her the email she stated was not mine and refused to send me anything. also, they did not have my correct mailing address. the number that they called me from was ###-###-####. the whole situation is fake. I never took any pay day loans out in the past 5 years. even if it had been allowed in nj which it is not.Desired Settlement: I want no furthur contact from this company. and also it investigated how they got some of my information especially my social security number.

Business

Response:

RE: Complaint No. [redacted] Dear Mr. [redacted], The Stark Collection Agency has received Ms. [redacted]complaint and wants to make clear that Ms. [redacted] was not called by anyemployee of The Stark Collection Agency. Ms. [redacted] was contacted bya company referring to itself as “Stark Recovery” that is calling individualsacross the country with threats of lawsuits and/or further harassment. Stark Recovery calls from a variety of toll-free 844 numbers. This “StarkRecovery” is in no way related to The Stark Collection Agency and [redacted] does not have a single account with The Stark Collection Agency. Due to the similarity in name, this office has receivednumerous calls from disgruntled consumers who are searching for “StarkRecovery.” This office has, in turn, contacted “Stark Recovery” atseveral of these 844 numbers; the calls either go unanswered or reach cageyphone agents. Searching the internet by (http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/###-###-####), the particular numberwhich Ms. [redacted] lists, will take you to websites similar to this onewhere victims of this fraud voice their concerns. After receiving Ms. [redacted]’s complaint, The StarkCollection Agency’s [redacted], reached out to Ms. [redacted] toexplain the situation and express her shared frustration. “StarkRecovery” is, after all, causing this office a great deal ofconsternation. Ms. [redacted] now understands the situation and has beenprovided with additional material to resolve her situation. The Stark Collection Agency respectfully requests that theRevdex.com close this matter and appropriately codify it to showthe complaint was filed against the incorrect company. In addition, thisoffice requests the Revdex.com to consider the above facts if a future consumersubmits a similar complaint.Thank you,[redacted]

I have received a call from This company telling me they are trying to collect a debt. I pay my bills and believe this company is trying to scam people. I called them back and they will not tell me anything, but instead are wanting ME to tell them information. This is the typical way of scamming people. Why in the world would I tell them who I am if they can not even tell me whom they are calling on my phone number? Somebody needs to shut this operation DOWN!