Complain about a product or service

Luebke Baker & Associates

Peoria, Illinois

Also see Consolidated Media Services.

Dale of St. Louis, MO June 30, 2009

The thought hit me out of the blue today to Google LBA as I hadn't thought about them for a while and 14 years ago I was there top collector. Up to the same scams.

One. Any individual you speak withs' name is fictitious.

Two. They are not a law firm although It's very important for the collectors to use the word Firm whenever possible to create the illusion. If one of the collectors states that they are a Law Firm ask to speak to his supervisor and let him know. More than likely the collector will be fired as, believe it or not, misrepresentation is frowned upon.

Three. From what I remember, the CEO of CMS is Kevin Luebke's father-in-law. They've been doing the magazine collections for a long time.

Four. As far as I know, there are recorded agreements to enter into the magazine deal, as I have heard them. They won't stand up in court though. All would have to claim is that you had had a few cocktails and had accidentally agreed to some magazine deal. I don't think a Judge would even hear the case quite frankly so they will not sue. They don't want to be exposed in a legal setting.

Fifth. Whenever in doubt, mention the magic word Attorney General and you will be dropped from there data base.

Sixth.... Now you are on a list that gets passed around to businesses specializing in Fly-By-Night-Rookery so... don't by anything from telemarketers. Just give them a polite, "I'm not interested".

I hope I can help some people with this information. Also, I'm sure, 90% of the collectors are good people who have been conned into thinking they are legitimate and are trying to earn their bonus pay. They only get paid minimum wage plus a percentage of what they collect. 7% are wise to the whole deal and just want to make some money and get off on the power trip. The other 3% are Settlers and Owners and ...well.

Bonnie of Amelia, VA June 11, 2009

These people have been calling for a long time and never left a message. They sent something via mail and I didn't owe nothing to the company they said I did and I have now lost the statement they sent and today someone named Marquis called saying "I have some good news for you today, it would be to your best interest to call back...and my number is...". I called back and immediately music started playing. No one answered the phone, nothing, just music playing so I hung up and looked the number up on the internet and then realized who it was.

I took care of this debt 4 or more years ago and I'll be daggone if I'm going to let the thieves get any money out of me. I work hard for my money and I have plenty of debt without people like these threatening me with a letter taking me to court if I don't pay them over 1400.00. I've read many complaints about them at other sites as well as here.

Laura of Katy, TX May 4, 2009

These people keep calling my home just about every day multiple times a day and even on weekends using multiple numbers. I haven't called them back because of the complaints I've read on this board but I'm unemployed and attending graduate school. I'm tired of these people calling and today some woman called me and told me I had to call her back today. I've never received anything in writing from them. I don't want them threatening me with jail or putting a lien on my home.

T.c. of Wichita, KS February 21, 2009

In late January this year a Mr. L representing Luebke Baker and Associates called looking for me in an attempt to collect a debt. A debt that was fabricated out of the blue; over two years had passed with no bills, no letters, NO MAGAZINES (for which the debt was), and now this voice over the phone wants in excess of 500 dollars. I told this individual that I would not give any information over the phone and told him that anything that needed to be addressed should be mailed. On the 20th of February 2009 i finally get a letter that was post marked on the third. All correspondence was forwarded to The Office Of The Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. FDCPA complaint filed.

Sarah of Independence, MO February 11, 2009

I received a call from a lady named Shannon on Feb. 10, 2009 who claimed to be a representative of Luebke, Baker & Assoc. on behalf of some company I've never heard of. She said she had me on a voice recording agreeing to pay 29.99 per month for magazine subscriptions for 2 years, then receive the next 3 years subscriptions for free back in 2006.

I've never heard of this company, I never received a magazine, or a bill. She had an old address of mine and claimed that I'd moved and just didn't update my address, but I'd had my mail forwarded when I moved, so I should have received something from them. AND I would think I should have received something between April (when she said the agreement was made)and December (when I moved). She said I owed this company over 500 and if I called her back by 9:45pm that night, they would settle the account for 199.99. I asked her for contact information for this company and she said she did not have any.

I quickly logged onto the internet and searched for this Luebke, Baker & Associates business and found this site. THANK GOD I had the sense to do so. I called all 3 credit reporting agencies, filed an online complaint with the state's attorney general and contacted the FTC. You guys HAVE to call the FTC and make a complaint if you want the government to step in and investigate them. The more reports they get, the more likely it is that an investigation will take place. DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE ANY INFORMATION! REPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY AND CALL ALL 3 CREDIT BUREAUS... NOW!

The gentleman I spoke to at Experian said he's worked there for 5 years and all he does all day is look over credit reports. He said he's never heard of these people. Protect yourselves, you guys and good luck! The lady who called said if I didn't pay, then the account would go back to the original company and I would have to pay the full amount due on the account and it would go on my credit report.

David of Peoria, IL February 1, 2009

I just wanted to flip you a line about Luebke Baker and Associates collecting on CMS - I used to work for LBA, and was promptly fired when I realized the scam and mentioned it. When our systems went down at LBA they had us do sales for CMS. They're owned by the same people or at least in cahoots, they're right across town

Matt K. of Berea, KY January 23, 2009

They have been contacting my home phone number for a few weeks now claiming that i owe 900 for a magazine subscription that i never subscribed to. The caller id came up and says Toll Free SVC. I have never received a bill, nor have I received even a letter from them. As i told them that I have not received the magazines they say that they will agree to a settlement price of 399.99 for Publisher Services of Tennessee. The man talked to a family member of mine and he told them that he would send out a letter today (1/22/09).

The second time that i was called from them about 2 weeks ago, the caller id read Warsaw, Ky. They were claiming to be a different company. The lady was speaking so fast that i couldn't catch the name. When I told her that i haven't subscribed to any magazines or recieved bills, she said these exact words disregard this call and then hung up. I'll tell you this, I'm not paying one penny to them.

I have received NOTHING but harrassing phone calls to myself and my family. Its obvious that this is a scam considering there is complaint after complaint on this page. What are the steps that we have to take, to take care of this? The complaints go all the way back to last year. Everyone that is reading this, google them. Read about all the scams. Spread the word and get these guys shut down.

Anony of Tega Cay, SC November 7, 2008

SO, this Mr. Linwood guy keeps calling me ... trying to collect a debt over 4,500 that he claims that I owe. He is threatening Legal Action TODAY if this amount is not paid in full. Mr. Linwood will NOT tell me ANY details of what the debt is for, just that it is for a bank account that has been closed. I dont know how he got my phone number or my information, but the name on this account that he is trying to collect on matches my name.

I was totally caught off guard and took his name and number nad told him id call him right back. I then called the bank that he said that the account was with, and they would not give me any information. I tried to call him back using hte phone number that he gave me and it was disconnected. So i got online to research the company, and here i am writing this. I dont know what to do. I cant find any answers to whats going on with this debt that I owe.

Oliver of Ormond Beach, FL October 31, 2008

Woman named Stephanie called about 7:15 PM on 10/29/2008 at my home, asking for my son, John. I told her John lived in Tallahassee and is 27 yrs old - on his own. I asked her what it was about and she told me she was a debt collection agent and was calling to get John to reimburse for an old magazine subscription. I asked her for details but she said she couldn't discuss it with me without John's permission. She asked me for his phone number.

I told her I would contact him and give her permission to speak with me. I called my son and gave him the 800 number and her name. He called back in ten minutes and told me he had given them permission to speak with me. In that interim another agent named Ammy called and asked me if I was going to pay the bill for John. I told her to wait until I heard from him.

After he called me back, I called LBA and again spoke with Ammy. She told me there were two bills (the first conversation Stephanie had said there was only one bill), one for 75 and a second for 79.60. She asked for my credit card info. I told her no, I would only agree to pay after getting more information and checking them out. She told me the magazine subscriptions dated to 2004 and named five magazines and two account numbers. I wrote down the information, including LBA's address, etc. I told Ammy I would check it out and get back to her. I called my son back and he said he never subscribed to any of the magazines I listed. I told him to let me know if they contacted him again. I am turning this matter over to the Fl. Dept of Agriculture: Consumer Complaints Division. I have used this service in the past.

Matthew of Nyc, NY October 28, 2008

Apparently, LBA contacted me about a magazine subscription that I would never order and told me that I had already paid 4 payments back in 2002 and that I owe 378.99 to Consolidated Media services. First off I dont do subscriptions, secondly they had every phone number I have every used, including the number I switched to back in the day. A number I would NEVER give out to anyone other than family, and work and my bank/bills. I am still waiting on my bank for confirmation that four payments of 39.99 were taken out of my account in 2002. I am currently waiting on my bank for printed records of these withdrawals.

Who do I speak to about getting my name and info out of their systems? I do not want my info out there any more nor do I want this to be on my credit report destroying my credit and making it easier for ID theft. I have NO money for an attorney and would not be able to give any amount of my settlement if there was one b/c of my economic situation.

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