I got a call at about 7 last night from this collection company Leubke Baker Associates allegedly acting on behalf of Consolidated Media Services and stated that I owe CMS close to 700 and that my account was sent to collections where they will settle for 160. Apparently the charges were from 1999, I have no memory of this ever occurring. Apparently I agreed to charges of 58 a month for 12 months and I have memory of this. I pointed out that I had never received anything from the Collection Agency and/or CMS referring to these charges. When I asked for background account numbers, a way to contact CMS, I was told that they would provide everything once I paid the settlement. Then I thought maybe it was a scam and I said I would follow up with them. I decided to do research this morning and after reading all this I grew even more concerned and followed up with the Federal Consumer Protection Agency and the local State Protection Agency. I filed a formal complaint with the FTC and learned that unless others also file complaints these companies may get away with what they are doing because the FTC does not monitor ConsumerAffairs.com I would like to encourage everyone to use the FTC site and file a formal complaint to push the FTC to action against them for this nonsense.
Julio of Englewood, NJ February 4, 2008
I got a call from Consolidated Media Services stating that back in 1999 I had a magazine subscription that I still owed 96 on. I don't ever remember having this subscription. They gave me an address that I lived in right after high school. They said that it was not my fault, that the credit card I used expiration date had expired with 3 payments left. I would not have gotten into a magazine subscription for 400-500. What do I do? I refuse to pay and asked for proof, but they could not give me any and gave me a phone number to Consolidated Media that went into some voicemail that was not part of the company.
Something needs to be done about this. I have worked hard to keep a good credit history--and now for this to mess it up.... Also, she said they had a second debt of mine from an address in Paterson, NJ. When I said I had never lived in Paterson, NJ, she said, "Oh, then this one is not you, but the first one is." Crazy!
This is just upsetting and scares me. I own a home and hope to move and buy a bigger home. I don't need stuff on my report messing up my credit.
John of Mt. Washington, KY January 15, 2008
In 1998 a magazine company contacted me selling subscriptions to different magazines. Only being 19 yrs. old I thought it sure sounds like a good deal. After giving them my checking account info and also a credit card number, the magazines start rolling in. My parents told me I needed to cancel the subscriptions. From then on I returned to sender all magazines sent to me and called Consolidated Media to cancel the account. I was told that the subscription was canceled and everything was done. The magazines continued rolling in, my checking account was overdrawn by them, and then my credit card was hit--ultimately resulting in that card being overdrawn. Being a kid I was freaking out, no money, and my credit being trashed.
After contacting Consolidated Media, I was then told of the cancellation fee which was somehow the total of what they sold me the subscriptions for in the first place, except instead of being spread out over 24 months it was one lump sum.
When I got married I paid everything off on my credit reports. Fast forward to November 2007: my mother gets a call from Luebke Baker and Associates about a debt that I owe. After calling them back and telling them that this was settled 10 years ago by charging my bank account and credit card, they tell me they will settle for 104. I say I'm not paying anything over the phone, first of all; and second, until I see something in writing I'm definitely not paying. I don't give them any current information and tell them to send it to my parents' address that they already have. Two months later my mom gets another call from the same company. Once again I call them back and tell them they never sent what they said they were, and I'm not paying. They threaten to put it on my credit report; I've heard it all before.
I checked online, and the statute of limitations has expired for this. After calling them and telling them this, they clam up and will only ask me if I want them to status my account as uncooperative, not paying. What should I do? Our whole lives are based off our credit scores. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had it to do over, but as we all know that can't happen, so I will take the life experience. This company destroyed my credit as a young man, resulting in my now paying higher interest rates, insurance--everything.
Craig of Monroe, WA November 30, 2007
I was first contacted by LB&A and told that I owed 186 for a magazine subscription from an address that I had lived at more than 10 years ago. They said they would take care of it for me before it went to collections. I said I would not give them my information because I did not know them. They hung up abruptly. They called again about a week later and I spoke to Deshaun. He said they had gotten the bill down to 100 now and that I could pay that. I told him the same thing as before. He would give me his info but if I wanted the info for the company that I supposedly owed money to, then I would have to submit it in writing. I then spoke to his supervisor who was rude and she also said she could not give me consolidated media services info. If I owe I'll pay it, and that's what I told them. I think this is a scam.
Nadine of Brooklyn, NY November 24, 2007
I purchased a series of magazines from Consolidated Media and then canceled my subscription during the first year in 2003. At the end of that year the magazines stopped, and I thought that was the end of that experience.I paid much more money for the subscriptions than I expected to. I recently got a phone call from a collection bureau requesting that I pay a balance of 32.00. They were not able to tell me what exactly it was for. I refuse to pay because I really feel like they are tying to rip me off. To tell me I owe money 4+ years later and give me no supporting information--there is no integrity there.
Tina of Algoma, WI November 22, 2007
I got a call from LB&A stating that I owed over 500 to CMS, but GOOD NEWS! He could settle it today for 200! I asked again what this was about. Still not ringing any bells I asked when it was from, he said 1997.
My reaction was "Are you kidding me?!" I said for all I knew he could be anybody claiming I owed money since I had no record or recollection of this debt.
He said I subscribed to magazines through CMS and canceled but not in the allotted time frame. I said if I did I haven't received anything from them in a decade and IF I owed this debt I would be happy to pay it. I asked for documentation and he said they had a recording, and then badgered me about not remembering receiving Red Book.
He finally gave up and said he would see what he could do about getting some record of my debt and hung up on me.
I looked up debt collector laws. They state: Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.
Melissa of Aurora, IL November 21, 2007
Over a year ago I was receiving issues of a magazine that I did not order. I called the magazine company and they did not have record of me ever subscribing. Later, my credit card was being billed, without my knowledge, by consolidated media. I contacted them, canceled all subscriptions and was told that I did not owe any other money.
Now, a year later, I am getting calls from LBA debt collection agency. They are saying that I have to pay over 180 that I owe Consolidated Media. They also said that they could not give me any contact information for CM.
I find it interesting that I have not received any bills, not heard a word from these people in over a year and then they are trying to send me to collections!
Jennifer of Ormond Beach, FL November 16, 2007
A women from LUP Baker & Associates called me to say there was an outstanding balance and my account was heading into collections. She referenced a magazine subscription and an address from almost 10 years ago. I told her I had no recollection of what she is referring to.
She was VERY rude and there was so much noise in the background it was hard to hear, as if a party was going on. This just does not seem to add up!
Jill of Union, MO November 15, 2007
In 2004 my husband got a letter from Luebke Baker & Associates while he was away in the Army. He told me that CMS was a company that he had bought a magazine subscription from, but that he paid when signed up. He said LBA had contacted him before and he paid it. I asked for paid receipt or canceled check but he said that he didn't have one.
So, I called LBA and they said that he owed 150.96 and that if I paid it that day that they would knock it down to 80 with a 2 processing fee. I paid it.
It's three years later and I was getting hang up calls. My Caller ID said "Settlement Dept" After about the 5th one I called it back. I got some guy that said he was with LB&A. I said, "You are kidding me. We paid that years ago". I told him that we got something in the mail and that I paid if over the phone. He said they don't mail anything out and we just got this account this year.
He asked for a paid receipt or canceled check. They said fax us a copy and we will get it taken care of. I said that is what they said to me before, how do I know that it will be taken care of?
Arnella of Lawrenceville, GA November 14, 2007
They called my brothers house and ask for me. When he told me I called them back and they said that I ordered magazines from them back in 1998, and that I made a payment of 49.99 and I own them 199.99 in colectors debt and if I did not pay today I will have to pay them 540 later. He said They will find me. He told me that I ordered their services for five years and the address he gave me was my old school address where I have not lived for over six years. I never received any magazines.
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