Anybody know what part of the FCRA this violates? Seems to me that this organization is selling the information on debtors. Doesn't that make them a CRA? Are they licensed as such in your state? Looks like this could be lawsuit city. What do you guys think?
REDRESS Debtor Alert is not a credit reporting agency. Debtor Alert does not originate, modify, verify or dispense credit information. Debtor Alert is an internet information service available only to Members for posting or retrieving information that they themselves provide. Therefore, complaints from debtors about information posted on this WebSite should be addressed to the Member submitting the information. However, on request, and without assuming responsibility for delivery or otherwise, Debtor Alert will forward complaints to a Member company, and Members have agreed to respond to complaints as follows: · respond within 30 days of receipt of a complaint; · amend verifiable errors at a debtor's request; and · post in the notice a 100 word written explanation provided by the debtor, where the information in a notice is correct but there are mitigating circumstances. Non-members may obtain a copy of a notice containing information about themselves by directing a signed, written request to the Secretary of Debtor Alert c/o suite 605, 185-911 Yates Street, Victoria, B.C., V8V 4Y9, together with a stamped self-addressed envelope and $1.00 copying fee per notice. To protect the confidentiality of your information, the signature on all requests or complaints must be witnessed by, and the writer's identity established to the satisfaction of, a commissioner for taking affidavits or a notary public. How very interesting!!!
"Non-members may obtain a copy of a notice containing information about themselves by directing a signed, written request to the Secretary of Debtor Alert c/o suite 605, 185-911 Yates Street, Victoria, B.C., V8V 4Y9, together with a stamped self-addressed envelope and $1.00 copying fee per notice. To protect the confidentiality of your information, the signature on all requests or complaints must be witnessed by, and the writer's identity established to the satisfaction of, a commissioner for taking affidavits or a notary public." $1 per notice? How do you know how many notices there are until you receive them???
It seems to me that their disclaimer doesn't make it any more legal, nor does the fact that the information is limited to its "members"
I just sent them an email quoting certain parts of the FDCPA, even though they are not a CA, they are allowing CA's to place people's names on their website and charging them to do it. We need to start contacting the FTC about this crap! I for one am tired of getting walked on by these pricks!
This is definately weird. I registered for the site. It defaults country to Canada when you register or search. When you login you get choices to: Search Debtor Alert's Database For Debtor's Submit Information About Debtor's Edit Or Delete Previous Submissions Plan To Use Debtor Alert More Than Once? (Credit Purchase Plan Available) Under Search - Retrieval: Company Name: Principal / Director Name: Country: City: Zip/Postal Code: Phone # (with area code): I'm not in it But based on the search options, it looks like a search for Debtor companies as opposed to individuals.
Organization: Wescorp Enterprises Robert Parker Suite 101-368 800 Fith Avenue Seattle, Wa 98104 US Phone: 206 382 9177 Email: debtoralert@debtoralert.com Registrar Name....: Register.com Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com Domain Name: DEBTORALERT.COM Created on..............: Tue, Jan 02, 2001 Expires on..............: Thu, Jan 02, 2003 Record last updated on..: Wed, Feb 27, 2002 Administrative Contact: Wescorp Enterprises Robert Parker Suite 101-368 800 Fith Avenue Seattle, Wa 98104 US Phone: 206 382 9177 Email: debtoralert@debtoralert.com Technical Contact: Wescorp Enterprises Robert Parker Suite 101-368 800 Fith Avenue Seattle, Wa 98104 US Phone: 206 382 9177 Email: debtoralert@debtoralert.com Zone Contact: Wescorp Enterprises Robert Parker Suite 101-368 800 Fith Avenue Seattle, Wa 98104 US Phone: 206 382 9177 Email: debtoralert@debtoralert.com Domain servers in listed order: NS.WESTHOST.NET 209.204.249.248 NS2.WESTHOST.NET 209.204.250.200
That's what more people need to do and tell the screw the consumer business comunity where to stick it.Enough folks do it and it would really put the hurt on them.When their bottom line suffers enough they will come crying back to us. Every body should be reminding them where there source is.
It definitely looks like a CRA. And if they're saying that they're not because it's members-only who pay to post or retrieve, well, that's just the same as any CRA. (Participating companies must pay to post or retrieve information). -ingenue
This outfit deals with BUSINESS DEBTS not personal debts,therefore it does not fall within the auspices of the FDCPA or the FCRA
Debtor Alert's response to my email The Debtor Alert website hosts only business to business debt, not consumer debt. Our legal policy and membership agreement were drafted by legal counsel and are quite clear on the information that is acceptable. The site is a business to business service using information provided by the members. The business debt is posted by the creditor company and must be accurate, verifiable by contract, invoice, dishonored cheque or delinquent account. Any member not abiding by the agreement will lose access to the site. The concept of the Debtor Alert site is to provide another tool for small business credit management and funds recovery. Every year many small businesses lose millions of dollars that are legally owed to them by other companies. The exchange of financial information among our business members will reduce the risk of extending credit or doing business with high risk companies. Many businesses already exchange debt information on a small informal scale. Debtor Alert is a means of providing that same information through a centralized data base so more members may benefit. I hope this clears up any misunderstandings that you may have about the service we are offering. Sincerely, Debtor Alert.
