Need help....Westbury Ventures

Submitted by gottahavefaith on Mon, 03/19/2007 - 23:23

Westbury Ventures....Need help

I got a payday loan from them back in late summer/early fall of 2005. I got in over my head with several payday loan companies. My checking account was closed due to overdrafts. I was out of work for over half of 2006. Starting back in late fall of 2006 I started getting emails from a lady at Westbury Ventures. Now I'm getting on average 2-3 a day. They range from threats to "special offers". I emailed her and told her that I could pay 25-50 a month because I didn't get paid all that much at work. She refused saying I had to pay at least 100 if not more blah blah blah. Now I'm still getting these emails. What should I do?

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

laura (not verified)

They cannot threaten you like that you should file a complaint against them.

Thu, 03/22/2007 - 02:05 Permalink
gmibe (not verified)

I started getting emails from a lady at Westbury Ventures. Now I'm getting on average 2-3 a day. They range from threats to "special offers".

You need to contact your Attorney Generals office consumer division and place a detailed complaint against them.

Sat, 03/24/2007 - 01:31 Permalink

Send the lady a C&D via email and/or snail mail.
Make a paper trail...

I would rather she bring some legal action,
if she can, than to harass me each and every
day and throughout the day.

Besides you should have enough violations
that should more than cover the alleged
delinquent debt.

I find that it is much easier to find attorneys,
when the CAs are harassing consumers.

What State are you in?

Thu, 03/29/2007 - 01:21 Permalink
filagree (not verified)

They have gone as far as taking unauthorized ACH withdrawals from checking and savings accounts. They will also NOT respond to emails or phone calls AND they will continue to send threatening emails. I am ready to take legal action against these people. I have already contacted my bank and had to reverse charges they illegally withdrew from my account. Luckily my bank worked with me. I have heard that not all banks are willing to work with their customers. I have saved every email from both of the representatives that have contacted me from their company. I'm just warning anyone out there to be careful of these vultures. They are unscrupulous.

Thu, 03/29/2007 - 19:19 Permalink

I am ready to take legal action against these
people. I have already contacted my bank and had
to reverse charges they illegally withdrew from my
account. Luckily my bank worked with me. I have
heard that not all banks are willing to work with their
customers. I have saved every email from both of
the representatives that have contacted me from
their company. I'm just warning anyone out there
to be careful of these vultures. They are unscrupulous.

Yes, you are very fortunate that your Bank was more
than willing to work with you. It sounds as if you
have more than sufficient evidence to bring legal
action against them. It should be easy to find a
credit attorney or civil action attorney.

Don't forget about filing a complaint with the FTC,
your State Attorney General and their State Attorney
General. I'm pretty sure that you are not their first victim.

Thanks so much for the warning !!!

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~
To our Members and Guests, I repeat, NEVER disclose
your personal banking information to Collection Agencies
or Junk Debt Buyers. If you wish to settle an alleged debt
with them, put everything in writing. Make all payments
by USPS Money Orders, OR open a separate bank
account (in another state) just for monthly payments
to them. Do NOT use your current checking
account or a bank in your home town. Good Luck.

Sat, 03/31/2007 - 19:50 Permalink
The Coin Box (not verified)

I too am having difficulty with this company. But my liason is Andrea Collins in collections. She has prevented the ACH from occuring which would have thrown my checking account into overdraft. I've asked for a statement and was refused. Supposedly, the contract contains all the information I need. I had my payoff amount down to $100 but when I spoke to today, she said it was 'far from $100'. And I would know this? If I was a deceitful individual and boy am I tempted, I'd close my checking account and simply avoid their emails and such.

Tue, 04/03/2007 - 19:03 Permalink
Etta (not verified)

I am currently sueing this company. I have not ever had a loan with them, yet I have received over 70 threatening emails at work. Numerous threatening phone calls to myself and my co-workers, and unauthorized bank debits. Contact Dean Malone attorney and sue them. They are breaking the law.

Sun, 07/08/2007 - 07:02 Permalink

Hi

Its not only Westbury ventures, there are others as well. Xpress Cash, LoanShop, DMSMKTG, LTS Management...all are the same. If anyone has taken loan from any of these please go ahead and check whether they are legal. They have been harassing their customers regularly. Beware and stay on your alert.

These companies keep sending threatening mails, so always keep track of these communications as well. Try to keep communication to writing. This helps you keep proof of every action taken. If you are already facing trouble file a detailed complaint with the consumer cell at the AG office.

Good Luck.

Mon, 07/09/2007 - 03:51 Permalink
Mike M (not verified)

Same experience here. I defaulted on a couple of payday loans & LTS Management is now threatening to use a service called Check Recovery to try to find a bank account in my name (not the checking acct that I used for the original loans) that they can withdraw all the funds at once. I sent an email response offering to repay $75 every two weeks & it has gone unreplied to.

These people are nasty. I mean, they are telling me they are going to use my social security # to search for any bank accts in my name to withdraw all the entire balance due at once. Does anyone know if they can do this?

Mon, 08/20/2007 - 09:53 Permalink

I believe you can revoke their right to hit your bank accounts. Put that in a letter and mail it return reciept. Visit the debt forums (link at very top of page) for more advice dealing with PDLs.

Mon, 08/20/2007 - 10:36 Permalink
Blueyz1971 (not verified)

I am having the same problem. They just did an ACH debit from my bank accout that was not authorized. I believe that it was a payday loan from several years ago from an older bank account. I filed bankruptcy, because i was having trouble with the payment to the court bankruptcy the case was dismissed. I don't know what to do. Can they just come in and take money from my new bank account like that

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 21:44 Permalink

If you have provided them with the account number and given pre-authorization then ofcourse they can debit your account.

If you think its fraudulent then talk to your bank and do a reverse pay.

Tue, 09/18/2007 - 06:14 Permalink
Nicole Owens (not verified)

They just took 260.00 from my account. I have never even heard of this compnay. I have had a payday loan before, but not from this company. If they keep changing their name then something shady must be going on.

Wed, 10/10/2007 - 21:26 Permalink

Its not only Westbury ventures, there are others as well. Xpress Cash, LoanShop, DMSMKTG, LTS Management is what I can remember for now. Westbury looks after these payday lending as well. Had been a customer to any of these or some other?

Thu, 10/11/2007 - 05:03 Permalink

Kindly stay away from the Payday Loans. They will just ruin you.

Thu, 10/11/2007 - 05:04 Permalink
Val (not verified)

This is my experience with them, I had a payday loan back in 2005. Recently I got an email for what I thought was to apply for a regular loan not a payday loan, I filled it out, and the loan was denied. I didn't think twice until I received a debit from my checking account for $260. I called Westbury Ventures, and they said it was from 2005 from an old checking account I no longer have. I called my new bank, and they said that because I never gave them permission to withdraw from this account, they will reverse the charges. It'll take a few days, but it can be done. My bank is also putting a permanent stop payment against them so they can't do this again.

Thu, 10/11/2007 - 16:49 Permalink

You are lucky to have your bank on your side. Val it is true that you have been harassed but I would suggest that do not fill forms online without knowing all the pros and cons. I am a victim myself so stay on your guard. :)

Fri, 10/12/2007 - 06:36 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

i HAD DEALT WITH THEM TO. i HAD TO OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT BECAUSE i WAS A VICTIM IN A SCAM. tHEY DID NOT HAVE MY NEW ACCOUNT BECAUSE i was trying to catch up. They just debit my account $325. I want to know how they got my new account. I didn't give it to them.

Sun, 10/21/2007 - 19:18 Permalink

Talk to your bank and try for a reverse pay

Tue, 10/23/2007 - 08:34 Permalink
Joan (not verified)

This company attempted to withdraw hundreds of dollars from my checking account without my authorization. This resulted in over $600 in over limit fees of which I was only able to collect $100 from my bank. I opened up a new checking account & absolutly refuse to give them my account number under any circumstances. I will only pay them back by money order.

Tue, 10/23/2007 - 16:55 Permalink
Sherry (not verified)

I have been receiving phone calls from these people just recently when i saw an item trying to pay on my account that i did not recognize and had my bank put a stop payment on them. Now they are calling saying things like "warrant fraud" and that my attorney or myself should contact them before further action is taken. I tried calling and i got a voicemail. What would be some advise in this situation.

Tue, 10/23/2007 - 23:03 Permalink

Check with them. Did you opt for any benefit under a warranty program? Any claims that you made recently? Check double check.

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 06:17 Permalink
rellim2533 (not verified)

I am in payday loan hell I have 2 payday loans and one loan from Thinkcash the pymts add up to $600 a month so I went and borrowed more from local loan places in my town now Im paying over $900 a month in pymts Im now $650 overdrawn at bank ,cause I had to pay other bills I need help,my loans only add up to $4500 I cant get a loan any where to pay all these off cause I have a bankruptcy can any anyone give my some advice. John

Sat, 10/27/2007 - 16:31 Permalink

Hi John

Did you take this loan after the BK? What was the original sum of money that you had borrowed?

Mon, 10/29/2007 - 07:46 Permalink

Hey John

Think Cash is also provides payday loans. Do a cross check to find out whether this is true or not. In that case you have all three payday loans. What is the APR offered by think cash?

Mon, 10/29/2007 - 09:13 Permalink
PATRICIA ROBINSON (not verified)

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A LOAN THAT WAS TAKEN OUT IN 2002, THE GENTLEMEN KIRK CONVERSE CALLED ME AND SAID THE LOAN WAS BACK THEN WAS FOR 200.00 AND KNOW THEY WANT BE TO PAY 400.00 SO I MENTIONED THAT CAN YOU GIVE ME A PAYMENT PLAN HE REPLIED NO, SEND HIM A PAYMENT OF 390.00 BY MONDAY OR HAVE A LAWYER READY, EVEN A REGULAR LOAN, YOU CAN HAVE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, AND HE WANTS ME TO SEND IT BY MONEY GHRAM, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST MAKE PAYMENTS, I AGREED TO THAT INSTEAD HE'S JUST MAKING THREATS.

Mon, 11/05/2007 - 01:18 Permalink

These guys are jerks and some how dig up the old payday loans that you thought have gone away, I had a company similar to this withdraw funds and put a stop payment on the account. I did have an old payday loan some time ago and when I called them they did acknowledge is was from this company. I made an affordable payment arrangement with them and only have one payment left. What irritated me is they withdrew $500 from my checking account, which I had to pay $32 to stop payment on and then they gave me the arrangement. I wonder why they did not contact me with an arrangement the first time around, I would have cooperated to get rid of it, I don't want it hanging around anymore than they do.

Mon, 11/05/2007 - 01:46 Permalink

That is where they infuriate people. They feel that we wont be returning the money borrowed. In simple words if I am due then contact me and ask me to pay the balance. In case I am in financial trouble I would talk it out and try to pay off in parts.
They really dont want to give us the time. Thats where the hitch is.

Mon, 11/05/2007 - 03:48 Permalink

I know they are a pain in the back side, better off to contact them, see if the alledged debt is really yours, if it is, make a payment arrangement that is suitable and get rid of it, these people are worse than blood hounds.

Mon, 11/12/2007 - 20:59 Permalink
Michael (not verified)

These people are calling me and threatening me over the phone which is illegal. I am going to sue them for illegally drawing money out of my bank account without my authorization.

Fri, 11/16/2007 - 16:05 Permalink

Hi Michael,

I can understand your concern here. It is very difficult to deal with these frauds. Did you have a debt with them or any other payday loan company?

In order to get back the unauthorized debit, talk to your bank and do a reverse pay.

Sat, 11/17/2007 - 05:12 Permalink

They don't sound like good people to deal with, they have no right talking down to you on the phone or threatening you. You should tell them to hold a minute and then come back and tell them that they are now being recorded, to please identify them selves again, I bet they change their tune then.
Debt collectors often use rude and abrasive ways that are actually illegal, visit the fair debt collection webpage, educate yourself and then give it back to them in a nice calm voice.

Sun, 11/18/2007 - 01:00 Permalink
SUSAN (not verified)

DO NOT GIVE THESE SCAM ARTISTS YOUR MONEY. CALL YOUR BANK AND ASK THEM TO NOT RELEASE ANY OF YOUR FUNDS TO THIS COMPANY OR ANY OTHER WITHOUT FIRST GETTING YOUR AUTHORIZATION. I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE SAME EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING A DIME FROM BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHO THEY ARE AND THEY AREJUST TRYING TO SCARE INNOCENT PEOPLE, SO THEY CAN GET RICH QUICK.

Fri, 12/21/2007 - 20:20 Permalink

Thanks for warning us Susan. Hope you are doing fine. We would like you to share what you have experienced with Westbury.

Sat, 12/22/2007 - 04:00 Permalink
KAT (not verified)

[color=Violet][/color]HOW DO YOU STOP THEM. I HAVE TRY TO CALL THE PHONE NUMBER IT RINGS ONE OR TWO TIES THEN STOPS. I HAVE A LETTER SAYYING I OWE 570.00, MY OWE WAS FOR 250.00. WHAT DO I DO NOW???????????? :?: :( ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!

Mon, 01/21/2008 - 16:12 Permalink
LisaP (not verified)

I had defaulted on a $100 payday loan. I ended up with very large fees at the bank. Then I received a call from Westbury Ventures saying they were going to have me prosecuted for internet fraud.
When he told me to send a money gram (only acceptable payment) for well over a $100 I became uncomfortable.
I decided to file bankruptcy and start over. When he called again I referred him to my attorney. He refused to take the name and number and told me to get a criminal attorney.
I hung on him and he called back and told me I had commited another crime by not transferring him to Human Resources. He had never asked to be transfered.
I believe that I will contact my attorney general's office. People should be told very plainly that if they default on a loan because of unforseen circumstances their loan will be sold to a company that will use threats and harrassment to get paid.

Thu, 01/24/2008 - 15:25 Permalink

Hi Kat,

Send them a debt validation letter. http://www.creditmagic.org/repair/sampleletter-debtvalidation.html
That is the first thing to do right now. They must provide you with a validation for you to proceed with any further actions.

Hi Lisa,

Payday loans are the worst form of loans that one can take during necessity. They only ruin you and leaves you with no other options than a bankruptcy. Did you make any payment towards the bank? If you have an attorney they are not supposed to contact you directly. Do not send any money. Ask for a debt validation.

Fri, 01/25/2008 - 10:31 Permalink
SarahandOscar1116 (not verified)

I took out a loan and it was for 200.00 because i was in desperate need of money not knowing any better. i ended up having my car broken into and having fraud on my bank account. i called and informed them of this matter...they didnt care i offered to pay them a portion of the loan via money order and they said no i had to pay it in full mind you the loan was with someone else. they have threatened me and made my account go so extremely negative that i had to end up closing it. I also had paid their ridiculous "finance charge" for well over 3 months which paid was more than the loan itself by about 3 times. i just received a phone call form them stating that they are investigating me for fraud and stealing. What can i do? Please help i cant afford to pay these peopl 500.00 on a 200.00 loan that should have been paid already.

Wed, 01/30/2008 - 16:28 Permalink
Very Upset (not verified)

I just received a call at Work - from Kirk Converse, he said he thought what they did was wrong but it was not his issue and that he had a job to do, that i either pay them back, mind you they already took $720 from my account and now they still say I owe $420. I had been talking with the actual company and have in an email that it was only $90 in fees. THEY ARE LIARS. I am being threatened with court costs, lawyer fees you name it, I see you are all or were in the same boat. It is inhumane and dishonorable the way these companies take advantage of someone who may be in a situation that was out of their control, car breaks down etc. There has to be some law somewhere that protects the consumer.

Wed, 02/06/2008 - 19:30 Permalink
Michael Patanella (not verified)

same story for me. woke up this morning to find $390 missing from my checking account. and it was from westbury ventures. i never ever did business with them, so i obviously never gave them any written authorization to take money out of my account on this date. (feb 8, '08 ) my bank had the charges reversed back to them within minutes. unless you gave them written authorization to withdraw from you account on a SPECIFIED date, then they got nothing on you. i called them after that and they told me they are a collection agency and i owe some other company a payday loan balance from 2004. i laughed at them. collection agencies have very very little legal power though they will always pretend they do. i have had companies like westbury say they are issuing a warrant for my arrest at end of business day and the police will have me in custody within 12 hours. yea, years gone by, im still waiting for my arrest lol. federal government states you are NEVER legally required to deal with any collection agency even if you do owe the debt. ALWAYS DEAL WITH THE ORIGINAL COMPANY YOU OWE ONLY. no matter how many times the collection agencies tell you that you cant, the LAW states otherwise. and then tell the collection agency people to get off the crack and heroin and get a respectable job that doesnt involve harassing people. the people that represent the collection agencies probably have WAY MORE personal debt then anybody reading this. anyone wanna talk to me more direct, you are welcome to email me- Eternal865@comcast.net. -Michael in NJ

Sat, 02/09/2008 - 08:17 Permalink
PHOENIX KELLEY (not verified)

THAT COMPANY IS SCAM IT IS UPFRONT FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITY I JUST GOT CONFIRMATION FROM MY BROTHER IN WASHINGTON DC HE WORKS FOR NSA AGENCY AND THAT COMPANY IN DELWARE IS UNDER MONTIOR AND SOME EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WERE ALREADY UNDER HOUSE ARRESTED BY FED AGENTS AND IS MAKING MORE SURPRISE ARRESTS IN THE COMING OF DAYS,I ASSURE OF ALL OF YOU THAT COMPANY IS SOON OUT OF BUSSINESS WHEN WE FINALLY CATCH THEM REDHANDED DOING DEAL WITH TERRORISTS, MY BROTHER TOLD ME THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES HAD SUSPECTED ABOUT THAT COMPANY FOR YEARS BECAUSE MANY DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS USED BY THAT COMPANY FROM FOREGINS NOT IN THIS AMERICA AND ALSO THAT PHONE NUMBERS IS REALLY SAME ONE LOCATION, AND ALSO THERE IS NO CERFICIATION OF LEGAL THAT COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO LOAN THE MONEY, THAT MONEY THAT LOANED TO PEOPLE WERE STOLEN FROM OTHER ACCOUNTS, SO DON'T TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY BY DOING LOANS ANYMORE, ALL OF FUNDS HAS BEEN SEIZED ALREADY AND THAT COMPANY IS IN HUGE TROUBLE NOW AND THE SEVERAL EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES OF LOANSHOP WESTBURY HAS BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST AND THEIR PERSONAL COMPUTERS WERE SEIZED AND THEIR ACCOUNTS WERE ALSO SEIZED AND PASSPORTS ALSO WERE SEIZED TOO.. THERE WILL BE MORE ARRESTS IN COMING OF DAYS. SORRY FOR ALL OF THE TROUBLES CAUSED BY THIS COMPANY OKAY IT SOON TO BE END OF THIS TRAGEDY NIGHTMARE! ANY ONE HAS EXPERINCES OF THIS PROBLEMS PLEASE IMMEDATEILY CONTACT NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY OR HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON DC OKAY

PHOENIX KELLEY MIAMI FL

Tue, 02/12/2008 - 02:11 Permalink

Is there a news report on this anywhere? I would like to read it, can you provide that information here so that the members here can go on the link and read it to make sure that it is the same company.

Tue, 02/12/2008 - 02:52 Permalink
mannyb (not verified)

Hello my name is Emmanuel Burgos and I have created this page to gather people and put a stop to harassing, intimidating, insulting and threatening communication from creditors and collectors that are involved with Westbury Ventures and its affiliates. Another individual and I have communicated and agreed to begin this lawsuit.
I received a phone call in 2007 from Westbury Ventures regarding a payday loan that I supposedly took out. They refuse to send me verification of the loan, they threaten me by saying that they will be garnishing my wages on a particular day. They will not give me an address. They have cursed at me, threatened me, violated my FDCPA rights and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act in various occasions (my hometown).
From the day that I began receiving these disturbing phone calls and emails I began to do some research on my rights as a consumer and have learned all the FDCPA rights and act 505. Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. My rights as a consumer continued being violated so I consulted with one of the top 10 Attorneys in Illinois, David P. Leibowitz. He is very interested in this case. After doing some research David Leibowitz concluded that these companies were fraud and scammers. He is working with three other attorneys in the Chicago land area to put this crime scene together. They are criminals and will be charged as criminals. The only thing we as consumers need to do is to enter this class action lawsuit as a community. We are looking at FDCPA rights violations, ACT 505. Chapter 815 violations and possibly RICO ACT convictions. There is a substantial amount of money involved in regards to our winnings. If your rights have been violated by the below named companies:
BROADMORE VENTURES
THE LOAN SHOP
EXPRESS CASH
XPRESS CASH
WESTBURY VENTURES
PLAZA PROCESSING
ASAP
PD6 VENTURES
Please visit westburyventuresscam.com to join our lawsuit

Thu, 02/14/2008 - 00:01 Permalink

I really appreciate this effort from your side. I request all the forum members to go through this. If you find it feasible go ahead and join the lawsuit.

Thu, 02/14/2008 - 06:03 Permalink
mannyb (not verified)

Please join us in our lawsuit we are a few weeks away from getting started please visit westburyventuresscam.com

Sat, 02/16/2008 - 21:58 Permalink
mannyb (not verified)

thank you very much laura for helping us send out the message to gather people and put a stop to westbury ventures. I am meeting with our attorney this week to get the ball rolling. if anyone else is interested in joining please visit westburyventuresscam.com to join. We have nothing to lose and we will gain as this is a huge deal now that we have included the press. Remember you have nothing to lose this will benefit everyone that joins this is a big class action lawsuit and we are looking to sue for a substantial amount of money. The best lawyers in this pracftice are involved. please visit westburyventuresscam.com and join us

Mon, 02/18/2008 - 23:33 Permalink

You are welcome Emmnuel. Hope you got some strength from us.

Tue, 02/19/2008 - 11:37 Permalink