Universal Fidelity (BBB accredited) violating consumer rights

Hi SHbear! I've read that Universal Fidelity is a part of the BBB. I didn't come up with anything bad on them. I haven't dealt with them though, maybe someone else here has and is willing to contribute their intake on this agency.
In case you don't have their info its:

PO Box 17199
Tampa,FL
USA 33682 7199
(813) 971-0000.

Put a search on this forum with the name 'Universal Fidelity'. I think members and guests have commented on them too. If I am not wrong, they are a collection agency and many people have faced problems while dealing with them. Do you mind telling us how they approached you? Have they given you anything in writing or is it just a telephone call? Under the federal laws, the collection agencies are required to send you the details of the debt in writing before pursuing collections. If you have got nothing in the mail, you can request them for the debt validation. Send your letter through CMRRR so that you have proof of records.

Very good David (nice touch as always!)
SHbear, if you haven't received anything in the mail, you can send Universal Fidelity a validaton letter using the address I gave you above.

Sonic has said Universal Fidelity is the 3rd party collection agency they use...i called them (preemptive strike) and they were totally cool on the phone and seemed very professional and actually nice.

I have dealt with Universal Fidelity but I can't remember what account it was for. I thought they were very rude!

Every person at Universal Fidelity is probably different. There are many professional third-party collectors out there (like Ari, when she was doing that) and there are many unprofessional ones. I guess it just depends on who picks up the phone when you call them. :?

~Mary

Universal Fidelity are out of texas...but i just went to pull up their website and it says their site is under construction....very wierd.

What account of yours was referred to them, out of curiousity?

I have no idea what account I have with Universal Fidelity. I have not returned their calls yet. I have not ever received anything in the mail from them.

SHbear, since you have no idea for what Universal Fidelity is calling you about, or what account they possibly could be holding, you'll need to mail them out a validation letter. Make sure send it certified return receipt. That way you can find out what this is all about. Unless you just want to pick up the phone and talk to them. I don't like talking on the phone so I go with the validation letter. shirley

Shirley,
You'll be interested to know that I called the number that Universal keeps telling me to call to ask for their address and fax number. The 1st time I called, the guy hung up on me. The 2nd time I called, I asked for the address and asked why he hung up on me, then he hung up on me again. They I called back one more time, the guy wouldn't pick up the phone and let it go to some weird voicemail. I get a sneaking suspicion that these guys are creeps or crooked like most of the other CA's we all talk about. How can I send them a validation letter if they won't give me the address. The one that you gave me earlier is not right and the phone number is disconnected. When I go to Super Pages to look them up, I get about 4 different ones with numbers that are disconnected on them.

SHBear,

Do you have any account with Fingerhut? Universal Fidelity Corp is an alias of Fingerhut Credit Advantage. Check the Additional Business Names section in the BBB report. Keep us posted.

No, I don't have an account with Fingehut. I am still trying to get a fax number that is good for them. I'll keep everyone posted.

i am so upset! i just had a horrible phone call from this evil person at UF. :evil: she was rude and insulting. she gave me a lot of lip and thought that she had every right to talk to me any way she liked. when i asked her who she was, she refused to tell me. i asked to speak to a supervisor and she just said to keep talking. she treatened me by saying that she had my SS#, etc. and that this phone call was being recorded. after she felt as though she had sufficiently insulted me, she hung up on me!? :!: :?: i have never been treated so rudely! :!:

ktelles - don't accept this humiliation. Universal Fidelity violated the federal laws in the entire conversation. If they have the recording, it is clear fact that the lady insulted you. You have a case against her. Now, you can use your legal rights and attach a recording device at your phone. Record the conversation when she calls next time. Check the state laws because some states require permission of both the parties. List down the date and time of the calls made to you and present it to your attorney. You have a case.

Has Universal Fidelity sent you any details of the account in writing?

Yes, Universal Fidelity is very rude. Just hold your own!

hi, my name is danielle, i got a message from this company too but have never got anything in the mail about it. i am not calling them. like u said thats against the law and thank u for informing me of those things. i got a pay day loan but its not even due yet so i have no idea why they r calling me. she sounded rude just in the voicemail i got.

Universal Fidelity must give you the details of the debt in writing within 5 days after calling you for the first time. Send a debt validation letter if you don't receive anything in the mail. They are bound to follow the fdcpa laws while attempting collections. Get in contact with the original company and work out repayment plans with them. They will be much easier to work with.

I had asked them several times for a validation letter but I still have yet to recieve it and its been about 3-4 months now.

c38nfrnt, has Universal Fidelity hit your credit report? Do not allow them to report in your file without genuine purpose. If they are on your credit, dispute the item with the CRA along with proof of your validation request. The CRA will verify it with the company and remove if found incorrect. Send your letters certified.

I to am having problems with this Universal Fidelity. I had a game named Sedrick call me, he was very very rude. I asked him not to call me at work again and he did about 4 days later. I am talking to him in mid sentence he just hangs up on me. Wouldn't give me an address or phone #. I have never received anything in the mail from them. I was told to call a Tony Holmes at 281-647-4120 and lodge a complaint. So you might try that.

I forgot to add that Universal Fidelity has been hired by Resurgent Capital Services LP, to collect an old Sears account.

I got something in the mail from them, the letter seemed nice and no threats were made. Im going to be sending my payment soon. I cant stand talking to these people on the phone, Id rather them just send me a letter

I have had alot of trouble with these guys. they took 100 dollars from my bank account and they said it bounced and my bank and i have had like 2 conversations on the phone iwth them saying it didnt bounce. my bank faxed them my account receipt and it showed it didnt bounce and now they are saying it wasnt even them that took the money out but i saw someone else say sears account with resurgent capital services and that who the money came out from and the phone number listed for them i called and they answered universal fidelity... ive spent atleast 2 hours on the phone with them trying to figure out what they did with my money and one girl said they will credit my account with it and when they didnt do that i called back and they said no one ever said they would do that for me

I received a phone call from a Miss Ellis at Universal Fidelity. At first she was very nice. The next day she called me back and got my 12 year old daughter (I was at work) and told her if she didnt tell her my work phone that myself and my daughter would be arrested because she worked for the local courthouse. I called her back and she denied saying that.

singlemomof2

Next time when the collection agencies call you, get the call recorded. Check the state laws to verify if you are allowed to do the recording secretly. The collectors deny their words easily if you are unable to show proof. Did the company validate the debt in writing? They are bound by federal laws before attempting collections.

Universal Fidelity is still messing around with me but the people from my bank are filing something against them becuase they took 100 from my account (1 girl from the company said they did, 1 girl said they didnt, 1 girl hung up on me, my mom, and a worker from the bank when questioned about it, and 1 supervisor said they took it out but put it back in my account and that my bank made an error and she doesnt know why the 100 didnt go back into my account) so my bank is doing everythign they can to get these people in trouble and find out what the did with my money and my bank is going to stop all action with this company untill someone from their side steps up and says we took your money.

This people are very rude. A woman by the name of Naoemi Simon called my cell phone Sunday morning and left a threatening message on my voice mail. When I called back she said that I was faced with legal action because an account whose primary name is my ex-husband was not being paid and that even though I was only an authorized siganture I had to pay the account and if I did not do it will go legal. They never sent anything to me on paper either. Please help!

I just tried to call uf(261-647-4152). I was on hold for 43 mn. I hung up. they are trying to collect the ballane of a dell debt that I made a settlement on with another co. I called company A , and they told me it sounded like a scam. Ther is no way they call collect a ballane after settlement.

The agent I just spoke with denied being in Texas and said she was in Ohio! Have they moved?? Be interesting to find out!

Now I'm getting daily calls from these fools! I have only been paying this stupid debt off for a year..and now I'm getting harassed??? Geez....

you guys are right. no one shud have to pay back stupid credit kards. i'm tired of paying bills, ive bin payin um for about 3 years now, i aint payin sh*t. im going to f*ck my credit up so i can have the time of my life. worry free. thanks everyone!

And the preceding post is the type of negative post that we all need to ignore!

I am getting call from UF since 15 days becuase of some mistake done by JC Penney 2 years ago.
JC sent me a check of 115$ by mistake 2years ago, then I moved becuase of job, now JC is saying that I have to pay them 350$ and i am red marked.
I dont have problem in paying 350$ but my history got ruined becuase of there mistake, the UF people threatening me and my family very day.
I have not idea what to do.

Universal Fidelity is a nasty company to deal with. I had a phone call with them about a week ago. Have you sent them a debt validation letter? You need to find out the amount they are trying to collect,and that they are bound legally to collect this debt. I would do all correspondence through the mail,they are impossible to talk to. They are under the umbrella of LVNV,which has many companiess dba.Good Luck!...Karen

does any one know how to get the address for the texas uf collections agency. :?:

Interesting...I thought Universal Fidelity only collected for Sonic (there's enough there to keep them busy!) I never realized that they had more than one client!

Has anyone been taken to court by Universal Fidelity to collect a Sonic debt?

I would be surprised, guest, because Sonic is illegal in many states and their shady practices would just be exposed--and that is something they definately do not want.

nutsylory-I don't know about the Texas UF,but when I got a letter from them,it asked that all disputes be sent to Sherman Acquistions address in SC,I believe...KAren

Ok, my turn. I was recently tracked down after moving 4 years ago. My $25 late fee has ballooned to $85. They refuse to send me details in the mail and won't send me an address, so I can mail them a check or money order, because they "only accept payment by phone". Who can I complain to on this? Someone in Texas, they US gov't, some agency? I see their address on their website, so I'm thinking of sending something in the mail anyway. Anyone have any ideas?

Hey Gerard,
Welcome to the forums! First off, they lied blatantly to you, because I have gotten bills from them and they can send you one too--so it sounds like they were blowing smoke, you know where. They actually have addresses in Ohio and in Texas. I will try and pull my bills out today and post them or you can do a search on the threads for them here and they should be there. Also, go to the Collection Agency database and you should get more info on them. Good luck and let us know what the outcome is!

Completely rude and unprofessional. Preferred to keep harassing my mentally ill mother instead of honoring the power of attorney that allowed me to pay her bills. What I couldn't figure out was, why was it more important to be rude than to get the money?

They also pulled the "only accept payment by phone routine" with me. Well I guess they can keep waiting...

kscornell,
Any progress on that address?

Well, guess what, today I received from Fidelity my debt verification! Wow...what a surprise. Can't understand why I am treated so nasty, then get this. Must be the patience God gave me. Anyway, wouldn't you know that the signature on my $25 purchase was only last November and the signature on the receipt isn't even mine? I'm going to try to reach JCPenney on this. I hope they can help....

I don't like the sound of that! If it was me Gerard, I would also pull a credit report, cause it almost sounds like identity theft!

My wife received a number of calls from them on her cell last month. They would not tell her what it was about. Finally, after googling their phone # (in Texas) I decided I'd better call back to see what it was all about. They asked when I'm planning to pay them $500 on $300 cash loan I never made. When I said I've never loaned the money the guy asked if my SSN ends with XXXX. Thankfully it does not, so they said they must have gotten a wrong man. Still alarmed I pulled our credit reports, they're fine. Now I'm getting more calls, this time from Ohio number.

I would send them a cease and desist letter, since it's not your debt.

I've considered that, as well as validation request, however upon further consideration I decided to wait until I get a clearer picture. My first name is very common, I'm not sure they ever mentioned last name, it could be just a coincidence. I'm concerned that if I send a letter they'll just use it to update their files, causing more trouble.

I have a debt with Sonic Payday (1858.) It is now with UF. I sent a Validation request after first being notified and had a reply today. It is a copy of my loan note, etc. It does not show any payments that were made - only the original note. Is this all they needed to send? I had asked for proof that they were licensed, but did not receive anything. What should I do next? I do not have the total amount to pay them and do not want to be taken to court. I am afraid to call them - have heard so much about the company that I hate the thought of talking to them. I have an account with credit counseling - do you think they could add the UF debt?