Meridian Collection Agency

Victim Location 72904

Type of a scam Debt Collections

A gentleman who claimed to be "Michael Adams" said that he was a courier through a collection agency. He said he was unable to give me any information himself because he didn’t have access to it, and instead gave me a phone number to call: (888) 383-1793, to find out more information about my case and why I was being sued. This Michael Adams claimed that I had the next four hours to contact the given number or I would automatically be sued. I proceeded to call this number and spoke with "Nathan Foster." He claimed to be a collection agent for the Meridian Company, and said that I was being sued for a medical bill through a local hospital. He used my maiden name, although I have been married for 9 years. He also claimed to have tried to send me a summons twice through a mailing address that I have not resided in for 3-4 years (note: he kept repeating "and you never once received a summons or were served papers?"). The hospital through which I was claiming to be sued has all of my current information. He insisted that if I did not take care of this debt today, within the next hour, I would be taken to court. He did have the last four digits of my social security number, which he read out to me. When I offered to give him my current address in order to receive this information directly through the mail, he repeatedly redirected the conversation and would not accept my address. He refused to give me the address of the company he claimed to work through when I asked for it. And when I offered to pay by money order because I do not have a bank account or debit card, he refused the money order, suggesting that I go to Walmart and get a prepaid debit card. He claimed that I owed $1779.27, including late fees, that he would accept in 12 monthly payments, but after "talking to his supervisors" he offered to reduce the amount to only one payment of $413.69. After explaining to him that I did not have enough money to pay him anything today, he gave me the number: (951) 306-1251, told me it was his personal line, and claimed that I had to contact him within the next 24 hours in order to make a payment. He kept insisting that I ask friends and family members for the $413 fee and have it ready by tomorrow. And if I couldn’t have it ready by tomorrow, then I should have enough money by tomorrow to begin monthly payments.