How to Stop Collection by Universal Fidelity for Hollywood Video Movie Gallery

Dear Steve,

I received this debt collection notice. I don’t owe them anything. This is a fictitious debt. I posted on your website and you asked a previous poster for a copy of the letter. I found this [stipulation order].

It has an address for Hollywood video in Tigard, Oregon. The attorney general from my state of WA is on it.

I believe it says they can no longer collect from people. I believe this is may be a phishing scheme for credit card numbers (you can pay that way with their payment coupon) or it may be a phishing scam for cell phone numbers because they ask for that also.

I got no answer at the phone number. I may alert my CC banks that this may abe a potential identity theft scheme. There are more complaints written today (I got my letter today also!) here.

Please contact me with what you find out.
Thanks for helping us

Answer

Thank you for providing a link to the stipulation agreement. As I read it the agreement does say that the owner of the debt may pursue the continued collection of valid Customer Accounts.

But it also says that “Any collection agency utilized by the Trust to collect Customer Accounts shall also expressly agree that its employees and/or agents will not state, suggest, imply or otherwise represent to any customer that their failure or refusal to pay the Customer Account could result in adverse credit reporting by the Trust or by the collection agency.”

Additionally, “The Trustee agrees that, in connection with any further efforts to collect the Customer Accounts, there shall be no collection fees or interest charges imposed on or added to the principal amounts owed by consumers on any of the Customer Accounts.”

And there is the statement that does seem to stop collections until the debt is verified.

Disputed Late Fees or Product Charges. With respect to any individual consumer who has complained or does complain to the offices or agencies of any state, the Better Business Bureau, the Trustee or the Trustee’s agents, specifically contending that no late fees or Product Charges were due, and so long as such complaint has first been provided to the Trustee, the Trust agrees that it will undertake no further collection efforts with respect to that Customer Account without first completing a review of the Debtor’s business records and concluding, based on such investigation, that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that such late fees and/or Product Charges are in fact due and owing in accordance with the contractual terms applicable to the customer. Upon the request of the Attorney General or other appropriate office or agency with jurisdiction over any such customer’s complaint, the Trust will share the results of its aforementioned investigation with such office or agency, subject to such confidentiality restrictions as may be required by law, prior to authorizing CCS, NCS and/or any other third party collection firm retained by the Trust to resume collecting the Customer Account.

The agreement says that the trustee can be reached at:

Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery Customer Service
c/o Mr. Ryan Storfa
7405 Southwest Tech Center Drive, Suite 130
Tigard, Oregon 97223
Email: [email protected]

How to Stop Collection by Universal Fidelity for Hollywood Video Movie Gallery Universal Fidelity Hollywood Video Movie Gallery universal fidelity scam reporter debt articles

If You Are Contacted by a Collection Agency

If you are contacted by a collection agency that is trying to collect on old Hollywood Video debt, please contact the trustee above by email or preferably some sort of mail that provides you with a proof of receipt.

You may elect to use the following procedure to do that.

Debt Collector Cease and Desist Communication Letter

Send the following letter cease and desist communications letter to the debt collector contacting you. Be aware, this letter is only effective on third-party debt collectors and not the debt owner. Also, if you shut off communications it can lead to you being sued sooner since the collector still has that option following receipt of this letter.

Your Name
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Debt Collector’s Name
Address
City, State Zip

Re: Account Number

Dear

According to my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act I am formally requesting that you cease all communications with me or anyone else involved.

“If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt.”

You may consider this letter as my formal notification.

If you do not comply I will file a public complaint with the public consumer complaint database at http://getoutofdebt.org/scam-reporter/ and with state and federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and my Attorney General.

If you are unable to comply with this request I will find a local consumer FDCPA attorney to represent me from http://naca.net, the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Send the letter by certified mail, return receipt requested.

The postcard you get back, like the one below, will show the name of the company you sent it to, a signature of who signed for it and when they got it.

How to Stop Collection by Universal Fidelity for Hollywood Video Movie Gallery Universal Fidelity Hollywood Video Movie Gallery universal fidelity scam reporter debt articles

Staple the return postcard to a copy of the letter you sent and put it in a safe place with your other important papers. You may need this later.

If you receive any further telephone calls or messages, keep a log of who called about the debt in question, when they called, and what they said. Keep all written communications they may send about this debt as well.

Here is a sample of a collection letter sent to a consumer for Hollywood Video debts by Universal Fidelity.

How to Stop Collection by Universal Fidelity for Hollywood Video Movie Gallery Universal Fidelity Hollywood Video Movie Gallery universal fidelity scam reporter debt articles
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  • Barbj

    Steve:  What can we do if we paid the debt to Universal Fidelity, LP?  Guess I better chalk it up to stupidity and close my credit card.  Can I get my money back? 

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      How much did you pay and how much time do you want to invest in fighting to get it back?

  • Kristen

    I
    am am a California attorney. My law firm, Gutride Safier LLP
    (www.gutridesafier.com) filed a class action against West Bay for these tactics.  I am interested in speaking with other victims.  Please contact me at [email protected]. Thanks in advance. 

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      Please keep us all posted on your progress on this. Thanks.

  • Outraged1811

    Steve,
    Thanks for the sound advice. As a Federal Agent I should have known better when I got this letter outlining unpaid fees from July 2009.  I went to the website and attempted to pay in an effort to protect my credit, and before I read the comments here.  Unfortunately, Universal Fidelity’s website pretended to display an error code after I entered my payment information, and subsequently billed my credit card $81.06 four successive times.  I have used the above form letter, and included language that I am forwarding this information to my peers at the United States Postal Inspection Service and United States Secret Service for violations of Title 18 USC 1343 (Wire Fraud) and Title 18 USC 63 (Mail Fraud).  Good luck to all who post here in eradicating this nuisance.

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      How ironic you got billed four times. Please keep us posted on what happens.

  • Sdegelbeck

    Like many of you, I received notice of debt collection on behalf of Hollywood video in the amount of $ 23.53.  The rentals allegedly were from March 2009, June 2009 and March 2010.  I used to rent from Hollywood, but always returned on time or paid the late fees.
    I plan on calling the number listed, then filing a complant with the State of Utah, Consumer Protection Services.   Any  advice?

  • Traci

    I just received a letter in the mail today sayiing I owe $68.25 from Universal Fidelity, LP debt collector for Hollywood Video. We decided to check them out on line and found many people with the same complaint.  I didn’t rent these movies!  My plan is to contact the Trustee and dispute the debt. 

  • IrateConsumer

    According to Universal Fidelity LP’s website, the Hollywood Video accounts “…have not and will not be reported to the credit bureaus.”  The jerks at their call center are just on power trips and use scare tactics by making empty threats.  The jerk we talked to also told us he could not provide proof.  According to the collection letter, you can make a request in writing for verification of the debt.  You can also do this from their website. You will get no where talking to anyone at the call center. It’s best to communicate via certified letter or email so that everything is documented. 

  • Robert

    Can you say “Class Action” for “Emotional Distress”

  • ag

    I received one of these letters from University Fidelity, LP also collecting on behalf of Hollywood Video. In ”my” account number they have my driver’s license number, but there is one incorrect digit in it. Did I rent these movies? I have no idea it’s been so long.

  • Cubanlatino

    I received the same letter saying i owe 25.74 and it was in 2009. The crazy thing is when i called them and asked that they need to provide me with proof ,they said they didnt have any.  How can you collect a debt without providing proof.  When i loged in there system it had my cell # but it didnt have the correct area code. I also moved 2 years ago. no sure how they got my info.

  • Chris

    I really need help.  I got the same letter from Universal Fidelty this week stating that I owe money to Hollywood Video. The problem is, I paid another agency..”National Credit Solutions” for the same videos almost 2 years ago!!

  • Kelly Crews

    I received the same letter and I had power play they still owed me movies when they closed and tried to charge me for power play after they closed and I could not even access their movies

    • victim

      I received the same letter on February 25, 2012.  I’m almost 60 and this is the first time in my life anything like this has happened to me.  It’s a shame we all have to contend with this.  If these people would put equal effort into earning an honest living, they might amount to something.  I’ve notified the Attorney General’s Office in Oregon.  I’m hoping it all just goes away – but will take whatever remedial action the Attorney General recommends.

  • Oaktree

    I just received a letter from TX saying I owed $39.98, which I DO NOT OWE.  I truly believe this is a scam to get credit card numbers and to harass.

  • Mom

    Thank you for this information. My son just received this exact invoice for DVD’s rented in 2009 and 2010 so they claim. I will call the Attny General office in WA on Tuesday as this feels like a scam. With Hollywood Video closed who can indeed verify that these 3 DVD’s were actually turned in then not scanned back into their data base or that an employee decided to pocket DVD’s then dinging the customer. Thank you for this information. After trying to log-in to the website provided, this makes me feel stronger that it is a scam as oddly it doesn’t seem to exisit.

  • Holly Amos

    I am a former employee of Hollywood Video. I worked for them for six years and managed a store for three until they closed my location in November of 2009. I received a letter from a collection agency based in Rhode Island called West Bay Acquisitions, LLC stating I owed $27 for five movies rented in 2009. The irony is that employee accounts had to have a balance of zero in order to be rented on. Three of the rentals are from March and two are from October. In order to have rented the October items, the March ones had to have been paid off. We were allowed to have three items rented out at one time for free, but if they were returned after the five day period, they did incur a late charge. Did I rent the items in question? Yes, I recognize them all. Were they late? Maybe, but they would have had to be paid off in order to continue using my employee account. I called the collection agency and they treated me as if I were a customer even after I told them I had been a manager for three years, then hung up on me. I reported it to the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and the CA Attorney General. The BBB sent my complaint to them and they responded saying they’ll cease trying to collect from me, close my account, and not report it to any credit agencies (I checked all three reports and it DOES pop up on TransUnion as an inquiry). My ordeal is seemingly over, but I am still highly irritated on behalf of former employees and customers receiving notices. West Bay stated in their response to my complaint via the BBB that “all debts are valid.” It is literally impossible for mine to have been valid, so I know the majority of these debts are probably the result of people who have gotten a hold of account information drawing names from a hat and attempting to extort money from innocent people.

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      Thanks for the insight. A great example of bogus debt validation.

  • Josecoastline

    I received a similar collection letter from A.R.M. in behalf of Hollywood Video.  To begin with they were very rude (typical) and could not even provide me with accurate information of what they are collecting for.  

    My scenario is as follows:
    in late 2009 i had no idea hollywood video would going out of business.  I opened  a new account with them in Nov. rented 3 movies only once and when i went back to return them, the hollywood video was no longer in business in my town. there was a hand written note to contact a diff. store in a town 25 miles away for farther instructions.  I called and they had no idea what i should do and told me just to keep my videos. 

    Now 3 yrs down the road i receive a collection letter from ARM without any prior notices from Hollywood video attempting to collect this alleged out standing debt.  When i called i was harassed and badgered to pay the debt or it would reflect on my credit. I explained to her my story and I told her i was just investigating the debt and needed more information.  I asked the nature of the dept and she told me it was for late fees. She seemed to have inaccurate information as to when the store closed and accused me of keeping 3 videos for a month prior to the store closing (not true).  She also let me know that I had received notice that the store was closing (very untrue). I asked how is that was possible being a new account and that this had been my first and only time ive ever rented from hollywood video.  She also informed me that hollywood video had made several attempts to contact me prior to sending my account to collections (also not true). I asked if i could challenge the dept.  She replied told me: that because of what i stated in our conversation and the nature of my complaint that there would be no point in doing so. I also asked if i could contact the trustee directly and she stated that i was no longer able to directly contact hollywood video or its trustee and that all business concerning my dept had to be resolved though ARM . to make a long story short the conversation escalated and she actually hung up on me.  I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor.  I was then transferred to what i believe was the same person who didn’t even give me her name she just stated she was a supervisor. I played along and continued to repeat what i had just told her before followed with a compliant on her staffs lack of professionalism.  The “supervisor” then insisted that i was not told that the dept was for late fees that it was for the actual videos.  She then insisted that  i pay the dept and when I refused hung up on me as well.  

    DO I HAVE A VALID REASON TO COMPLAIN TO MY AG?
    I have since called the Federal Trade Commission to find out more about my legal rights.. but they are very vague as to what i should do. I am taking the advice on an earlier post saying to contact the trustee with my complaint and to request verification and investigation of the dept in question.I am filing a dispute with AMS and requesting verification of the debt from them as well. 

    Ive read the stipulation and it is my understanding that they are not allowed to report negatively to any credit agency about any failure/refusal to pay on this debt.
    IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE STIPULATION CORRECT?  

  • Lpmagdoza

    I have received the same thing that I owe them $117.96 for X360 games and Transformer DVD incurred in 2009 and early 2010.  I am in my 50′s and never played electronic games nor watch Transformer DVD. My son used to work for HV and was an employee of the month at that. He
    was one of the last few employees who stayed till the last day to help
    with inventory. He was not only surprised but found it ridiculous because there was no way that he would not have known of these fees if it were true. It cannot be his because he would not have been able to rent anything else unless he paid off late fees but again he was never late in returning what he borrowed because he worked there!
    I called several times the no. 2816474152 as advised in the letter for further information and assistance but all I got was a repeated recording. Finally on the fifth try a woman answered who did not identify herself nor gave her name when asked. She was not only of no help but was rude and angry. When I question the letter she literally hung up on me!

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      How ironic. Great insight.

  • Hill

    Thank you for this information Steve.  I was stunned when I received the letter in the mail from the collection agency.  I had worked for the company during the time period that they said I had these late fees.  It is impossible due to the fact that as employees we couldn’t rent anything if we had even $.01 of a late fine.  There is no way I’m paying something I don’t owe, and they better not affect my credit or they will see me in court!  So hopefully writing this letter will resolve this issue.

  • Traci S.

    We have also recieved the same letter wanting us to pay $179.09. We too were suprised that they are saying we owe this debt as we did pay our late fees if we had them-and we turned in all the movies they have listed. How did they get this information if it is not legit? We do not owe anything to Hollywood Video and have tried to call the number listed to speak to a rep but no one answers the phone. We googled this subject and there are alot of people receiving these letters. Its good to know we are not alone, and we are trying to get this resolved to no apparent avail as of yet.

    Thank you,
    Traci S.
    Vancouver, WA

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      Traci,

      If you follow the advice in the article and comments I think that will take care of this for you.

      How did the get the data, just a bad data dump from a bankrupt company.

    • Cathy of WA

      I took Zaf’s route and called 281-647-4100. She was the third custome rservice I was sent to when I asked for UF.  Third was a pleasant woman asked for the EDP number and what was the reason for my dispute.  I said I am over 60 and I did’t rent “Son of Rambow”.  If I did I returned it on time.  She said she noted that as the reason for my dispute and that she would “Close the Account”  I asked her to explain exactly what that meant.  She said that she would send my dispute info to HV and tell them UF is closing the account.  UF will not be contacting me again.  She said that HV will take me off the list of people who owe them.  I also got her first and last name.  I did check my credit report with experian and they have not put anything on it.

  • Cathy of WA

    Thanks for the post and the interpretation of the bankruptcy stipulation.  So, my letter is not from NCS or CCS but appears to be a collection agency that has come in after them.  I filed with the Attorney General with my state.  I tried the phone number they gave twice for 5 minutes each and got no ‘available representative’.  It appears to me from the info in the grey area that I may need to send the company a letter requesting validation of the debt.  I checked my credit report and they have not put anything on it so far.

  • Carol WA state

    I got the exact same thing on the 23rd saying that I owe $32.86.  Our Hollywood Video would always ask when you rented a movie if you wanted to pay your late fees. We always paid it right then because we’re honorable people. But after they ask you once and you don’t pay the late fees then you couldn’t rent another movie until it was paid.  I’m glad I found this site. It looks like you all have this covered. Should I just hold on to this and see what happens or ?  I’m in Washington state.
    Thaks for what you all do! 

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      You are welcome.

      I know it’s only a $32.86 debt but if it was me, I’d take the time to contact the Trustee and dispute the debt. Better to end this now than let it linger and build.

      Steve

    • Cathy of WA

      I took Zaf’s route and called 281-647-4100. She was the third custome rservice I was sent to when I asked for UF.  Third was a pleasant woman asked for the EDP number and what was the reason for my dispute.  I said I am over 60 and I did’t rent “Son of Rambow”.  If I did I returned it on time.  She said she noted that as the reason for my dispute and that she would “Close the Account”  I asked her to explain exactly what that meant.  She said that she would send my dispute info to HV and tell them UF is closing the account.  UF will not be contacting me again.  She said that HV will take me off the list of people who owe them.  I also got her first and last name.  I did check my credit report with experian and they have not put anything on it.

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