ONTARIO LAW FIRM ALLEGEDLY SENDS BOGUS COLLECTION LETTERS

We sent out this press release to warn people that they may receive an demand letter from Natale Law Office and also give them some tips to determine if the demand letter is indeed real.

PRESS RELEASE
Regina, SK March 29, 2007
For more information please contact:
Monty Loree, (306) 949-9511

ONTARIO LAW FIRM ALLEGEDLY SENDS BOGUS COLLECTION LETTERS
Natales Law Office, based in Ontario, has allegedly been sending out bogus demand collection letters to its collection list. This allegation from the Canadian Money Advisor?s website, http://www.canadian-money-advisor.ca (the site).

According to the website in early March 2007, unhappy postings began to appear stating collection lawyer Deanna Natale and her law firm were sending out bogus demand letters. (Refer to: http://www.canadian-money-advisor.ca/threadview/457.html)

The demand letters were form letters which included the person's correct name and address, but were demanding payment from creditor companies and dollar amounts that the site's visitors weren't familiar with.

Both surprised and frightened by these letters, the blog visitors were curious how the law firm both acquired their personal information, as well as why a law firm would send them collection demand letters.

One week after the initial post, the Canadian Money Advisor?s website's traffic logs indicated hundreds of visitors with the same concern. People desperate to find out information searched by the keywords, "Deanna Natale", and "Natale Law Office", on various search engines such as google.com, msn.com, and yahoo.com.

This suggested that the problem might be wide spread across Canada.

TOP FOUR TIPS TO DETERMINE A BOGUS LETTER OF DEMAND

On it?s site, Canadian Money Advisor recommends the public answer the following questions to determine a bogus demand letter:
1. Is the creditor in question a company you've dealt with previously and with whom you've had a legal agreement?
2. Is the amount of the debt being claimed familiar to you?
3. Is the law firm legally and contractually authorized to collect a debt on behalf of the creditor?
4. If the creditor is a company with which you've dealt in the past, is your account with them paid up to date and current?
WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE A "BOGUS" OR UNFAMILIAR DEMAND LETTER FROM A LAW FIRM

Canadian Money Advisor recommends what to do when a collection demand letter ends up in your mailbox.
1. Contact the lawyers office and ask them for name of the creditor they represent.
2. Ask the lawyer for a copy of the contract that allegedly created the debt. This contract would have your original signature on it. (In most cases).
3. Contact the Law Society in your province and ask if there have been similar complaints about this law firm.
4. Contact your local provincial Justice Department - Consumer Protection department and ask for their advice as to how to deal with this creditor's actions.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A BOGUS DEMAND LETTER
The public may or may not want to contact the following organizations to make other people aware of the problem.
1. Better Business Bureau - Visit: http://search.bbb.org
2. PhoneBusters - which is the anti-fraud call center run by the RCMP. Visit: http://www.phonebusters.com
3. You local Law Society which will have a complaint department to deal with these issues. Each province Law Society is listed on the site: http://canadian-money-advisor.ca/credit-complaint-resources.html
About Canadian Money Advisor

Canadian Money Advisor was established in 2005 as a financial forum / blog web site where Canadians can talk about their experiences in dealing with collection agencies, credit bureaus, creditors and many other financial industries in Canada. The site helps people better understand their contractual and legal relationship, in layman's terms, with the credit related companies they deal with.

SITE USAGE DISCLAIMER:
The information on the site is meant as a guide for people at the beginning learning stages about their personal credit matters. As there are no lawyers or legally trained staff who administer the website, site staff recommend that visitors always contact the proper authorities for further consultation and advice on any legal matters.

Notes for editors:
For more information phone:
Monty Loree - Site Administrator
HomeGrown Advertising Inc (1994)
PH: 306-949-9511

Or visit:
http://www.canadian-money-advisor.ca/contact.html

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9 Comments
On Sep 25, 2009, rorry Said:
Her law firm also leaves harassing and questionable phone messages to hundreds of people. 1-2 times a day. Not leaving who they are calling for, only that they have sent legal documents (which have not been received) and that you have to phone them back immediately. But when you call them back they don't have any of your information and start asking you for your personal information. Could you do a press release on her offices bogus telephone calls>?
On Sep 15, 2007, Monty Loree Said:
If you're having problems with lawyers scam letters in Canada or any other type of scam, we want to know about it.. We're trying to help educated Canadians as to what's out in the market place.
On Apr 4, 2007, Brenda Said:
Hi there: I also recieved a BOGUS letter from "Natale" With a draft letter.. I called the creditor in question... and they in turn informed me that my 'bill' was not even with "Natale" ! How the hell did Natale get my information and what i owed is my question? Parasites they are !
On Apr 2, 2007, montyloree Said:
Hey erin, That's the idea... A lawyer uses all the muscle they can to collect... We need to use all the muscle and research we can to stay in control of the situation. Let us know how it goes with Deanna Natale!
On Apr 2, 2007, erin Said:
Unreal i just recieved the Natale letter called her office when i said my lawyer would call they got scared...unreal they have messed with the wrong person Erin Brokovich
On Apr 1, 2007, Monty Loree Said:
Complainer Hater, See my posts.. Get a life and stop complaining yourself.
On Mar 31, 2007, Complainer Hater Said:
What a bunch of losers. Pay your bills and stop whining. I hope every lawyer sues your ass all over the place. Let me say it another way. Pay your bills and stop complaining. I hate sites like this. You're a cancer in this country. Sites like this help people to not pay their bills. You're a sick sick site. I hope that this natale lawyer sues your ass to the ground. I hope she takes you for everything you own. That would serve you right for visiting this stupid dumbass site. Here it is again, pay your bills and shut up!
On Mar 31, 2007, Mary Dawkins Said:
I saw the press release info as well. It's pretty gutsy to stand up to a law firm, and I'm glad this site is doing that.
On Mar 31, 2007, A Doe Said:
Thanks for the info.. I received one of these letters recently. I was just doing some research on my day off to see what to do about it. I'm surprised to see so many other people with the same problem with natale law Office.