National Recovery Group (Geroge Dodd)

[ihatect]

If you are having problems with this company, please document them here.

In my case, they are attempting to collect invalid debt (my vehicle was registered in another state during the periods that they are attempting to collect for).

This case is similar to many others. The Town of New Milford, CT never sent a bill (I lived there less than a year) and now they are attempting to collect taxes, fees, interest, etc. from this collection agency 8 years after the bill.

If you share a similar experience, please document it here.

[turkscaico]

I just received 2 letters from this company today also representing New Milford, CT. They claim I owe taxes from 13 years ago on vehicles. I called National Recovery and they are stating this is all legal...they can not only state I owe these taxes but also add fees and interest. I have lived 30 miles outside of New Milford for 13 years. National Recovery states they couldn't find me (for 13 years???). I asked them what I could do to resolve this and they said if I have no proof, I will need a lawyer. Any ideas...I contacted the bank for checks and nothing. Contacted my tax person and they don't keep returns for 13 years (thought it would show I paid the tax). This is making me sick as I have great credit and have never been contacted by a collection agency. How can New Milford, CT do this and get away with it???

[AnnoyedGuy]

I have almost the exact same issue with New Milford (a 12 year old debt that I didn't know existed until this month). There is another longer thread on this subject: http://www.thelaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3528

We need to all get together and share what is going on and any possible management stragegies.

[holiday8]

I have been receiving letters from this company, American National Recovery Group, Inc, since May of this year. I responded with a letter , sent registered mail, informing them that I disputed the debt, and for them to provide proof that it was valid. They ignored the letter, and sent out another one last month, indicating that I never responded. As previous posters have noted, the time frame for this alleged debt occurred after I had left CT. My car was repossessed, because I became to ill to work. I am currently disabled. There is no way that I owe taxes for a time in which I no longer resided in CT, nor for a car that was not in that state on the due date of this bill.

[nhbound]

I received a letter from this collection agency, as well. It stated I owed taxes from my time in CT back in the mid 1990s. I did some sleuthing and found meeting minutes from this past summer for the town in question approving the use of this collection agency in an obvious attempt to collect on alleged past due taxes. So, it appears this collection agency is legit. My reaction? Big deal.

Here's my take on the whole thing. It's tough times these days for town governments. Increased costs. Limited tax base. They're probably having a whale of a time managing a budget and raising taxes is, at best, a worst case scenario. So a trend has developed recently. Towns are now contracting with collection agencies to shake people down.

The hope is people will cower and send in money upon receipt of a letter from a collection agency (you'd be surprised how many do this). These towns really don't expect to recoup all the money they're seeking. Heck, even if 25-50% of the recipients of these letters pay all or part of their alleged liability, it's worth it. For every dollar received, this collection agency gets 35 cents while the town gets 65 cents. That's worth the price of a couple of stamps, you dig?

My time in CT was quite abbreviated. The alleged past due amount is ridiculously high. So my reaction was to write this collection agency (I paid with a stamp... not certified... not priority mail) telling them in a very nice way to %$#&! off. I suggest you do the same. These towns don't have the time, the money or the resources to take you to court. As stated above, they're just looking for easy money. The rest they'll just write off.

As an fyi, the statute of limitations on this sort of thing is fifteen years. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't pursue you from that point on. So hang tight, use the letters from this collection agency for toilet paper and hold onto your money which I am quite sure is well earned. These crummy little towns offering rotten services can go pound tar. 'Nuff said.

[tj2000]

I got the same thing - I wrote them this...


Peter X. XXXX
9999 Preston Avenue
XXXXXX, VA 21900

January 14th 2008

Dear Mr. Dodd,

I was a little surprised to receive your letter referencing account # XXXX-19XXXXXX. I fully dispute the debt of $2,097.93 or any portion thereof. There are a number of reasons for this detailed below:

1. I never owned a 1993 Audi 100 in the Town of Greenwich.
2. The spelling of “Peter XXXXX” is not me. My last name has two “XX’s” and one “Y.”
3. I never lived in Greenwich in 1996 or 1997.

Has this incorrect collection attempt damaged my credit score in any way? Please consider this letter as proof of a response that I fully dispute your attempt to collect this debt. I would also request of your office the name and address of the original creditor, verification of the debt and a copy of a judgment from 12 years ago. I would like to see that this collection activity is taken care of in a quick efficient matter.

Sincerely,



Peter

[Mercator]

I've read most of the postings on this thread and others with much interest.

My wife and I have also recently been contacted by the captioned collection agency claiming 1991-1993 CT taxes on cars we NEVER owned, never mind that we have not resided in Connecticut for over a decade. The whole thing is outrageous, to say the least.

I would strongly recommend that everyone on this thread contact Lou Dobbs at CNN, "20/20" and "60 Minutes". This is a great example of cash strapped municipalities trying to rip-off consumers / former residents, and I'm certain that all of the above news shows would be very interested in this story. What Connecticut is doing is the equivalent of a legalized scam.

[Brendadale]

I moved out of CT in 1995 and I was just contacted by American National Recovery Group about a property tax on a car that I sold in 1994 and owned in Old Greenwich, CT. I am told that the Town of Greenwich has turned all of these supposed taxes due to this agency. I even paid property tax on a car that I owned in CT AFTER that car and they are telling me that I haven't paid the prior tax. I have searched all over for information - I called the DMV and all my insurance agencies and no one has any records that far back and neither do I. This agency is telling me that I must prove that I paid this tax or else it will be reported to all credit agencies. The tax was originally $137.78 and I am told that I now owe over $500.

I was even told by the Town of Greenwich Tax Office to ignore this unless I plan to move back to CT before the 15 year statute of limitations expires.

If anyone wants to contact Lou Dobbs at CNN or "Shame on You", please write and we can all get together. Does a Town or Municipality have the right to turn this over to a collection agency? Do we have any rights? How can we prove we paid this bill? How could we have paid a property tax on a car after the one in question if we owed a prior tax? How could we have registered the car without all prior taxes being paid?

I cannot afford to pay over $500 and I cannot afford to have my credit report compromised. I am furious and plan to contact every state representative in both CT and NY to find out what to do. Any suggestions?

[Scooterdog]

You must demand a cetification of debt

I have my papers on a "bad check" that a 3rd pary "bought", it isn't legal. PM me if you need more info. I beat that case as well. These types of debt are BS.

[Brendadale]

Who do we demand a certification of debt from?

[nhbound]

Brenda, didn't you even read my post above? I don't know why you are fretting over this. They're trying to scare you into paying them some cash and apparently it's working. I can hear the desperation in your post.

Here's what apparently has happened. Towns have turned debt collection over to this Dodd agency in an effort to recoup some old money to help balance the local budget. Dodd sends out tons of letters. The idea is to scare people into paying something they think they owe. The town gets most of the money and Dodd gets its share. The thing to note is Dodd doesn't see a penny until they recoup cash from people.

Both the state and Dodd are looking for 'easy money', the money they can get from nervous nellies who fold like accordians when someone threatens to hit their credit. Don't become a victim. I think you're worrying way too much over this and I wouldn't pay Dodd one red cent. Write them a letter just for the record stating in a very nice way that they can take a long walk off a short pier.

[TDDian]

Luckily I found this post, I have also received 2 letters recently from George Dodd telling me im late on payments to the town of Putnam CT. The weird part about this was they are claiming I owe money for the car I had. I never registered the car in CT, I am a NY resident stationed here in CT, but when I bought the car I was stationed in NH...So now i'm going to tell eveyone I know to beware of this scam.
I contacted the BBB and asked them if they have ever heard of this, but no reply yet.

[chrishk]

When Connecticut sends out a personal property tax bill is it "in arrears" or is it billed in advance? My problem is with the town of Seymour and the bill is for just after I moved and the year after.
It's been so long since I lived there, I've forgotten. I have receipts from the moving van company I hired for my move that proves when my furniture and stuff arrived in my new state, but I can't find tax law info that clarifies what the time period for the bill is.

What I have done, is contact Senators from my State of residence (Oregon) and told his office about this tax scam. They have asked that I gather this information and they are going to help me. They also want to know if any other Oregonians are going through this. I told him about the websites I've found like this one - looks like Ct is the only state out there harassing former residents for local and state taxes.

[1974z28]

Count me in, I got the same letter.

From 1996-1997 I went to DMV and they have no records of the car be registered and my insurance company has no records either. I will join whatever you want

[maryc]

I received the first of these letters about Oct 1 2007 and I responded to it immediately. I haven't lived in New Milford in 12 years; my ex husband had the car. To make a long story short, Dodd requires an absurd amount of documentation to contest the fees. I spoke with New Milford's tax assessor, who got defensive about the use of Dodd, and several times she told me (in a way that sounded it was a phrase she's used many times before) it was within their legal bounds to collect taxes from up to 15 yrs ago. I asked her how many bills and reminders they sent out from 1997 to 2007 to try to collect those debts and she said they were busy and short-staffed. I guess anyone can make a lot in accrued late fees if they ignore an "unpaid" bill and go in for the kill, scraping together anything they can 12 years later. I also spoke with the tax collector. Both seemed sympathetic to my situation, but acted like it was with Dodd now.

[maryc]

You must demand a cetification of debt

I have my papers on a "bad check" that a 3rd pary "bought", it isn't legal. PM me if you need more info. I beat that case as well. These types of debt are BS.

Scooterdog, can you please explain? What is a certification of debt?

And saying I did owe this money (which I don't), would it be legal to just contact the town and bargain a cents on the dollar settlement? Because they're losing a lot of money to George Dodd.

[1974z28]

I am following this thread closley. SO nobody has beat this? It is funny how all of a sudden this guy comes out of nowhere with what seems like all "debts" that are so old it is difficult to find proof.

[nhbound]

Scooterdog, can you please explain? What is a certification of debt?

And saying I did owe this money (which I don't), would it be legal to just contact the town and bargain a cents on the dollar settlement? Because they're losing a lot of money to George Dodd.

Mary, I believe what scooterdog is referring to is a legal judgment that you owe the money in question. In order to get this, a court hearing must take place and a judge has to rule in favor of the plaintiff. When this happens, the debt has officially been 'certified'. The resulting document can then be presented as proof of debt.

By law, nothing can appear on your credit report unless a judgment has officially been validated by a judge. However, there are creditors out there who bypass this formality and hit your credit anyway because it costs them money to get a judgment. They'll just hit someone's credit because they know the masses out there don't know their rights because they're too busy watching a ballgame or American Idol to do a little research. They see something on their credit, they wet their pants and they immediately go running for the checkbook.

Years ago, I lived in Ohio and rented a townhouse from a company that owned the entire development. I ended up returning to New England and the company in question tried to hit me with repainting, rerenting and other miscellaneous fees. I told them to go take a hike. They got only the money owed to them. These bogus fees came to around $600. They hit my credit for that amount.

When I noticed that this happened, I contacted all three major credit reporting agencies and asked them to demand proof of that debt. Most states (Ohio included) already had laws on the books rendering such fees invalid and I sent the Ohio legal precedents to the credit reporting agencies to support my claim that the debt was invalid. I knew the company never got a judgment against me. All I needed was the credit reporting agencies on my side. And I was vindicated.

As I recall, it took a couple of months but, in the end, that negative hit came off all my credit reports. It's a liberating feeling when you can take your legal foot and put it up some company's @ss.

As for negotiating with the town in question for a 'cents on the dollar' settlement, I have no idea why you would even bother to do that Mary but, for your information, the town has already signed a contract in which all debt collection will be performed by Dodd. They probably couldn't negotiate a better deal with you even if they wanted to as it would be a breach of contract.

Also, they'll sense weakness and simply direct you to Dodd with a pleasant little smile on their face. I hope you'll show some backbone and not allow yourself to become a victim. Everytime someone does that, I can hear P.T. Barnum snickering from his grave.

[chrishk]

I just received my second communication from Geo and he informs me that taxes being a soverign fee created by Federal or State entities are not relared to goods or services for the individual but to the communal need and therefor not subject to the FDPCA and is not a debt covered by the definition in Section 803 part #5. In other word they are refusing to validate the tax debt. Is this true? Because I've found old bank statements (thank heaven I'm a paper packrat!) that show payments made to the Town of Seymour just before I moved in 2000, but I need the original billing amount to determine if this bill has already been paid. Where can I get legal information that covers debt verification as realated to town taxes? As for the taxes thry're trying to get me for 2001, I did not live in CT then and have my moving van documents and, again, bank statements showing payment to the Oregon DMV.

Connecticut IS the 5th ring of hell!

[NancyB]

Just got a letter for my husband's truck. He lived in Plainville for 4 years. Now they are asking for the 2 years after he moved.

The years are 2003 & 2003 so we shouldn't have as much trouble with the 'proof' as others on this thread, but wanted to add to the discussion since they seem to be shifting to newer non-debt.

[chrishk]

You're right that it makes finding proof easier, but Dodd doesn't seem to care and nothing people provide seems good enough. I haven't sent them copies of anything,(I don't want to give them ANY personal info they can use against me such as ssn or work address) just told them that I have it. I sent my second letter with stronger threats of lawsuit and let them know that I've discussed this with one of our Senators here and they're going to help me. I still haven't heard anything back yet (I have to wait 15 days, which will be up after one more week) then I'll send a cease and desist letter with a deposition. If they don't remove me from their list and send me proof that they've done it, I'll talk to my lawyer about bringing lawsuit for not validating/verifying the debt and defamation of character.

Good luck - don't give in fight them with everything you've got!

[dzirbel]

I paid this for my husband who argued with Dodd about it and now we received another letter 5 months later.

I just got done chewing out New Milford for this. I can't reach Dodd at any numbers give.

When I looked back at the transaction from the payment....strangely there is no info on that line item. I'm calling my bank now to get copies of the documentation and then I'm going after him.

I need advice. What is the 1st thing I should do????

[dave5454]

I also received a fun letter from Mr. Dodd! But for me, this all started one year ago when the town of Branford, CT claimed my wife owed $2,300 in auto taxes from 1998 and 1999. We've been out of the state since 1998, but they claim we never returned our license plates on time and have been accumulating interest ever since. Before the town gave our info to Dodd, the CT State Marshal's office sent us a letter threatening to arrest us. We're living in GA now and successfully living on the lam!

We called the town a number of times to settle this as soon as we got the letter in 2007, but we were met with the same answers that everyone else got, 1.) it's our fault even though it took the town 9 years to send us a bill, 2.) they won't negotiate with us on any of the accumulated interest, 3.) it was up to us to prove the fact that we left the state and mailed back the plates, they didn't have any other details to give us. After several calls in to the marshal with no response, I dropped it.

Now Dodd's inherited our case I guess. If we owe something, and they can document it, I'll happily pay it, but I'm not paying the 18% interest over 10 years because they couldn't reach us during the Clinton administration! I put a call into the number on Dodd's letter, which turned out to be a wrong number. I checked the web to ensure he was legit, which is when I found y'all.

Not sure what to do next. I suppose I'll sit on it until I hit the magic 15-year, statute of limitations mark (or they throw my wife in the clink)! Wish her luck!

Dave

[Brendadale]

Well, I started all this and I am so glad to hear from all of you. I just got the second letter with the final statement that Dodd has to hear from me in 20 days or else. I am going to do what some of you said to do - send a reply denying the debt and just forget about it.

The reason I am upset about this is that I am afraid it will be reported to the credit agencies and I cannot have that happen. I am at the end of a personal bankruptcy that within a year will come off my credit reports and that is why I am concerned. The letter I just got says "we may feel obligated to recommend to our client" (the Town of Greenwich) "that they report your long past due debt to the appropriate credit bureau."

So it seems that he is saying that only the Town of Greenwich can report it to the credit bureaus - Dodd told me that they would report it (meaning the American National Recovery Group).

So I guess we all agree just to ignore it? Can't we contact, as I said in my first communication, "Shame on You" or something like that to stop this ridiculous situation?

I can't prove anything since it is so long ago.

Thank you all for your responses and communications.

Brenda

[Brendadale]

I can't prove anything at all since it is so long ago.

Brenda

[nhbound]

Brenda: Ignore it. You'll survive.

[theyorkshireman]

I lived in Greenwich CT for 2 years, I left in 1999 to return to the UK. I've just had a wonderful letter, like all of you, from the friendly George Dodd. He couldn't even get my name right, he's called my by our house name!!.

He claims I owe $33.60 from 1st of July 2000.

I will be asking him for verification of the debt or a copy of the judgement - I'm curious what he'll send. I guess my concern is arriving at immigration in JFK only to be refused entry because George claims I owe $33.60.

[Brendadale]

nhbound - thanks for your reply. Should I at least send a letter as the others have saying basically XX@@### or however you say "go to hell"?

Brenda

[nhbound]

Brenda, at this point I wouldn't bother. Dodd isn't worth the cost of a stamp. I looked back in the history of this thread and you say you left CT in 1995. Let's say you owed the money as of fiscal year 1996. In a couple of years, the statute of limitations kicks in and the alleged debt is no longer collectible.

The CT AG has affirmed that the communities themselves are the only ones who can actively pursue collection of an alleged debt. They can hire a collection agency to find you and tell you what a lowdown fink you are. However, collection agencies cannot sue you and they cannot garnish your wages.

Also, from some other research that has been done, it appears the communities themselves can only report the alleged debt to a credit reporting agency within 7 years of the due date.

In Dodd's last communication with me, it used the words may and might a lot. It's a bluff.

So, Brenda, go out and enjoy the day and sweat nothing.

[georgesalajean]

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/act/Pa/2004PA-00228-R00HB-05475-PA.htm
This is a link to a law from Ct regarding the situs of a motor vehicle for tax purposes. Can someone tell me if this apply to the situation that I have right now with George Dodd?
My story: I have received a letter on April 21, 2008 with debts from 2003 and 2004, but I have moved from CT since sept 2003. Acording to the act above they can tax a motor vehicle if the state of CT is the location when the vehicle leaves and returnes more often. I have moved to Chicago in sept 2003, but I did not register the car in Illinois, then I have returned briefly in Ct in feb2004 to sell the old car and buy a new one, I have kept the same plate number(the dealer's ideea) for the new car and move for good in Chicago. They said the tax period is usually from october to october, so I probably own some $40 for 2003, but not the amount($370) for after oct 2003. I have a lease that I have moved to Chicago, I can get a letter from work stating that I was in Chicago working etc.
I have called the Town Of Wincester and spoke to a lady and she said that only the tax assessor can erase this debt if I present a lease, a registration , a bill on my name. I have also spoken with George Dodd himself and after he praised his company about collection he said that I should call him back and tell him what the outcome is with the tax. The lady found me in some files(accounts) that are also in George Dodd's letter. Would that made my debt certified?
What can I do? How do I know if this is going to go away after is settled(2005,2006, 2007 year)? Did anyone get his/her credit hit by collection from this agency? Is it right to ask for a certified debt letter? What about the law that I sent above? Does it apply to my case? Any ideas what to do?
Thank you.

[tulip64]

I have been contacted by the ANRG regarding a so called debt that I owe to the TOWN OF NEW MILFORD. The letters have started just this year of 2008! We moved from the TOWN OF NEW MILFORD in the 1993 and never recieved any bill or notice of anything owed by them. Secret service did not hide us nor did we move out of the country. We sold a truck before we left and returned the tags to the DMV. Because they do not keep records from that long ago we do not have proof to them that the tags were returned. Each time that we get a letter we also get a different amount due. Sometimes higher/sometimes lower. We have good credit and never had an issue come up such as this. We really thought we were done with Connecticut. Any thoughts?

[bugaboo]

I just received Mr. Dodd's "20-day credit bureau" letter following his "sovereign fee" letter. I called my credit monitoring service and they said taxes are collected by tax liens, not collection agencies. This guy has no discernible connection to the Town of Greenwich, no apparent legal authority to collect taxes, and apparently no original documentation of the amount owed. Therefore, I have no bill, no notice from the government entity that I owe anything, and no indication that this collection agency can validate the receipt or adequacy of any payment I might make. For all I know, this guy went dumpster diving outside Greenwich Town Hall, came up with an old computer printout, and started dialing for dollars. Therefore, as much as I would like to accommodate Mr. Dodd in his purported efforts to help the poor, impoverished Town of Greenwich collect its superannuated taxes, I feel I must refrain until I receive valid documentation that I owe any.

[chrishk]

If the "debt's" original due date is 7 years old or older they can't report it to the credit agencies at all.

[chrishk]

OK, so the 15 days has passed on my second request for debt validation/verification and not a peep from Dodd, now I'll send a cease and desist letter demanding that they remove me from their files and send proof that they've done it. Has anyone ever been reported to credit agencies over this crap? Their window of opportunity to report me closes this July 7th and I'll be watching like a hawk because I intend to bring lawsuit if they do without sending the information I asked for.

[Brendadale]

I was told by the Town of Greenwich that the original due date can be up to 15 years, not 7. I'm on 14 years so far on Dodd's claim. The Town of Greenwich said that they turned their files over to Dodd, so I don't think he found it in the trash (which is where it should be). Can we all get together and file some sort of class action lawsuit?

[chrishk]

Connecticut's statute of limitations to attempt collection is 15 years, but they can no longer report against your credit after 7 years. That is what I meant - I don't owe them a dime, I had moved out of the state and didn't live there in 2001 (Town if Seymour is trying to collect for 2000 and 2001.) I have found old bank statements that show payments to the town just prior to moving and also shows payments to the Oregon DMV and the high school I registered my son at. Just because this collection agency says that this isn't good enough proof for a judge in civil court doesn't mean its true, my lawyer and I beg to differ.

Also, I contacted an Oregon Senator about this matter and he is going to help me if necessary. When I wrote my last letter (second notice requesting validation/verification of the tax debt, I informed the collection agency of that. I told them the laws say that if they or their client report this on my credit without sending the information I've requested twice, I can and will bring lawsuit.
I have no intention of paying it - they can sit on it and rotate as far as I'm concerned.

[lincolnb]

I too received a letter from American National Recovery Group, Inc. stating that I owed hundreds of dollars in fees for a car which I registered in Florida a year before these were assessed. I thought we dealt with this with the town but evidently this company has somehow figured out how to get hold of the records and send out these notices. I can't believe this is actually legal. It seems like a good one for the NY Attorney general to investigate.

[snide]

I received my first letter April 24. I immediately wrote back requesting a copy of the judgement and today I received a letter with a photocopy of the information sheet from the CT tax office which states the statute of limitations, waiving of interest, and failure to send/receive bill.
I lived in the town of Branford, CT for a short time and then moved to Guilford. I find it difficult that they could not find me until 13 years later when I am living in Texas.
Any advice would be great.

[chrishk]

Well, I just got another letter from our favorite collection agency. The letter says as per my request this is the documentation related to tax charges. This time giving me 15 days to pay or send details of my dispute. What they've sent is not what I requested. It basically looks like a deliquent statement the agency printed up dated April 28th, 2008. The total says $1,105.54, but the agency is asking me to pay $1,269.15. The cover letter from them says the tax bill is $100.25, but the "statement" shows different amounts due plus the handwriting on the "statement" is the same as the handwriting on the letter from the agency. Time to talk to my lawyer?

[Ntech]

I have a thought for you guys on this issue. Isn't a 15 year statue of limitations unconstitutional? Consider Article 4 section 2 para. 1.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities
of Citizens in the several States.

State laws are supposed to be uniform. A 15 year statue of limitations when the civilian statue is 7 would be unconstitutional wouldn't it?

[btb838]

Peter was a little nicer in his letter.
Here is MY Sample Letter for your use...
---------------------------------------

Frank Rizzo
E 161st St
Bronx, NY 10451
Re: Account #: XXX-XXXXS88677


George Dodd
Collection Coordinator
American National Recovery Group, INC.
144 Route 59 - Suite 4
Suffern, NY 10901


June 17, 2008

Dear Mr. Dodd,

I was astonished to receive your letter referencing account # XXX-XXXXS88677. I fully dispute the debt of $1,648.64 or any portion thereof. I did not live in the state of Connecticut at any time during 1994 or 1995. Therefore, I do NOT owe any taxes to the state of Connecticut.

This letter is proof of a response that I fully dispute your attempt to collect this debt. I trust that this invalid collection attempt will not be reported to any credit bureau in any form. Should I find differently, I will seek legal remedy against you, American National Recovery Group, and the state of Connecticut. I would like to see that this collection activity is taken care of in a quick efficient matter. Any further attempts to collect this invalid tax bill will be considered harassment.

Most sincerely,



Frank Rizzo

[btb838]

George Dodd
Collection Coordinator
American National Recovery Group Inc
144 Route 59 - Suite 4
Suffern, NY 10901


Re: Account #: XXXX-XXXXX8867
Frank Rizzo
161st St
Bronx, NY 10451


June 17, 2008

Dear Mr. Dodd,

I was astonished to receive your letter referencing account # XXXX-XXXXX8867. I fully dispute the debt of $1,648.64 or any portion thereof. I did not live in the state of Connecticut at any time during 1994 or 1995. Therefore I do NOT owe any taxes to the state of Connecticut. This letter is proof of a response that I fully dispute your attempt to collect this debt.

I trust that this invalid collection attempt will not be reported to any credit bureau in any form. Should I find differently, I will seek legal remedy against you, American National Recovery Group, and the state of Connecticut. I would like to see that this collection activity is taken care of in a quick efficient matter. Any further attempts to collect this invalid tax bill will be considered harassment.

Most sincerely,



Frank Rizzo

[Pinzgauer]

same here ........

for my wife and me it was supposeltly $400.00 in back taxes and some $1,600.00 in interest after eight years! Never got any tax bill or notification.

Dodd keeps threatening to ruin our credit while never answering any demands for an account of the charges.

I contacted the CT AG Blumenthal who actually wrote back promptly. An 1860law allows for the fact that taxpayers do not have to be notified in any way for taxes due. There is a 15 year SoL in taxes. So there is nothing he can do.

I paid the Town of Greenwich in full to avoid credit problems and decided to unravel everything after. Even after I paid all claims I am still getting threatened by Dodd of $75.00 for ..... well I don't know what for, since they never gave me an account.

I contacted Greenwich directly and I just received a refund for my wife's taxes and interest (while Dodd is still threatening me!).

I will now unravel my account directly with Greenwich.

Only action that has any teeth is to contact the Westchester Dept. of Consumer Protection. They are VERY tough and will suspend business licenses. The more of us complain about Dodd the better.
Thank you

conpro@westchestergov.com

Westchester County DCP
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601

[Honest Answer]

I was contacted by Dodd twice (the second being today with a threat to go to a credit agency) regarding a car tax owed to the town of Branford in July 2000. I move to the next town over in April of 2000 and have never received a bill until now--how convenient! The original tax of about $90.00 is now over $500.00. I was going to pay until I came across this site. It sounds as though there is nothing they can do.....is this true? I have excellent credit and would hate to jeopardize that.

[imanct]

I had owned a small business in Branford up until 1997. I have just received a letter from Nation recovery stating that I owe taxes for fixtures and furniture for 1998, 1999, and 2000. To make things worse, I didn't even own the furniture or fixtures... they were all owned by the company that I leased the space from. So I just wrote to tell them to go after the actual owners of the property. Maybe they'll catch up to them in another 10 years or so!

[Debb]

Thanks so much for posting the sample letter - I've copied, pasted, edited and sent it via certified mail to our friend George Dodd. First letters arrived in March of this year, I sent proof that I not only did not live in Greenwich, CT in 1993 or 1994 but that my car was registered in the state of Massachusetts during that time. And yet the letters keep coming....

Maybe this one will finally stop them - thanks again.
DebB

[cracoon]

I started receiving letter from this group about 18 months ago regarding car taxes from CT..I moved from CT in 1999. I corresponded with them,sent them documentation,etc,and got nothing except for threatening letters every 6 months or so. Finally,having spoken with the tax collectorm in Bethany Ct,I realized that legally I did owe the taxes. I sent them a check,which was cashed by the town on 6/8/08. Yesterday i received yet another letter,stating that I had failed to respond.
These people should all be arrested for harassment

[illllm]

I live in VA.

I called them and someone on the phone said that in the state of CT, the taxes i Owe them are for the 5 months i had the car. there is a number mentioned on the letter and it states i need to pay this tax and that when i buy the car and register it , i dont automatically pay taxes.

i asked them for a scanned copy of the tax receipt from the Personal Property Tax department and they said they will e-mail it to me.

so this looks like its a valid thing and not a scam. correct me if i am wrong.

thanks,

Sajeev

[Femme]

I too have been receiving letters and phone calls from ANRG.

I disputed the tax bill with the town back in 1999, so I know that trying to win the fight now is a hopeless cause. I refuse to pay a dime; therefore, I am just ignoring them. I don't think they can do anything to you other than harrass you.

[timberdick]

I was very surprised to get my letter today for some debt I owe to New Milford from Dodds? Then I found this site and was even more surprised to read ALL the other posts. I thought the letter was a scam??? The due date was July 1, 1995. I left New Milford in Nov. of 1994? I don't even live in America anymore. I'm thinking it has something to do with my 1992 car, I don't even owe anymore> I used to like New Milford.

[mrz911]

I am so surpised after reading all your messages. I am glad that I am not the only one gone crazy about this Mr. Dodd. I'm just so confused and don't know where to start when I got the letter.

[mrz911]

I received a letter too from Mr. Dodd. The letter dated in 28 June 2008.

Re: Client: ON REVERSE
Account #: XXX-XXXXXXXX0791
Amount Due: $374.48
Due date: 7/01/95

“Your account with the client referenced above has been placed with American National Recovery Group, Inc. for collection activity. They have done so because they believe it to be seriously past due.

Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receipt of this letter that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid. If you notify us in writing within 30 days after receipt of this notice that you dispute the debt or any thereof, we will obtain verification of the debt or obtain a copy of the judgment, if any and mail same to you. If you request of this office in writing within 30 days of receiving this notice, this office will provide you with name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor. This is a communication from a professional debt collector. This is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be for that purpose.

Do not send cash. If this debt is not disputed, and you are aware that payment is due, please make your check or money order payable to our client. Please note your account number and mail your payment to us in the enclosed envelope. Thank you.”

Back of the letter:

Client: town of Groton Personal Property Due: 7/01/94 Amt: 204.69
My Name Acct # XXX-XXXXXXX9825
My Address DESCRIPTION: 1985 SUBAR
My City 91915 PLATE #: 100HXP
……………………………………………………………………………….
Client: town of Groton Personal Property Due: 7/01/95 Amt: 169.79
My Name Acct # XXX-XXXXXXX0791
My Address DESCRIPTION: 1985 SUBAR
My City 91915 PLATE #: 100HXP
……………………………………………………………………………….




I’m in the military for 17 years now and I was stationed in Groton CT, back in June 1992 to June 1993. I bought a vehicle and I was transferred to overseas (Guam). Registered and junked after the vehicle after few months in Guam. I returned to the U.S. and stationed in San Diego, CA. in 1996, and did not receive any notice from collectors. Bought a house in 1998 in San Diego, CA, with a good credit and still no notice from collectors. Now, after 14 years, this is what I get, a letter of indebtedness? All those years, I have no idea if I still have those documents, if any. I need someone’s help, I am confused and don’t know what to do.


MRZ.

[mrz911]

I received a letter too from Mr. Dodd. The letter dated in 28 June 2008.

Re: Client: ON REVERSE
Account #: XXX-XXXXXXXX0791
Amount Due: $374.48
Due date: 7/01/95

“Your account with the client referenced above has been placed with American National Recovery Group, Inc. for collection activity. They have done so because they believe it to be seriously past due.

Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receipt of this letter that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid. If you notify us in writing within 30 days after receipt of this notice that you dispute the debt or any thereof, we will obtain verification of the debt or obtain a copy of the judgment, if any and mail same to you. If you request of this office in writing within 30 days of receiving this notice, this office will provide you with name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor. This is a communication from a professional debt collector. This is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be for that purpose.

Do not send cash. If this debt is not disputed, and you are aware that payment is due, please make your check or money order payable to our client. Please note your account number and mail your payment to us in the enclosed envelope. Thank you.”

Back of the letter:

Client: town of Groton Personal Property Due: 7/01/94 Amt: 204.69
My Name Acct # XXX-XXXXXXX9825
My Address DESCRIPTION: 1985 SUBAR
My City 91915 PLATE #: 100HXP
……………………………………………………………………………….
Client: town of Groton Personal Property Due: 7/01/95 Amt: 169.79
My Name Acct # XXX-XXXXXXX0791
My Address DESCRIPTION: 1985 SUBAR
My City 91915 PLATE #: 100HXP
……………………………………………………………………………….




I’m in the military for 17 years now and I was stationed in Groton CT, back in June 1992 to June 1993. I owned a vehicle and transferred to overseas (Guam). Registered and junked after the vehicle after few months. I returned to U.S. and stationed in San Diego, CA. in 1996, and did not receive any notice from collectors. Bought a house in 1998 with a good credit and still no notice from collectors. Now, after 14 years, this is what I get, a letter of indebtedness? All those years, I have no idea if I still have those documents, if any. I need someone’s help, I am confused and don’t know what to do.


MRZ

[RedJen]

I'm so glad I found this thread. When I received the letter from Dodd this morning, I freaked because I haven't lived in Branford in 13 years and received a bill from 1996! Thanks for the sample letter. I will just keep writing back and forth until the 15 years is up, I guess. I wish someone would expose this racket.

[illllm]

i spoke to someone and he said he will send me a copy of the bill from the state of CT. i am still waiting for it. he said he will scan it and e-mail it.

what is funny about the whole thing is -

1. there is no e-mail address (though in this era every one has one)
2. there is no signature from Mr. Dodd on the letter
3. there is no fax number
4. they dont have a website


anyone here from VA ?

[illllm]

well this is a lawyers website. any lawyers here with advice ?

thanks,

[Pinzgauer]

same here ........

for my wife and me it was supposedly $400.00 in back taxes and some $1,600.00 in interest after eight years! Never got any tax bill or notification.

Dodd keeps threatening to ruin our credit while never answering any demands for an account of the charges.

I contacted the CT AG Blumenthal who actually wrote back promptly. An Law allows for the fact that taxpayers do not have to be notified in any way for taxes due. There is a 15 year SoL in taxes. So there is nothing he can do.

I paid the Town of Greenwich in full to avoid credit problems and decided to unravel everything after. Even after I paid all claims I am still getting threatened by Dodd of $75.00 for ..... well I don't know what for, since they never gave me an account.

I contacted Greenwich directly and I just received a refund for my wife's taxes and interest (while Dodd is still threatening me!).

I will now unravel my account directly with Greenwich.

Only action that has any teeth is to contact the Westchester Dept. of Consumer Protection. They are VERY tough and will suspend business licenses. The more of us complain about Dodd the better.
Thank you



Westchester County DCP
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601

with regards to my earlier post I was wrong about which County they are in. They are in Rockland County - which is just a tough. Here is a Link to the Complaint Form
(www) co.rockland.ny.us/cpl/complaint.pdf

[mrz911]

I talked to my cousin about my issue about the letter from Mr. Dodd. My cousin is in Law School and he made me this sample letter to Mr. Dodd. I already sent this letter and hopefully it would help. I'll keep you all posted.



09 July 2008

MRZ
XXXX Shutter Court
XXXXXXXXXX, CA XXXXX

George Dodd
Collection Coordinator
American National Recovery Group, Inc.
144 Route 59 – Suite 4
Suffern, NY 10901

Dear Mr. Dodd,

I am writing in response to your letter received on 07 July 2008 not believe I owe the $374.48 amount stated.

This is the first notice I have received from American National Recovery Group (ANRG), or any other company regarding this matter for over 14 years. Thus, I have reasonable cause to believe that the information stated is inaccurate.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) 15 U.S.C. §§1692g(a)(b), I respectfully request that you provide me with the following information:
(1) The amount of the debt [including the description and calculation of the stated amount];
(2) The name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) Verification or copy of any judgment rendered [if applicable];
(4) Proof that you, acting as an agent for ANRG, are licensed to collect debts in XXXXXX, CA;
(5) And if you, as an agent of ANRG, are not the current creditor, then you will provide me with the name and address of the original creditor.

Furthermore, according to 15 U.S.C. §1681s-2, you are prohibited from reporting information to any credit-reporting agency with actual knowledge of errors. Thus, if you have already reported this debt to any credit agency or credit bureau, then you must immediately inform them of my dispute with this debt. Notably, reporting information that you know to be inaccurate or failing to correctly report information, violates the FDCPA §1681s-2. Should you pursue a judgment without validating this debt, I will file suit and request this case be dismissed based on your failure to comply with the FDCPA.

Be advised that I am keeping very accurate records of all correspondence from you and ANRG. I will not hesitate to report violations of the law to the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and my State Attorney General.

Sincerely,
MRZ

Enclosure: Copy of the 1st notice letter dated 28 June 2008.

[Femme]

[QUOTE=Femme;62326]I too have been receiving letters and phone calls from ANRG. QUOTE]

Correction: It turns out the phone calls were from a timeshare salesperson. I incorrectly assumed they were from these collection people.

[valandjason]

My husband rec'd a letter from George Dodd last month saying he and his brother owed nearly $2000 combined for vehicle taxes owed. Neither he or his brother have lived in CT for several years. Also, might I add that since they are not the same person or drive the same vehicle, I do not see why they would be on the same bill. I spoke to Mr. Dodd and he separated the bills, but refused to show proof of debt, went on a tirade about how he doesn't agree with the CT State Law either but is just doing his job to collect the debts of over 200,000 people. He also noted that the bill when mailed would have looked like "junk mail" and that may be why my husband never paid it. My husband has lived in three states since his brief time in CT, and has never had a problem receiving forwarded mail. When I mentioned this to Mr. Dodd, he simply said that CT mails its documents the cheapest way possible (his words, not mine) and the Post Office is not required to forward the mail. So, now we are expected to pay interest on something from years ago that we never received in the first place? I requested proof of debt and a possible reduction, but Mr. Dodd laughed and then declined and told me to call Kathy Reynolds at 860-355-6085. He said she would confirm the debt, but when I called I was only forwarded to voicemail and haven't heard back yet. He agreed to offer a payment plan, but I just want to make sure this isn't a scam for money or more money than what we owe for that matter before sending a check. We pay our bills on-time and we do not want to owe money or be sent to collections. But when I searched the agency, I landed in this forum and it seems many people are having this same problem. This does not make me feel good about paying nearly $2000 to someone who will not verify the debt. Mr. Dodd got very angry on the phone with me, even though I was quite calm on the call. He said he is working with over 200,000 people to try to get CT it's money. My first question is why are we only learning about this now? My second is why will no one confirm this debt? My third is why would CT hire this agency to handle over 200,000 people, when obviously it is a one-man operation? If this is real, I feel sorry for Mr. Dodd. He sounded frazzled and angry when he answered the phone. And, not for nothing, but when I called the # on the bill, he answered directly. When I call most credit companies, at the minimum a receptionist will answer first. I got Mr. Dodd on the phone on the first ring and that made me even more suspicious.
I am hoping for advice on this matter. This sounds like a recipe for a class action law suit against the State of CT, but I too am concerned about this debt being sent to a credit agency.

[1MoreVictim]

I have been receiving letters from Mr Dodd and Co for years. They were trying to stick me for taxes on two cars I registered in New Milford back in 1992.

I lived in New Milford for less than 1 year, and registered my cars in Iowa in November of 1993.

Fortunately for me, the first set of bills lapsed past the 15 year statue of limitations and I got off the hook for my first bill for over $500.

Unfortunately, because I did not register my cars 1 month earlier, I AM on the hook for the second bill for taxes due to New Milford. It kills me that these cars are dead and junk in a pile somewhere, but I still have to pay taxes on them.

I do not like Mr Dodd. I found him to be disagreeable on the phone. This is immaterial. His facts were accurate in my case and I found that even after I expressed some sincere frustration with this whole situation the facts still remain that

I did not register my cars soon enough in the new state after I moved, and
I did not submit a change of address card to the DMV.

I actually think we did register a change of address card, but there is absolutley no way to prove it. Do you know of ANYBODY who can prove almost anything as semmingly inconsequential as a change of address form 15 years later? If they lose the card, thats it - gone. Zero proof that you submitted it.

The bits of information I wanted to pass along was that there is a 15 year limit of limitations for the collection of these back taxes. He is just working with the information that New Milford (and whatever other towns) are feeding him, and its old info.

I personally find it reprehensible that the towns are doing this. THEY are being lazy about collecting these money's and are taking the easy way out and selling these uncollected debts to lawyers (for pennies on the dollar). Its a dirty business in my opinion. They are also selling their responsibilities
short by not collecting these debts earlier and settling for pennies on the dollar. It took Mr Dodd moments to find me online. It took New Milford years to even try.

But like I said, I made my mistakes and I have to pay. 14 years later but I still have to pay.

[pimajim]

We were first contacted four years ago ,we sent proof we were not in Fairfield CT at the time the taxes were due, now Mr Dodd has returned asking for thousands more starting more then a year after we left the state. I would like to know if a class action suit is started, count me in.
Dodd, hmmm any relation to the senator?????'

[CTisShameLess]

Has anyone actually had their credit impacted by George Dodd? My letter refers to an invalid debt that is over 7 years old so I assume (based on the earlier posts) that my credit is safe....

[illllm]

Why dont you write directly to the tax department in CT ? perhaps you will get a better response.

[jranieri]

THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO ME! I then spoke to GEORGE who is a total ASS HOLE. I AM PAYING THIS, however, I feel this is a FRAUD somehow-unfortunately, the state says I have to pay! I have great credit as well and now I have to pay PLUS I have to pay ALL OF THE PENALTIES AND TAXES since 1995. I too never received a bill of any kind-no notice, etc., something must be wrong with this situation here but I feel like there is no where to turn--HELP

[CPie]

These people sent me a correspondence just like these others above, trying to collect taxes for a car registered in Bristol Connecticut. The collection was for the period of 1998 and 1999. The thing is: I only stayed in Connecticut from October 1997 to February 1998 and then I moved out. I never knew that Connecticut does not grant the right of come and go, and for this reason I never reported that I intended to leave the City ( Bristol).

I do not owe anything. I understand that any property tax is good for a period of one year. I was covered during the time I lived there, then I moved to other State,I immediately got a new driver's license and returned the Connecticut driver's license to the DMV of this new state. This old driver's license supposedly was going to be returned to Connecticut State. The car was sold, end of story.

I do not owe anything. I do not feel like replying to this people. I also feel harassed. What shall I do? I did not do anything wrong, why should I be spending time to clear myself of something that I did not do? I work hard, a lot and many hours per day, I do not have the time or the resources to be fighting wind mills.

How should I proceed and what can I expect from this? The alleged collection is for 1998 and 1999.

CPie

[CPie]

I have been receiving letters from Mr Dodd and Co for years. They were trying to stick me for taxes on two cars I registered in New Milford back in 1992.

I lived in New Milford for less than 1 year, and registered my cars in Iowa in November of 1993.

Fortunately for me, the first set of bills lapsed past the 15 year statue of limitations and I got off the hook for my first bill for over $500.

Unfortunately, because I did not register my cars 1 month earlier, I AM on the hook for the second bill for taxes due to New Milford. It kills me that these cars are dead and junk in a pile somewhere, but I still have to pay taxes on them.

I do not like Mr Dodd. I found him to be disagreeable on the phone. This is immaterial. His facts were accurate in my case and I found that even after I expressed some sincere frustration with this whole situation the facts still remain that

I did not register my cars soon enough in the new state after I moved, and
I did not submit a change of address card to the DMV.

I actually think we did register a change of address card, but there is absolutley no way to prove it. Do you know of ANYBODY who can prove almost anything as semmingly inconsequential as a change of address form 15 years later? If they lose the card, thats it - gone. Zero proof that you submitted it.

The bits of information I wanted to pass along was that there is a 15 year limit of limitations for the collection of these back taxes. He is just working with the information that New Milford (and whatever other towns) are feeding him, and its old info.

I personally find it reprehensible that the towns are doing this. THEY are being lazy about collecting these money's and are taking the easy way out and selling these uncollected debts to lawyers (for pennies on the dollar). Its a dirty business in my opinion. They are also selling their responsibilities
short by not collecting these debts earlier and settling for pennies on the dollar. It took Mr Dodd moments to find me online. It took New Milford years to even try.

But like I said, I made my mistakes and I have to pay. 14 years later but I still have to pay.
I do not think you owe them anything. The constitution grants you the right of come and go, I do not think that people has the obligation to inform the DMV about heir plans. You owe taxes if you are domiciled in a place, if you are not you do not owe. The new address in the new Driver's license shouls be enough to prove that you were domiciled somewhere else.

[johndsouza]

I got my letter from George Dodd today!

Though I'll be spending my weekend digging records to see if I did indeed move out and re-register my car in time (the Due Date on my letter says 7/01/01, and I moved from Bristol, CT to MA sometime in 07/2000), I do have a question:

If I did not pay my dues on time, shouldn't that have shown up on my credit report as an unpaid bill?
I monitor my credit report every 4 months (one free one from each agency each year), and I have not seen any negative activity on it!

I thought things go on your credit report (as a late/unpaid bill) BEFORE it even goes to collection. Am I wrong?

[Crow72769]

I also got one of these notices today, this one from South Windsor for alleged unpaid taxes. Hey, George >I NEVER LIVED IN SOUTH WINDSOR!< Further, my name is spelled wrong. I think they are taking a blunderbuss mentality here!

Called my lawyer who looked into it (what a great guy). He's telling me not to worry about it. I am supposed to meet with him tomorrow about how to proceed. My guess is he will want a retainer and will send some letters, blah, blah, blah...but maybe lawyering up works best against these people...from what he said it tends to shut all but the most tenacious of them up!

I'll keep you all posted. IM me if you have any questions!

[Ryana]

I just got my letter today...YIPPE!
I guess I owe taxes from 1995 on a car I had in Bristol CT....but I sold the car in 1993 and also moved to Seattle Washington in 1993...any advice?

[Crow72769]

I personally find it reprehensible that the towns are doing this. THEY are being lazy about collecting these money's and are taking the easy way out and selling these uncollected debts to lawyers (for pennies on the dollar). Its a dirty business in my opinion. They are also selling their responsibilities
short by not collecting these debts earlier and settling for pennies on the dollar. It took Mr Dodd moments to find me online. It took New Milford years to even try.


It is my understanding that this debt is non-negotiable by the towns, so the debt collectors are not actually buying or holding the debt. If the debt collectors and/or lawyers can't but if for pennies on the dollar, they won't buy it. They must be paid on a contactual basis somehow.

If you live in a town where they are doing this, go to your next town council meeting and complain, LOUDLY. When the next election come around (which should be next year) vote to have these clowns taken out of office who authorized this. Work to have these people removed from office; be it on the local or state level. We, the people, don't have to stand for this.

[fxdiva]

Hi All, I just found this forum after also receiving a letter from American National Recovery Group. The address on my letter is from 261 Mountainside Avenue in West Nyack. I noticed in another post that the address (a couple of months ago) was from an address in Suffern, NY. I contacted an attorney today who unfortunately did not do this type of work. His response was that it sounds like a shake down. The bill they are trying to collect from me is 14 years old. I never received any notice that this was due. I spoke to the tax assessor in Bristol who told me it was my responsibility to contact them when I left the state. Okay, so I have contacted Arnold Diaz at Fox 5 New York. I left a message. I think the only way this is going to get resolved is through the media. Contact your local TV stations consumer reporter. Many stations have a web site where you can post your story. If enough people start asking questions it will force the state of CT to acknowledge that they 1. did not do their due diligence -contacting folks in a timely manner and 2. that ANRG is trying to profit from this. Most importantly...send a written response back with a return receipt request. Check you credit report to make sure they have not posted anything negative there.

[fxdiva]

ANRC is getting 15%. I got this info from the tax assessor in Bristol, CT.

[toph30]

I have just received my letter on November 5th about how I also owe taxes to the city of Bristol for a due date where I was no longer living in CT. It also has the new address on there of Wesst Nyack, New York like someone else previously mentioned.

I was living in Bristol more recently than some of the others. My due date was for 7/1/04 when I actually moved out of Bristol in November of 2003. But the cost of the tax makes no sense. It's almost $700 dollars when I paid a previous years tax of just over $300 for 2002. I jumped around from Ohio and then to New Jersey where my car was finally registered there in September of 2004. The only proof I can show of my move to Ohio is that I had the auto insurance changed to an Ohio Policy. I may also be able to pull up some bank statements, state tax information, etc to prove my move.

Any advice? It seems like some people are thinking it's a scam while others are saying it's real. Would contacting the Bristol Tax office be the best move?

[Crow72769]

1. did not do their due diligence -contacting folks in a timely manner and 2. that ANRG is trying to profit from this. Most importantly...send a written response back with a return receipt request. Check you credit report to make sure they have not posted anything negative there.

According to what my lawyer told me Monday, the State doesn't have to look for you, you need to go to them! :eek: Its statutory. They don't have to contact you, its your responsiblity.

My lawyer is going to take a few cases like this...he said he has some ideas on how to put a stop to this. He's a nice guy who gets riled up about this sort of thing...

My advice to anyone is if you decide to pay the tax, bypass ANRG and pay the town directly. The town will tell ANRG the account is in good standing but doubtfully will send ANRG anything for their trouble.

Contact the media. If you live in Connecticut, contact your state rep and your state senator and complain about this law. There is supposed to be one in the works to change this. If enough of us who live in state push, maybe the sol-ons will change it.

[nhbound]

...for any old tax bills in this regard is the biggest sucker known to mankind.

Ignore the letters and call it a night. I did and, a year later, the letters ended. Credit report unmarred.

Over and out.

[GRANDCENTRAL]

OMG....With having to deal w/ just making end's meet on CURRENT bills, I open a bill from freakin' 1999, from the oh sooooooo poverty stricken town of Greenwich, CT , saying I owe past due taxes on a car I sold that year prior to moving out of state??? And, the joke of a collectioin agency, ANRGRUOP, says they couldn't find me. Funny, my family still lived(s) there, all my other mail got to me. In nine, almost ten years, they could've found me. Andbthey put interest on this supposed bill of all the years. Now, THAT'S just precious !! LOL....Oprah is goingbto LOOOVE this story !! George Dodd picked the WRONG name out of his fishbowl with mine. I'm Italian, Female with CT/New York roots. NOT a good one to play this kind of game with. :)

***LORI :)

[johndsouza]

I got a follow up letter from Charles Anderson. This is after I sent them a registered letter saying that I do not owe them or the City of Bristol anything since I moved out almost a year and a half before the mentioned date.
Here's what he writes:

Thank you for your recent communication regarding the debt referenced above and the FDPCA. It is our understanding that debts covered by act are defined by Section 803 Part #5 as stated below:
"The term 'debt' means any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance or services which are the subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, whether or not such obligation has been reduced to judgement."
Taxes, a soverign fee, created by Federal and State entities are not related to goods or services for the individual, but to the communal need and as such do not fit this definition.
As such, we would appreciate your immediate attention to the above referenced matter. If you feel that there is a reason that this tax levy is not due, please let us know. We will use our best efforts to help you resolve it.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES ANDERSON
Collection Coordinator.

What do I do now???

[hkelly8454]

I have also received these letters form George Dodd regarding a tax in New Milford, from 1999... I have tried to get the town to send a bill, and nothing.. I didn't live in new milford in 1999 0r 1998... we bought a home the next town over... And they couldn't find me either...I tried to get painfo, but can't go back that far.. I thought this was all bogus also, but finding this site proves it.. There needs to be a class action suit.. Please keep me posted if anyone has any ideas.. I am going to try my local tv stations.. Someone has to be able to do something.. I can not register a car because the town of New milford reported this to DMV last year.. Funny how it took 8 or 9 years for this.. I have registered cars AND NEVER had a problem til now, this is all ridiculous.. I do not want to pay them, but is there any advice on how to get them to remove it at dmv???? in the meantime??? Or should I just keep waiting it out???Cars are in my other half's name...

[joeski12]

I keep getting calls from the NRG (Dodd). I mean 3-4 calls per day saying i owe $2000 for an old computer from '99. I don't recall this crap. BUT these fools not only call me non-stop but they DID ruin my credit. See, thay checked my credit 8 times (8 inquires) in a two week period....that dropped my score 50 points. I KNOW this is harassment. I am contacting the FTC to file a compliant. Anybody else have this problem???

[fxdiva]

Hi All, I received one of these letters about a month ago. I threw it in the garbage. It came in my maiden name. I just received another one yesterday. This time I did do some research...The state of CT has a statute of limitations on debt of 6 years. My "debt" is 14 years old. I called the Federal Trade Commission - no help there. They told me to call the attorney general in CT. I called the town of Bristol and these bills that we all are receiving have been sitting in an archive all this time. CT just decided to clean house. This is a form of "Zombie Debt".

[nolivctnoowncar]

I received a notice from this collection firm for taxes owed to Ridgefield, CT for Oct 1, 1998 through Oct 1, 1999. I moved to VA in March 1997 and sold the car that April. I probably can find some proof, but it will take time and money. I don't think that the burden of proof should be on me when I handled all transactions and moves appropriately. If they had managed to not screw up just one point-of-fact then I wouldn't need to get involved. I have an idea. Let's get government involved in healthcare. Maybe they can take out my spleen a decade after I die, and try to transplant it to my great-grandfather.

[Not So Fast]

I just got one in the mail today from American Con Job Recovery. These guys are crooks.

In Connecticut if you don't pay your auto taxes for the previous year they will not allow you to register your vehicle the following year no matter where in the state you live because you must bring a proof of receipt that your taxes are current.

These guys had best beware because some dogs bite harder than others.

[skumar]

Yesterday we received couple of letters from this group claiming I owe them monies due from 1999. Also this was the first one we ever got. We moved out of CT in 1998 and we turned in our plates which automatically de-registers you per CT DOT and I have long got rid of the cars! From the looks of it, they seem to be targeting folks who have moved out of CT? Perhaps this is the price we all ex-residents have to pay for moving out. Well, this is on reason not to move back in!

We can't find records greater than 7 yrs with any govt agency.

I am glad to research on this issue and read this thread.

I plan to ignore.

I also recommend each and everyone of us spread the word around.

Cheers
Suresh

[salard]

Just received one of these letters. I moved out of Groton, CT in 1998 but am expected to pay taxes for the year 2000. The person I spoke to in Groton was very helpful. Fortunately I was in the Navy at the time and all I have to do is fill a Soldiers/Sailors exemption form and send a copy of my DD-214 to prove I was still in the military at the time. This will wipe my name off the books and I'm OK with that, however, this will not solve the issue of not having even been in Groton that year or the one before. Must be too tough an issue to tackle from that angle.

P.S. Does anyone else find it interesting that this guy has the same last name as the disgraced Senator from CT?

[BaBaBooey]

May 12, 2009

Attn: George Dodd – Collections Coordinator
American National Recovery Group, Inc.
261 Mountainview Avenue Suite 2
West Nyack, NY 10960

Re: Account #??????????????????? - City of Idiots, CT


Dear Mr. Dodd,

The purpose of this letter is to dispute the validity of the debt listed in your recent collection letter.

I fully dispute the debt of $1,234.56, claimed by the City of Idiots, or any portion thereof.
No portion of the debt listed is valid.

I left Connecticut in 1996 and all taxes due were paid in full prior to my change in residence.
The vehicle in question was sold in 1998.

I have lived in several states since I left Connecticut.
With each change of residence I have had a valid Driver’s License issued by that State.
I also submitted changes of address forms with the United States Postal Service.
At no time in the past 14 years has the City of Idiots made any attempt to contact me,
claiming a debt was owed.

Clearly, the City of Idiots could have found me, if they chose to collect a valid debt.
They have not filed a lawsuit or tax lien regarding this invalid debt in the past 14 years.
I have not received any notice of lien or judgment regarding this invalid debt in the past 14 years.
The time limit for them to do either has long passed.
They have not reported this debt to any credit reporting agency in the past 14 years.
The time limit for them to do so has also long passed.

Your attempt to collect an invalid debt is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
Any attempt to report this invalid debt to any Credit Reporting Agency is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Any further violations of these Acts by American National Recovery Group will result in my seeking legal remedy against you,
American National Recovery Group, and the City of Idiots.


Most Sincerely,

John Q. Public


cc: Federal Trade Commission – Consumer Response Center – FDCPA, FCRA
cc: Your State Attorney General
cc: Experian – NCAC
cc: Equifax
cc: TransUnion

[harleykins]

Thank you for the sample letter. I cannot believe the audacity of this. I received my bogus claim yesterday from the city of Middletown for the year 1997. I moved from there in 97 and sent my plates back. I did received a bill from them after I moved claiming I owed personal property taxes for that year, but I replied with sending my tags back and informed them that I no longer live there. That was the last I heard of that. Of course, it's been over 12 years now. This is beyond ridiculous.

[supergal]

Thanks for the sample letter.

I received a letter yesterday from "Mr." Dodd addressed to myself and my ex. I have been out of state for 12 years.

Should I ignore or send a similar letter to the above sample?

[BaBaBooey]

Thanks for the sample letter.

I received a letter yesterday from "Mr." Dodd addressed to myself and my ex. I have been out of state for 12 years.

Should I ignore or send a similar letter to the above sample?

They have 7 years from the time the debt is verified to report it to a credit reporting agency.

After 7 years, they can't do anything to your credit.

They are also limited in the time they have to file a suit or lien.
In Connecticut I'm not sure of that time frame but it's less than the 7 years.

Once this time has expired, they can't do either.

At this stage it's safe to send a modified copy of the sample letter, politely tell Mr. Dodd to go pound sand and then ignore him.

The fact that a collection agency is involved at all mean that the municipality has already charged off the tax debt, regardless of whether or not it's a valid debt.

They're just trying to increase revenue by culling old records.

[supergal]

They have 7 years from the time the debt is verified to report it to a credit reporting agency.

After 7 years, they can't do anything to your credit.

They are also limited in the time they have to file a suit or lien.
In Connecticut I'm not sure of that time frame but it's less than the 7 years.

Once this time has expired, they can't do either.

At this stage it's safe to send a modified copy of the sample letter, politely tell Mr. Dodd to go pound sand and then ignore him.

The fact that a collection agency is involved at all mean that the municipality has already charged off the tax debt, regardless of whether or not it's a valid debt.

They're just trying to increase revenue by culling old records.

Thank you so much for your reply. I will start work on my letter tomorrow.

I tried to Google for information regarding tax amnesty, etc. and found this on a legal firm's web site (in CT). CT recently enacted legislation to allow municipalities to enact a one-time tax amnesty before December 31, 2009. The timing of these letters is interesting, eh?

MUNICIPAL TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
Public Act No. 08-2 (November 24 special session) authorizes Connecticut municipalities (including any town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, special district, or any unconsolidated city) to establish a one-time amnesty program that may be in effect until December 31, 2009. Municipalities may allow full or partial forgiveness of interest, penalties, fines, costs or other fees due on any municipal taxes or other delinquent payments. The maximum duration of any municipal amnesty program is 90 days, and such program may only apply to periods before the program was instituted. Taxpayers should contact a municipality directly to determine if the municipality is conducting a local amnesty program.

FURTHER INFORMATION
If you have you any questions regarding either the Connecticut or municipal amnesty programs, or would like additional information, please call (860) 251-5000 to speak to any member of the Tax Practice Group.

[supergal]

They have 7 years from the time the debt is verified to report it to a credit reporting agency.

After 7 years, they can't do anything to your credit.

They are also limited in the time they have to file a suit or lien.
In Connecticut I'm not sure of that time frame but it's less than the 7 years.


What date is that? The original date of the tax bill?

[nonya]

I received a letter today addressed to my maiden name (it has changed twice since this supposed 'debt' was created), about taxes I never owed in the Town of Middletown, CT from Mr. "Dodd". I'm sending a dispute letter and hope this will be the last of it.

I moved out of Middletown in 1999 and scrapped the car by the end of the year, after the taxes were paid in full. They're claiming I owe for 1999 and 2000.

I would be interested in any action against these fools.

[BaBaBooey]

What date is that? The original date of the tax bill?

Typically it is from the date the account is classified as delinquent.

As a practical matter the city would have to either file suit and/or file a lien.
If a suit results in a judgment against you, you'll have no choice but to pay it.

However, if no suit or lien has been filed after 7 years, you are in the clear in terms of a lien, judgment or credit reporting.
You would technically still owe the debt but if you have no intention of residing there before the 15 year statute of limitations kicks in, you're in the clear as there's really nothing they can do.

[supergal]

Typically it is from the date the account is classified as delinquent.

As a practical matter the city would have to either file suit and/or file a lien.
If a suit results in a judgment against you, you'll have no choice but to pay it.

However, if no suit or lien has been filed after 7 years, you are in the clear in terms of a lien, judgment or credit reporting.
You would technically still owe the debt but if you have no intention of residing there before the 15 year statute of limitations kicks in, you're in the clear as there's really nothing they can do.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm about 12 years then from the date of delinquency which means no lien, judgment or credit reporting. :)

My ex still lives there and I'm assuming has avoided this thus far by not having any vehicles in his name. ??

I'm so glad I found this site. I wasn't sure how to proceed. Thank you for all of your help!

[MAT1919]

Representing Middletown, CT, collection letters have been sent for taxes on a vehicle; stating they were due on 7/01/95 and 7/01/96 w/o any explanation and this is the first we are hearing about this. No bills were received prior to this letter on any year. Do not know where this is coming from and why. What were the outcomes?

[NoLeagleBeagle]

My wife recently received a letter from Dodd and his cronies. The date posted on the "Tax" was 1995, years after she left CT. After reading here and elsewhere on the internet, I sent them a letter via registered mail that their attempt to collect was in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and that any attempt to report the bill as outstanding would be in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I requested that they purge their records of this item and send me proof that this has been done, and I also requested the name and address of the original creditor, verification of the debt, and a copy of the judgment. I also informed them that further attempts to collect would be considered harassment and would subject them to legal actions by myself and to my reporting them to the appropriate authorities.

For future reference, who would be the "appropriate authorities" to whom I should report these guys and the CT town? I'm thinking of the Better Business Bureau, but the town isn't really a business. Also the Attorney General, but as I understand it, the Attorney General doesn't have jurisdiction here (does it?) What steps have anyone else taken?

I hope this goes away soon. Good luck to all.

[NoLeagleBeagle]

Also, if I have to send another letter, I intend to also provide them with a bill for shipping and handling, research into this matter, drafting and printing of the response letters, and anything else I can come up with, for about $60/hr. I know they won't pay it but sometimes I can't resist being a smart aleck. Would I be breaking any laws here?

[zenmaster]

I, too, just received this stupid form letter and it greatly aggravated me for all the reasons people have discussed: why didn't they just send me a bill? I pay my bills on time, why the *#$% is a collection agency after me, etc.

So after pounding my head against the proverbial brick wall for a day, I finally just called the tax assessor's office in Middletown, CT. They pulled up my bill and told me all they wanted was proof that the vehicle was registered elsewhere on or before October 1 of the year before the tax was due (so, if your notice is for July 2002, you need proof that the vehicle was registered elsewhere on or before October 1, 2001).

As I now reside in Illinois, the answer was as close as the Illinois Secretary of State. For those of you in the same boat, go to

www_cyberdriveillinois_com|publications|motoristpu b_html#titlereg
(I apologize for the munging---I just wanted to post a resolution but it looks like I have to fight the forum rules as well. Replace underscores with dots and pipes with slashes.)

And fill out the "VSD 375 Secretary of State Information Request Form" The request code is "K" ("For use by an individual...") and send them $5 for a Title search. Attach a letter stating the issue (when I called the Sec'y of State, they already knew about the CT problem) so that you'll get the right title.

Middletown just wants me to fax them the title. I'll probably also send it registered/return-receipt. But your town may want something different. It pays to ask.

Then send a nice little note to Mr. Dodd telling him that the issue is being resolved between you and the town of <where-ever> and he can stop pestering you (otherwise, with a possible 12-week waiting time for the title, he could get testy). With reports of over 200,000 people on his list, I'm sure he's more than willing to let a few drop to lighten his load.

Important: Be nice when you call the tax assessor's office. I got a very cold response when I first called, but when I stayed calm and just told them I wanted to know how to prove that I wasn't liable for the tax, they became quite friendly. Understandably, these people have been getting very ugly calls and it just makes their job harder and it gets nobody anywhere. The person you get on the phone was not the one who made the decision to do this, but now they have to handle the consequences.

I understand that a number of people are not in my boat. Either (a) the inquiry is so long ago that nobody has records (although, seriously, check out the Sec'y of State in the state you moved to---they very well may have the record you need) or (b) they just didn't bother finding you for the tax you owe and now they've decided to use a collection agency to go hunting you down for something you might as well have done in a past life.

I don't have answers for either of those classes of people, but I wish you luck in your fight for a fairer taxation scheme that doesn't involve the moral equivalent of persecution of wrongs done in past millennia.

I hope this helps and I'll post my results as the various jurisdictions slowly ooze into their new positions.

[BaBaBooey]

zenmaster,

If it was worth spending the time and money to be done with them, more power to you.

It should be noted that the very fact that people have been contacted by a collection agency indicates that the City has already classified the 'tax' as a charge-off.

For the laymen out there, this means they have already given up on collecting the tax.

[zenmaster]

zenmaster,
If it was worth spending the time and money to be done with them, more power to you.

It should be noted that the very fact that people have been contacted by a collection agency indicates that the City has already classified the 'tax' as a charge-off.

For the laymen out there, this means they have already given up on collecting the tax.

You know what? It was worth the ~15 minutes of phone calls and $6 to know that I'm clear. But everyone has their own comfort level.

If you're outside the 15-year statute of limitations (I'm not) or outside the 7-year smudge on your credit record (I'm not) then maybe you can ride out a possible George Dodd legal temper-tantrum. The less you owe, the more probable this becomes.

But for less than 5% of what I supposedly owed them, I just firmly shut the lid on this nonsense and didn't pay George or the town of Middletown a red cent.

And that includes postage.

I can't solve everybody's problems, but if you can determine that you're not liable and be rid of the prolonged silliness in the amount of time it takes to get some paper pushed, I think that's time well spent.

As always, De gustibus non est disputandum / Juu nin to iro

[bcaf2677]

Hi,

I am so glad that I found this site. I have a direct question. Has anyone's credit been negatively affected by this nonsense. That's all they can do to us. So fo rthe people that have been receiving letters for a long time, has your credit been affected?

[Scott K]

Hi,

I got the letter too, except I've waited till the 10 day notice - still nothing has happened to my credit.

From what I've gathered in the thread: 1) the debt is real, 2) it has been handed off to ANRG to collect, but 3) there is no recourse for them to pursue this debt if payment is refused.

So if you feel obligated to pay all taxes you are due then you should pay. But if you feel this is outrageous, and can endure more harassing mails/phone calls, then you can sit tight until the 15 year limit hits. I think I'll take my chances...

Please add my name to the list if there is going to be a class action suit.

Thanks.

[xloydvt]

Kudos to Doreen in the Town of Middletown, CT for her helpfulness.

I also sent a pleasant letter to the Mayor of Middletown detailing the poor service of Mr. Dodd and urging the Mayor to terminate the Town contract with Mr. Dodd as soon as possible. CarFax ($29.99)and AutoCheck ($14.99) can also provide all the information you need to settle that you registered the car elsewhere.

[zenmaster]

I just thought I'd detail the path I'm taking in case someone reads this thread later and is in my shoes.

Kind of like the great guy (to whom I should send money) who had pictures of the $15 washing machine part I needed to purchase to avoid a $200 service call. :-)

So, after sending my form, $5 (which is why I didn't go with CarFax or AutoCheck), and a letter requesting a copy of the title for the car in my name to the state of Illinois, 10 days later I got the following:

1) A print-out of the title numbers listed for the vehicle
2) A copy of the form I filled out requesting the title (not dated)
3) A copy of the CT title I sent them with #2 above.

Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled, so I called up Springfield. The first lady on the phone didn't even give me her name. When I asked her to whom I could speak about not getting the records I requested, she told me to file another letter with the records division.

Because that sounded ridiculous, I waited ten minutes and called again. I spoke with a very nice lady who saw that, indeed, I was not sent what I asked for, and she put a copy of my title in the mail and I got it three days later.

Given that July was quite the busy month and I had the proof I needed, I set the problem aside for a quiet moment. Of course, this just gave Mr. Dodd a chance to send me another nastygram. What I found interesting was that the threat amounted to making it "difficult to obtain credit with our client" and providing "an adverse credit history with our client." This is suitably vague enough for me not to be certain of what it means. But the surface-level reading is not something that concerns me.

He also added 1.47% to the amount he thinks is due him. That's an APR of about 19.2% Probably better than most credit cards, come to think of it.

So, needless to say, I sent a letter detailing the situation to the tax assessor's office. I provided a copy of my Illinois title as was requested over the phone and a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that they could send me, in writing, evidence that (1) the tax, applied in error, was relieved and (2) that they had contacted ANRG to that effect.

I also put an end-date to the whole affair stating in the letter that, if I haven't heard from them in a month, then the matter will be considered to have been settled satisfactorily. I'm not sure how legal that is, but I figure it couldn't hurt. The letter was sent certified/return-receipt. I haven't gotten the return-receipt yet, but usps.gov says the letter got there.

Lastly, I just sent off a very short note to Mr. Dodd stating that the information requested by the tax assessor's office has been sent to them and that they will get in touch with him with further instructions. That should re-set his nastiness timer for another month which should be enough to finish this whole affair.

So, either I hear back from the tax assessor's office one way or the other in a month or I hear nothing. If its the former, then I'll act on their information. If the latter, I don't know what else to do except sit tight and weather an ANRG hissy-fit should it come.

I should probably order a credit report on myself next month just to make sure all is well. Nobody replied to bcaf2677... so I don't know if anyone has had their credit affected by this nonsense.

Much luck to all.

[zenmaster]

I just received both the return receipt and my self-addressed, stamped envelope from the tax assessor's office. All they sent me was a print-out of my tax bill with the hand-written notes "Cancel" and "faxed to collection agency" on it.

So, I'm guessing that I'm square with the town of Middletown. I don't know what will happen with Dodd. I have heard Myster E on this earlier thread:

www_thelaw_com|forums|showthread_php?t=3528

state that ANRG is willing to do rather underhanded things to try and squeeze money out of people.

Time will tell.

[kdrappy65]

is it any coincidence that all of us who are receiving these notices are actually living out of state now?

I am in the same boat- being accused of not paying car taxes in Middletown in 1997, when I actually lived in Branford starting in 1994. I lived in CT until 2004, but I'm only getting this now? Yeah, right. It's a scam, these people should put in jail, and the municipalities who have signed on to this are just as pitiful.

[BaBaBooey]

is it any coincidence that all of us who are receiving these notices are actually living out of state now?

I am in the same boat- being accused of not paying car taxes in Middletown in 1997, when I actually lived in Branford starting in 1994. I lived in CT until 2004, but I'm only getting this now? Yeah, right. It's a scam, these people should put in jail, and the municipalities who have signed on to this are just as pitiful.

Ignore it.

The fact they are using a collection agency indicates they have already classified the so-called debt as a charge-off.

It is no longer on their books as an outstanding debt.

[iPledge4America]

I have a story but it goes deep into this...I'll have to respond later.

[nichoelle]

I see I am not the only one having a issue with a dept collection from American National Recovery Group that is not accurate. I just received a letter from them today addressed to my husband in regards to a dept for a 1994 Dodge Shadow. I am not sure if my husband ever owned a Dodge Shadow. I am also not sure how long my husband lived in CT. It would have been for a brief time while he was in school for the military. The date the bill was due according to the letter was 7/01/97. My husband was, and is still stationed in the state of Georgia. He has lived here since 1995. I have documentation from his orders at the time, which show he was stationed on the USS Pennsylvania (submarine) since Feb of 1996, so I find it somewhat odd that he owes money to the town of New London when he did not live there!! I am going to send a registered letter to Mr. Dodd with a copy of his orders from that time period, and a copy of the sailor dept relief act letting them know that they are legally not allowed to take any action since my husband is currently deployed and won't be available to dispute this false claim until after the first of the year. It is obvious to me that this is a complete scam!! Pretty frustrating that I have to deal with this crap when I have enough to worry about while my hubby is gone. There has got to be something that can be done to stop these people!

[4x4_Welder]

I got a letter today, and am writing my response letter. I left CT in October 2003, with two registered vehicles, which means my taxes were paid. My name is also misspelled, and they are stating the same tax in two different amounts for one vehicle, one under the temporary plate number and the other under the permanent plate.
All CT cares about is taxes, they tax everything there, and give nothing in return. I was living in New London, they closed one end of the road I lived on to do some sewer repairs (assuming from the stench) that lasted about two weeks. Not so bad, except the road at the other end was a one-way. Then they closed the exit end of that road, since the road it dumped onto had a water line break. For a week and a half, the only option to get out was to go the wrong way down a one-way street, which frequently had a cop sitting there.

As far as this guy- Screw him. Typical southern New England windbag.