lets get these b*****ds they woke me out of a hangover sleep

they called me also saying it was my lawyer they had my first name!
how did they get that?
phone number is not in my name
this is creepy!!

Me again, and again another call.  This is a long response so I hope I can get it all in here.  This time when I got the same call I checked a little further.  This law firm is operated by Deanna Lynn Natale.  She is licensed to practice law.  Search for her at the Law Society of Upper Canada:

http://www1.lsuc.on.ca/LawyerParalegalDirectory/loadSearchPage.do

Contacting the Law Society (416) 947-3315) confirmed that Deanna Lynn Natale is a licensed attorney who is only allowed to practice law in Ontario (so people outside of Ontario need not read further).  However, I asked if there were any complaints about this Deanna Lynn Natale, and after a rather loud "sigh", the person confirmed that there were complaints, but what the complaints were about was confidential.  The Law Society will open a complaint for you, and keep it confidential if you wish to proceed (which I suggest you do - it's free and you won't have to do very much).  Technically speaking, by phoning you this Deanna Lynn Natale law firm is not breaking the law.  Although ethically, the Law Society may have problems what they are doing.  So file a complaint!

Getting you to give out your personal information is not illegal either.  What they are allegedly using it for is illegal, but very hard to prove.  Mostly because many people embarrassed that they owe money to the point where a lawyer or collection agent has called and they want to clear it up quickly, or are so disorganized that they aren't entirely sure that they owe money and pay the $100 or $150 without asking questions.  So it is up to you to make sure you're not being scammed.

So I called the Natale law firm, quoted the reference number, and they asked me my name.  I did not give them my name, instead I said, "Well you called me twice in the last month and apparently sent documents to my home so you should know that."  (I never got any documents by the way - which would be hand delivered by a low-level paralegal or private investigator if it were real "important" legal documents). I then asked what collection agency they represent and if they could send me the invoices.  The woman was unable to respond and after several more of my questions she promptly hung up on me.  I called back several times and did not say anything during any call.  On each occasion, 4 different people answered the phone.  2 men, 2 women.  So it's apparent to me that this Deanna Lynn Natale has several (4 at least) people fielding calls like this.  Google her name and number and you'll see that she's been accused of allegedly sending out false collection letters and getting people to pay up on debts that don't exist. Is this a scam?  How paranoid should you be?  99%

1) Do not give your name EVER!  If they were collecting for a real debt you owe they would already know your name and everything about you.  As someone who has owed money, and been owed money, and been to court several times (as the good guy) I can tell you it's very, very easy to track people down.  A reputable lawyer representing a reputable company would not call you on a matter like this - ever.  If you were being sued they would hand deliver Statement of Claim (it is required by law that the Plaintiff prove you are aware of the lawsuit before a judge or mediator would ever hear the case).  Other important legal documents would also be hand delivered.  Lawyer's letters would be sent to you via registered letter or a courier - something you have to sign for.  You are not legally obliged to respond to a collection agency.  They are ruthless though, so you're encouraged to respond to a legit collection agent to avoid a negative credit report.  But there are several ways to see if the collection is real (read on).

2) Ask them to send a copy of the contract of the debt you took on.  If it's real, you'll get it and it will bear your signature (don't give them an address or fax number or any identifying information and use call block --*67-- when you do call them back).  Real collection agencies / lawyers WILL do everything they can to prove you owe the money without hesitation.

3) If the collection call is false (and you'll know right away) then ask these losers to remove your telephone number from their database.  Here's the trick, don't give them your number.  :)  The reference number that you were given contains an entire LIST of phone numbers, yours included.  So you'll be doing a lot of people a solid by doing that.  You can remind them that THEY called YOU and gave YOU a reference number so they should already know that information.  They will probably hang up on you.  That's what they did to me.

Good luck, and stay private!

Got a call from the "natale law offices - shane please give us a call back at blah blah blah in regards to file number blah blah from which you owe money yadieyadieyada"

......

my name is marie.

i got several calls and vaicemails from them in the past few months (all automated calls, no actual person).
today, as i was writing up a report to send in on them, i wanted to verify the number and called it again.
this time a lady answered. I asked :"who are you?" she said "Natale Law Firm".
I said, "why do you call up people and leave automated messages?"
she said: "what number is it that we called which you are asking about?"
i said: "you're funny, aren't you?"
she said: "well then we'll have to call back when we have your number."
i said: "the police might call you first".
she said: "that's ok"
i said goodbye and hung up.
this just goes to show that not only are they a fraud but that they are used to people calling back upset at them and they just calmly ignore you and will continue to call.
i was actually surprised that someone answered...
has anyone else here ever gotten an answer? maybe try calling today and see if you do too...
i sent a complaint to phonebusters but the only real place to complain is the police and i doubt that would do any good if these guys are around since 2005 and are still not shut down. too bad.

So tonight i get this call from this number saying my name and that its important and to push any buttom on my touch tone phone to speak to an agent. the message was automated number one clue in my brain because if a law office agent want to speak to me i would be getting a real person calling me, number two i live in alberta so its a two hour difference from ontario so they called at 5:47pm my time so thats 7:47pm ontario alittle past close don't ya think. number three when i called the number back they said all there agents were busy and to leave a message and someone will call back, no buisness hours and a message really. im not believing this crap for a min and i even check the natale law office web site and its a little plan jane .