I unexpectedly received a call from Incredible Discoveries. They want to set up an appointment with me to discuss some “possibilities”.
It is strictly an initial first-contact, exploratory call. The conversation went quickly where the purpose was to set up an appointment to discuss further with a “Senior Director of New Product Development”.
I am certainly intrigued with what they have in mind. However, at this point, I am unclear. The call was a bit of a blur and I think they mentioned something about “lease-options”.
I am guessing they noticed some of my lease-option books and they want to explore the idea of a new lease-options product and see if it is feasible for an infomercial.
I am not overwhelmingly optimistic because I think most infomercials don’t really tell it like it is and it is overwhelmingly salesy. I really don’t want or need the “ick” factor attached to my name.
Update: You can read my impression of the subsequent phone calls. Basically, Incredible Discoveries wanted $75,000 from me to “get started”. I got very suspicious and quickly said, “No thank you”.
It appears persistence and momentum does pay off. WRBL News 3 finally paid attention to the Cobra Collection scam story on June 14, 2007. However, they called it the “Cobra Collection Controversy“. Boy, is that an understatement. I liked WTVM’s title much better because it was more bold but also accurate. In their broadcasts, they titled it a “business scam” and “collection scam”.
I don’t really know how the process of getting a local story on-air at all. I have managed to stumble my way through the process a few times but it has always been a chaotic process. But I am happy Janice Park of WRBL finally caught wind of it and decided to move on it.
She said my email sounded like I was angry with them (WRBL). Actually, I was more frustrated because I didn’t understand why I got a poor response. I thought there was so much put together and the client accounts of $6 million would be large enough.
I was thinking to myself, does Cobra Collections have have to blow up a building or the client accounts to reach $10 million to make the news? If it wasn’t going to be a good story, why not? I simply wanted to know.
Anyhow, after scrambling around making calls, I provided Janice Park a list of people who would appear on camera to talk. Steve Klemetti of Central Print & Signs and Nancy Wilhite of Dr. Jay Brodwyn’s office were both willing to help the cause. I was grateful and they did a fantastic job.
In my interview with WRBL, I attempted to be concise. As always, it was interesting to see what they would choose to air. I looked like hell after standing in the sun sweating while talking to the cameraman. But we finally came into my air-conditioned private office and knocked out the interview.
The June 14, 6pm airing was nice clocking at nearly 3 minutes, however the 11pm airing was a bit more disappointing. Nevertheless, it was far more than we were getting before. You could see my website CobraCollectionScam.com in the news story.
I asked Janice Park to be straight with me after I thanked her. I said if this piece was done and did not warrant an update, I would not supply her any new information. I had said the same thing to Zaneta Lowe of WTVM. Fortunately, both reporters were open to updates. So, for now, I have a direct line and email to the two reporters if there are any significant developments.
Tony Calloway, a member of The Investors Roundtable, and I are sponsoring an experimental real estate portfolio-building session for the Primerica group he leads in Columbus, GA. The session will be present to a small group on Monday, June 18, 2007.
The idea for this experimental session was born from a discussion Tony and I had after I had attended one of his Introductory meetings. I found the session interesting and enlightening. However, I also found that were opportunities to advance the level of information and opportunities for the Primerica representatives. These Primerica “reps” already have some level of success and I thought it might be interesting to see how they responded to the portfolio-building ideas and concepts that Wes and I practice in real life which Tony is now learning.
Because Tony and I are big believers of collaboration and we believe that “small ventures lead to bigger ventures”, we both decided this might be fun to try.
I have heard of Primerica for years and never really learned much about it. However, my relationship with Tony has warmed me up to the company. It appears to be a reputable organization unlike many network marketing organizations I have seen. The fact Primerica appears to be tied to Citigroup is certainly not a bad thing.
The question of “How will Primerica representatives respond to the idea of real estate portfolio-building?” will soon be answered. I am looking forward to presenting my material in my “direct and real” style to an entirely new audience.
Tony, the forward-thinking and optimistic fellow he is, is already priming me up for the possibility of a follow-up session! I told him that we would see how it goes!
In today’s story, Zaneta Lowe interviewed a previous landlord of Cobra Collections. Additionally, she recapped the previous story while introducing my newest website, CobraCollectionScam.com. You can view the news clip on that site.
CobraCollectionScam.com continues to grow with the surge of new reports and information coming in. The stories has helped trigger 3 ex-employees to read the website and come forward.
Zaneta has once again done a great service to the local business community.
The onslaught of information being submitted for CobraCollectionScam.com has taken a significant amount of my time this past week.
I obviously am not required to volunteer my time to sort, organize, and report the new Cobra Collection Agency and Janice Ledden information being submitted to me. However, I also realize very few people have the flexibility of time, the skills, the means, and the internal fortitude to commit to this course of action.
For years, I have lived and worked in Columbus, GA relatively anonymously. And now, I find myself in a more visible position in the local area. Not to mislead anyone to think that I am “famous” locally, but I have met and interacted with more new local people this past week than I have in 3-4 years time!
I think (and hope) I will soon hit a stopping point where I do not have to continually update information. I believe I have captured most of the important background information but new information and stories could be submitted.
The upside to all of this is that I do not think my time is being wasted. This new website has shot to the first page within Google on various search names and phrases within a few days. Obviously, this blog has gathered a lot more local interest than it ever has before.
Sure, I don’t mind being better known but for leading the charge on scam-busting? That will be an interesting title to add to my resume.
Two days ago local TV station WTVM Channel 9 got wind of the brewing Cobra Collections story here in the Columbus GA area. Zaneta Lowe, reporter for WTVM, paid a visit to Janice Ledden and several “victimized” business customers. I was one of those unhappy business customers. I was informed that a fellow business associate, Lisa Mize, of Coldwell Banker Kennon, Parker, Duncan, & Key’s Rental Department, passed my name along as the keeper of the Cobra Collection Agency web page.
Zaneta Lowe left a message for me yesterday morning. I returned her call around 1pm and she said she was doing a story that would appear at 5pm. I thought to myself that was very quick but they were committed to doing it. I informed Zaneta that she needed to be aware of the web page which had more complete information than any one person would know.
Initially, I did not plan to meet with her. However, seeing as she was going to run the story, I thought I had to accommodate her. They came over to my home and we sat discussing the situation and story. While the cameraman was filming, the camera ran out of film which interrupted our flow. Then, the camera ran low in battery power which caused another interruption. I bring that up because I provided far more information than what was displayed on the aired story where I stumbled on my words. I suppose you just never know what will make it on camera and what will be left behind.
In any case, the TV story meant that people are starting to take seriously the Cobra Collections situation I reported months ago. Surprisingly, Janice Ledden volunteered to talk to Zaneta. I suppose if she tried to avoid it, it would have made herself look worse.
In any case, the story was covered several times between Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 on the various newscasts. I was informed it also made it to the news FOX affiliate (and sister station) WXTX-54 broadcast at 10pm. A good number of people I know saw the story. I had no idea so many people watched the news.
I received an unsolicited email today from Jennifer, an office manager based in Sumner, GA. Her company is the latest victims of Janice Ledden and Cobra Collection Agency. It appears she Google searched Cobra and found my blog report. I spoke to Jennifer earlier today and received permission to share her information. Jennifer provided me information to follow-up with our local Better Business Bureau (BBB).
As I suspected, my company and I are not the only victims of this crooked collection agency. I knew victims would eventually want to start looking for ways to take action against Cobra Collection Agency.
Essentially, all anyone has to do is contact the Better Business Bureau in Columbus, GA to submit a complaint. If you do a search on “Cobra Collections”, you will find all the contact information made available to the general public.
The latest phone and FAX numbers (which were previously unknown to me) are: 706.562.2343 and 706.562.2347 respectively. It appears I was correct in my last post. They changed their phone numbers. I suspect their old phone lines were simply getting “too popular”. Imagine that.
Because I foresee more updates from various people coming out of the woodwork, I have created a new Category just for Cobra Collections Agency on this blog. I truly hate dwelling on the negativity of it all. But I cannot stand idly by and do nothing when it is in my power to help the situation. By comparison, I have lost relatively little money compared to the reports coming in.
Up to this point, I have kept my personal opinions to a minimum. But as more information comes in, I will be providing more insights as to what I think is happening. For now, I will continue collecting and reporting information for my fellow business community members in Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL.
I unfortunately last year had Cobra Collections to work some delinquent accounts of mine. You can only guess what has happened. They have collected my monies and I in return have got nothing. I am now going through my accounts and getting them to get me all the cleared checks so I can pursue a suit against this company. I did make a call into a Nicole Dickerson at the attorneys number you had listed on your site. I just wanted to say thank you for listing this info. I would not have had any other way of knowing who to call. I have been on the phone with the BBB and they have been very helpful. I also wanted to give you COBRAS new number. I have not called them because I didn’t want to scare them into changing there number again until I can get all my info together. For your info 706-562-2343. I may not be able to get any of my money out of them but I would like to let them know they cannot do this to people.
Again, thank you so much for your blog.
Jennifer xxxxx (Last name & company name deleted intentionally)
Bettie Corbin Tucker has once again taken the time to review one of my newest audio programs, “The TurnKey Investor’s Rental Property Repossession”.
If you have deadbeat tenants who aren’t paying the rent on time or perhaps driving you out of your mind with lease violations, The TurnKey Investor”s Rental Property Repossession by Matthew S. Chan is exactly what you need. My husband and I, as landlords, have experienced some very strange happenings with our tenants: one tried to grow marijuana on the property and another kept an alligator in the basement.
Evicting tenants via the court system can be a lengthy and costly procedure one most property managers and landlords would like to avoid; however, many of them have been brainwashed into believing that eviction is their only option. Matthew Chan, a real estate investor and property manager, personally convinced me in this audio program that there are other legal, as well as quicker, ways to get tenants to move out. Listen with an open mind and learn from this excellent teacher.
Although Mr. Chan specializes in lease options, his intent is to keep many properties without losing money because of non-paying tenants. As a teen he gained much expertise in regard to leases, agreements, and business letters since his mother owned rental property. This gave him a head start when he began building his own investment portfolio in 2000. With the help of a partner, he continued to expand his business, and today, he is recognized as an expert in the field of real estate investing.
This audio program came into being because Mr. Chan saw a definite need for property managers and landlords to have information on “unconventional” ways to deal with deadbeat tenants stressing that sometimes diplomacy is easier and less expensive than the bureaucracy of the legal system. When posting to a real estate message board on this subject, he had some very negative reactions. One responder said the author was presenting a theory as opposed to fact. However, the individual was wrong as Mr. Chan based his information on personal experience and an astounding decrease in his eviction rate by 80 percent. With proven results, this is fact and not theory!
Admittedly, there are times that an eviction may prove to be the only way to go; however, this should not be the first course of action. The author lists the many glitches that property managers and landlords encounter with the eviction system glitches that result in loss of money and time. He also acknowledges to landlords that there are benefits to evicting, such as having the power of the law and state government on their side. It is obvious that a decision has to be made, and Mr. Chan provides common-sense advice on how to determine whether or not to evict. He also reminds students that they must know landlord/tenant laws in their state.
The author stresses that if tenants are respectful, cooperative, and communicative, it is best not to evict. In talking with tenants, he strives for a personal talk and not a personal attack, using negotiating skills with firmness and a clear approach. In most cases he believes that tenants aren’t trying to steal but simply can”t budget their money or control their lives.
Mr. Chan lists three alternatives to eviction: classifying property as abandoned, paying off or bribing tenants, and getting a signed release. Although he has classified property as being abandoned, he has never paid a tenant off to vacate property even though, in some situations, he suggests it might be financially advisable. However, he personally believes in serving the greater good via eviction as opposed to rewarding bad behavior.
Matthew Chan likes to recommend the “Signed Release System” calling this a clean process that has the cooperation of tenants. He lists the requirements for being willing to accept a signed release as well as the terms and rights of the agreement. Mr. Chan points out the importance of not stressing collections while trying to get an agreement, reminding listeners that plans for scheduled payments will be made down the line. One aspect of this agreement that tenants will find favorable is that they will have no eviction record to haunt them when trying to find housing in the future. There is a four-step policy for release that, when carried out successfully, will save property managers and landlords much time and expense. It bears repeating that by obtaining signed releases, the author has eliminated 80% of his evictions. That is money in the bank!
It is worthwhile to note that the author presents case study experiences to demonstrate some of the procedures he outlines in this audio program. He is forthright in sharing mistakes that he has made as well as success stories. Matthew Chan is real, honest, wise and a great instructor.
At the end of the CD, there is a bonus section in which the author discusses when and how to use collection agencies to collect lost rents and bad debts. Again, he backs up his words with statistics from personal experiences.
This audio program provides much valuable data that is long overdue. Perhaps property owners and landlords will rethink their position on routine evictions and opt for a system that results in less frustration and faster results.
I recommend The TurnKey Investor”s Rental Property Repossession as a “must-own resource” not only as a long-time publisher and nationally published author, but as a landlord who intends to follow Matthew Chan”s advice in the future.
Bettie Corbin Tucker
For Independent Professional Reviewers
Typically, I would not make a post of this kind here. But seeing as I have found some information on Google which negatively associates me with Cobra Collection Agency of Columbus, GA, I must post a response that will also be Google-able (is that a word?) to offset that negative association.
I won’t get into lots of details here but I will reveal some undeniable and absolutely verifiable information. But there are some things I want to make absolutely clear here.
As of December 2006, I (as president of my corporation) issued a written Cease and Desist Order to Cobra Collection Agency that we did not want to utilize their collection services any longer (verifiable through a letter I wrote).
After months of asking for reports and payments (absolutely verifiable through a series of emails and letters), it became too problematic to work with the owner, Janice Ledden, her staff, and firm any longer. A bad working relationship had to end.
We finally did get a report and a check. But then that check bounces (absolutely verifiable through a copy of the NSF check). I have charged my law firm to collect from them. Can you imagine that? Collecting from a collections agency? How ironic is that? Time will tell if I will get any money from Cobra Collection Agency at all. If not, I will consider it a valuable lesson learned indeed.
There was a time I was friendly with Cobra Collection Agency and I volunteered to register and set up a website called cobraagency.com. I have no ownership or management interest in the company. The only relationship I have with them is simply as an ex-client. I have relinquished the domain cobraagency.com back to the public. I want nothing to do with it and regret registering it as it has been misinterpreted by others that I may have had an ownership or management interest in Cobra Collection Agency. It is simply not true and not the case.
I have my suspicions and opinions of what is going on but I cannot publicly say it. Nor is it really that important. What is important to the public at large is that I issued a Cease and Desist Order in December 2006 and wished I had done it sooner. Getting a NSF check from them only reinforced my thought that I did the right thing.
I typically do not write commentary on movies. While I do enjoy movies and have a respectable DVD collection, I do not usually go to movie theatres and critique movies.
Recently, I had the occasion to see two very extraordinary movies. Unlike many movie critics, I don’t actively look for things wrong with the movie or dissect it unreasonably. I look to have a stimulating and entertaining experience. And if I happen to be moved and inspired along the way, all the more better.
I think we are a product of what we listen, watch, and believe. The inputs shapes us in strange, subtle ways. With inspirational movies, it doesn’t have to be subtle. It can be can be overt and impactful. I love those kinds of movies which motivates, inspires, and empowers people.
The two movies I am referring to are “The Pursuit of Happyness” and “Freedom Writers”. Both of these movies are exceptional movies especially to those who are part of the empowerment, motivational, and inspirational communities.
Like great movies before them, these movies are about overcoming incredible odds to achieve meaningful success. And the nice thing about these movies is that they are based on true stories!
“The Pursuit of Happyness” is about Chris Carter who, over twenty years ago, was a homeless single father struggling against incredible odds to support his son and become a stock broker which eventually lead him to starting his own firm and ultimately becoming rich and influential today. When I watched this movie, there were many funny parts. But in putting myself in the character’s shoes, I wondered if I could have done the things that were portrayed to overcome life’s obstacles. I came out of that movie inspired and moved that nearly all obstacles can be overcome with enough work and determination.
“Freedom Writers” was an unexpected movie for me. I was interested in the movie based on Hillary Swank (a favorite actress) and her character’s challenge of dealing with troubled and underprivileged teens. Little did I know, it was based on a true story! It was based on English teacher, Erin Gruwell, and her passion and determination to make a difference in these troubled teens lives through the power of written journals. For many years, I never thought I would ever become a writer, author, or publisher. And yet, along the way, I learned the power of self-expression through writing. It truly is an experience like no other especially when you realize other people are reading your work. For the students, they knew their teacher were reading and listening privately. And this, I believe, served as a catalyst for the release of inner frustrations, fears, insecurities, anxieties, these teens felt. Through writing, they could release these emotions in a healthy and even therapeutic way.
I never liked English very much as a subject in school but I did learn enough and appreciate it enough to know that I had to learn it to be respected in society. I saw the negative perception and consequence of people who did not adequately learn written English.
Erin Gruwell started the Freedom Writers Foundation. While I do not yet know much about the foundation itself beyond what the website says, I was moved enough by the movie to read the website. I have never met Erin Gruwell but I can say she has proven you can make a difference in this world if you put your mind to it.
Too many people say they do not have enough money and time to help. What a crock of shit when I hear that. Everyone can contribute in their own way to the world. Money is not the only currency in this world. Passion, love, and lots of action carries a lot of weight also.
It appears persistence and momentum does pay off. 
Zaneta Lowe has quickly followed up on the heels of her 
Bettie Corbin Tucker has once again taken the time to review one of my newest audio programs, “The TurnKey Investor’s Rental Property Repossession”.
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