by Paul MankinIs Pinnacle Recovery, Inc. Harassing You?
Pinnacle Recovery, Inc.
Pinnacle Recovery, Inc. (Pinnacle) provides third-party debt collection services. Pinnacle was founded in 2000 and is located in Carlsbad, California.
Publicly on its website, Pinnacle claims to be in the business of providing professional, efficient and ethical resolution of delinquent and defaulted receivables, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received consumer complaints against Pinnacle that highlight unethical and unlawful debt collection practices. Pinnacle is most commonly reported for engaging in the following unlawful practices:
- Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
- Making false statements;
- Improperly discussing the consumer’s debt with a third party;
- Harassing consumers by calling repeatedly;
- Threatening to take legal action if payment is not made; and
- Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.
For example, Pinnacle Recovery improperly contacted a consumer’s employer. In doing so, Pinnacle left a detailed voicemail on the employer’s answering machine that provided personal information about the consumer’s debt.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RDCPA) regulate debt collectors’ communications with third parties. A debt collector is only permitted to contact a third party when the debt collector reasonably believes that person would have information regarding the consumer’s location or telephone number. Additionally, the debt collector cannot inform any third party, other than a consumer’s spouse or attorney, that the consumer owes a debt.
The consumer reported this violation to the CFPB and the matter was resolved with monetary relief to the consumer.
Creditors and debt collectors should be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being harassed or subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold Pinnacle accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs California Business Bureau, Inc Harassing You?
California Business Bureau, Inc.
California Business Bureau, Inc. is a collection agency located in Monrovia, California. The company collects for medical debts and has been in business for 43 years.
1711 S Mountain Ave
Monrovia, CA 91016-4256
(800) 755-1515
While the company’s website claims that it “provides training that emphasizes professionalism and courtesy, along with adherence to rules and regulations stipulated by the FDCPA” a look at the consumer complaints filed against it clearly shows that is not true. In the last three years the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”) has received 22 complaints about California Business Bureau, Inc. Additionally, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a government agency charged with protecting consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices, has received 211 complaints about California Business Bureau, Inc. since 2013. According to the complaints, the collection agency regularly commits the following violations of the FDCPA:
- Attempts to collect debt from the wrong person
- Refuses to send debt verification information to consumers
- Attempts to collect fees and additional charges not authorized by law
- Uses profane and abusive language
- Speaks with third parties about consumers’ debt
- Makes repeated telephone calls to consumers
- Attempts to collect debts that were paid or discharged in bankruptcy
- Threatens to have consumers arrested if they do not pay their debt
A large number of the complaints against California Business Bureau, Inc. also allege that the company reports negative account information to credit reporting agencies about consumers it knew or should have known was false. In one case, a consumer had information removed from all three of his credit reports because the last name, address, and social security number of the debtor did not match his. Almost two years later, the same negative information reappeared on all three of his reports. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RDCPA) prohibit debt collectors and creditors from communicating false credit information or information that should be known to be false.
A search of Justia court filings shows that a number of California residents who were harassed by California Business Bureau, Inc. have sued for violations of the FDCPA.
Creditors and debt collectors should be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being harassed or subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold California Business Bureau, Inc. accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs ABC Collectors, Inc. Harassing You?
What is ABC Collectors?
ABC Collectors is known as a debt collections services company. Established in 1964, they have been in business for approximately 55 years, and have plenty of years under their corporation heading. Although they are fairly high standing, and do not have as many complaints lodged against them as other debt collection agencies, they still have been seen to use some underhanded methods of collecting on debts, some of which may infringe upon your rights.
Is ABC Collectors a legit Debt Collection Agency?
ABC Collectors are a legitimate debt collection agency. Operating out of Kalispell, Montana, they have been operating within the Montana area for 55 years. Their contact representative is Noah Bodman, who is listed as the owner of the facility. They currently hold a rating of A+ with the Better Business Bureau, with no complaints on their platform. However, the ratings do not take into account customer reviews.
ABC Collectors Contact Information
Address: 130 5th St E, Kalispell, MT 59901-4950
Fax Number: 1-(406)-752-8005
Phone Number: 1-(888)-418-8001
Other Phone: 1-(406)-752-8005
Website: http://www.abccollectorsinc.com
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
ABC Collectors, Inc.
P.O. Box 1099
Kalispell, MT 59903
Does ABC Collectors have Complaints against them?
ABC Collectors currently have no complaints against them through the Better Business Bureau. They do have one complaint lodged against them through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s consumer complaint database. They have also been involved in a court case over a specified amount of debt that was incurred by a debtor.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
Although minimal, the complaint that they had filed against them back in 2018 through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s consumer complaint database highlights the some of the harassment, abuse, and underhanded methods debt collectors will use in an attempt to elicit a payment from you.
The complaint lodged specifically dealt with an issue of late or misguided information. The victim reportedly filed that they were billed in 2018 for a debt that they needed to pay on a medical bill. They ascertain that they were given information on the debt itself, but were given no notice of a right to dispute the claim of debt.
There was also a case involving ABC Collectors with regard to a medical debt in 2006. In this case, it was seen that ABC Collectors had billed the victim for a medical charge checked at over $11,000. However, the victim disputed that the bill was not accurately given to them, and that they were not informed of the debt until penalties were incurred.
As such, the issues seen center around either misinformation on the part of ABC Collectors, or shallow and shady practices that is borderline debt collector harassment and abuse.
Are the Practices of ABC Collectors Legal?
Although they have not done anything illegal that has been documented, their usage of certain practices do deem them difficult to deal with. Debt collector abuse and harassment is very prevalent in the industry, and can come in many forms and shapes. If you are not properly informed or educated on these kinds of harassment, you may fall prey to a debt collector collecting on an imaginary debt.
There exist many types of harassment methods from collection agencies. Multiple phone calls, robocalls, and emails can all be considered harassment if done outside of proper hours, or if done in excess. This falls under the FDCPA, or Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. These laws prevent debt collectors from using underhanded and abusive methods, such as:
- Abusive or threatening language
- Harassment and threatening of physical harm
- Using false or misleading information to attempt to collect a debt
These are just a few of the practices and methods that a debt collection agency may attempt to harass and force you to pay a debt that may or may not be your own.
How can I protect myself and fight back against ABC Collectors?
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to defend and shield yourself from the constant harassment of a debt collector. If you are currently being harassed, or feel you may start getting harassed, it is best to enlist the assistance and help of an experienced debt collector harassment lawyer or attorney.
Having an attorney by your side with experience and knowledge about how debt collectors tend to work can ensure that you are safe against some of their more underhanded methods. Our collection harassment attorneys here at Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC bring with them a wealth of knowledge, such as how to report and stop harassment from debt collectors, what debt collector harassment is, and how long debt collector harassment will last. They can also assist in helping you build a case against them,
The most important step when protecting yourself against debt collectors such as ABC Collectors, however, is to remain vigilant in your attempt to reclaim your money through compensation. It may seem daunting and difficult to win against a large corporation, but with the right team and right help, you can ensure that the harassment stops, and that the abuse is reported. If you have ever been the subject of:
- Multiple calls per week from a third party collection agency
- Multiple calls in the early morning or late night from debt collectors.
- Violent and belligerent language and harassment from debt collectors.
- Threats of arrests or poor credit due to outstanding debts.
- Having your friends, family, and coworkers harassed from debt collectors.
- Automated robocalls from third party collection agencies.
If you feel that ABC Collectors, Inc. is using unfair or abusive practices in order to collect a debt from you, it is time to hold them accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation case review at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs the collection agency Affiliated Creditors, Inc. harassing you?
Debt collection agencies vary greatly in the type and size of business they operate under. Affiliated Creditors, Inc is one of the rare debt collection agencies that have a very deep history, reaching all the way back to 1981. A long history means they are good at making money, not necessarily good or legal in the way that they collect. That being said, we can take a look at this agency to uncover the details surrounding their business practices.
WHAT IS AFFILIATED CREDITORS, INC?
Affiliated Creditors, Inc. provides “innovative debt recovery solutions” for their clients of varying size. Operating out of Nashville, TN, the agency claims to provide options for debt collection in an efficient manner. Many clients have trusted the brand over the years, enough so to establish a long-running history.
Is Affiliated Creditors, Inc a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Affiliated Creditors, Inc. is very much a legit debt collection agency. Their existence as an established business is evidence enough to show that they are legit and have yet to run in to any legal trouble for illegal business practices.
Affiliated Creditors, Inc. Contact Information:
Address: 176 Thompson Lane, Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37211
Website: http://affiliatedcreditors.com
Phone Number: (615) 331-1826
Toll Free: 1 (800) 365-7558
Does Affiliated Creditors, Inc have Complaints against them?
As with just about any debt collection agency, there have been complaints made against Affiliated Creditors, Inc. That being said, these complaints may not be justified to the fullest extent people play them out to be, as some debt collection practices are actually acceptable. While the Better Business Bureau does not show any open or pending complaints against Affiliated Creditors, Inc., other sites show some issues with the agency.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
Two consumers have filed complaints that the agency has pursued debts against them that were actually not owed. This may come down to a disagreement of facts between the debtor and creditor, not necessarily equating to something to wrongful acts on behalf of hte agency. One other complaint filed on this same site was for “communication tactics”. The site for complaint filing does not go into the specifics of the complaints and it does not appear that the agency has bothered contesting these complaints, possibly meaning the complaint site is not a very legit source for filing complaints.
Are the Practices of Affiliated Creditors, Inc Legal?
While consumers have filed complaints against the agency, there are little facts or evidence to indicate that the agency has done anything illegal. As such, with their long running history and lack of legal problems, one can assume that Affiliated Creditors, Inc. is using practices within the scope of the law. Innocent until proven guilty, even when dealing with debt collection agencies.
How can I protect myself and fight back against Affiliated Creditors, Inc?
While this agency seems to be legit and dealing within its legal limits for debt collection, this does not mean you should let down your guard when you receive communications from this agency. By all reasonable means, you should always pay close attention to methods of communication, statements made and threats placed toward you.
In the event that the debt collection agency makes false threats or wrongful accusation, you should reach out to an attorney familiar with creditor rights. Do not be put into a situation where your rights are taken for granted simply because you are intimidated.
Take care of yourself by contacting our firm at Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC today to schedule your free consultation. Attacking any improper collection tactics right from the start can help you further down the road in any case against an agency. We are collection harassment attorneys.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency Alliance CAS, LLC harassing you?
What is Alliance CAS, LLC?
Founded in September of 2018, Alliance CAS, LLC is a relatively new debt collector that conducts business in Florida and is incorporated in Delaware. Under the direction of its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Judd Lorson, Alliance CAS, LLC operate as a fully-licensed third-party debt collection agency that is contracted by community associations (HOAs) to collect debts on their behalf. They have approximately 11 employees and reportedly conduct around $1.1M in annual business. Alliance CAS, LLC also conducts business under the alias ‘Alliance CAS Buyer LLC.’
Is Alliance CAS, LLC a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Yes, they are legit. Alliance CAS, LLC’s has been recognized by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since February 2019 but is not BBB-accredited and the BBB listing has not been claimed by the business owner. While they have not been around long, Alliance CAS, LLC does appear to be a legitimate debt collection agency.
Alliance CAS, LLC Contact Information:
1855 Griffin Rd STE A407
Dania Beach, FL 33004-2209
(954) 981-1116 (phone)
What kind of complaints does Alliance CAS, LLC have against them?
Alliance CAS, LLC maintains a ‘B-‘ BBB rating. It has received five BBB consumer complaints and eight Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaints in its short time in business. Most complaints appear to regard collection attempts on legitimate debts where the amount of the debt is inaccurate or where the collector added on its own fees and interest. If true, these are great examples of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations. In a couple of cases, Alliance CAS, LLC allegedly attempted to seize property without first informing the debtor of the collection attempt or giving the debtor the opportunity to defend against the collection. All of these practices are unlawful under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and could entitle you to $1,000 per violation, as well as other state and federal remedies.
Are Alliance CAS, LLC‘s Practices Legal?
It is illegal under the FDCPA for a debt collector to attempt collection on an amount more than you owe, which appears to be a somewhat common practice for Alliance CAS, LLC. It is also unlawful under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for a collector to make other false statements about the amount or the nature of the debt (e.g., tacking on their own fee and calling it ‘interest’) or about the actions they intend to take, such as threatening legal action over bad debt. If Alliance CAS, LLC has used any of these practices in collection efforts against you, you might have a claim against them under the FDCPA and RFDCPA.
How can I defend myself against a debt collector like Alliance CAS, LLC?
If you receive a collection attempt from Alliance CAS, LLC with unknown fees or other false or suspicious information, you should consult with an debt collection harassment attorney as soon as possible to learn about your rights before attempting to resolve the matter with the debt collector. If you believe you have a claim for creditor harassment or are a victim of another violation of state or federal debtor’s rights, you should speak with a consumer rights lawyer or debt collection harassment attorney immediately. Contact us today to discuss your matter and see how we can help at no cost to you.
You can also reach out to the Florida Attorney General’s Office or the Delaware Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Unit.
Complaints regarding a collector in any state may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357), and complaints regarding any collector or other business can be made at BBB complaints. To learn more about how the federal government regulates debt collection and protects debtors and other individuals from collector harassment, see FTC Debt Collection pamphlet.
by Paul MankinLarry Albers, Esq.
Larry Albers, Attorney
Location: California
Phone: 858-732-5072
Fax: 323-207-3885
Larry is a native Texan who spent most of his life in Central before relocating to Southern California. He received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 2012. He has spent most of his legal career on the defense side, representing cities, retail establishments and insurance companies. Since joining the Law Office of Paul Mankin in 2019, he has enjoyed the switch to fighting for the rights of consumers. He is experienced in handling all types of cases, including personal injury, debt collection relief and landlord/tenant issues. He is always willing to do whatever he can to help his clients.
Outside of the office, Larry can be found spending time with his wife and young son enjoying all that San Diego has to offer.
by Paul MankinIs the collection agency Advantage Assets, II, Inc. harassing you?
When it comes to debt collectors and harassment coming from debt collection agencies over things like credit cards, it can be extremely disheartening and overwhelming. No matter which direction you turn, it always feels like someone wants to just get your money, and if you don’t comply, they will attempt to extort it to you through very difficult means.
However, there are cases where you may actually be correct, and that the company that is attempting to ask for payments are scammers hoping for a quick pay day. In these instances, it can be difficult to tell who is legitimate, and who is not. Such is the case of Advantage Assets II, Inc, a company that may have other affiliations within the debt collection business. Here is what you need to know if you have been contacted by Advantage Assets II, Inc.
What is Advantage Assets II, Inc?
Advantage Assets II Inc has little known about them, and not much information to go by. The little known information given has them listed as a debt buyer within the state of Texas. They are affiliated with Advantage Assets, and are possibly the exact same company.
Is Advantage Assets II, Inc a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Currently, it seems as if they are a legitimate debt collection agency working through multiple avenues. There have been some push against them in terms of how they practice. However, not much else is known.
There is a strong affiliation possibility between Advantage Assets INC, and Advantage Assets II Inc., as implied by the name. Advantage Assets II Inc also has ties to LTD Financial Services.
There seems to be no affiliation between Advantage Assets II Inc and Advantaged Assets, who is listed on the Better Business Bureau, and is said to be in Louisiana.
There is no listed Advantage Assets or Advantage Assets II Inc within the Better Business Bureau database.
Advantage Assets II, Inc Contact Information
Address: 7322 Southwest Fwy, Ste 1600, Houston, Tx 77074
Phone Number: 1-(713)-414-2101
Does Advantage Assets II, Inc have Complaints against them?
There are currently no listed complaints against Advantage Assets II Inc on the BBB.
There are no current Complaints against Advantage Assets II Inc through the Consumer Complaint Database of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Does this mean that Advantage Assets II Inc is legitimate?
Although it may seem legitimate due to the name, do not be fooled. Due to the shallow information given, if you are contacted by Advantage Assets II Inc, there is a high potential for misuse or abuse of power through debt collection attempts.
If you are contacted by Advantage Assets, there is a possibility that they are a proper debt collection agency and should be followed up on.
There has also been legal action taken against Advantage Assets II Inc and LTD Financial Services. In March of 2018, on the Second of March, LTD Financial Services and Advantage Assets II Inc were hit with a debt collection class lawsuit. This lawsuit claims that LTD Financial Services and Advantage Assets II Inc misled the plaintiff concerning their right to sue the companies to collect on a purported debt. This is an obvious attempt at misinformation and misguidance in an attempt to secure payment or safeguard against retribution for their actions.
How can I protect myself and fight back against Advantage Assets II, Inc?
With their illegal activity breaching the FDCPA laws and regulations, it is important that you safeguard yourself against such advances made by Advantage Assets II Inc. You can do this in quite a few ways, but the first step would be to verify the debt and payments. Asking for more information, identification, and other such verification is not outside the scope of reality. It is within your right to ask for such information, especially since you’ll be the one to shoulder the debt if it is true.
Another way to protect yourself and fight back is to hire an experienced and well-versed debt collector harassment lawyer that will be able to help you. Here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC, we are experienced debt collection harassment lawyers and attorneys that can help to get you on the right path to fighting back against debt collection harassment.
Our attorneys are able to help you understand how long debt collectors are able to harass you for, as well as how to stop their harassment, and how to report their debt collection practices if they are illegal. They can assist you in understanding what is considered to be harassed by a debt collector, as well as help build a case against the debt collectors to help you get compensation in the case of illegal activities.
Remember, there is always a way to fight back. So don’t wait. If you feel you have been a victim of:
- Robocalls
- Harassment by Debt collectors
- Abusive or threatening language from debt collectors
- Threatening letters
- Improper or misinformation with regards to debts
Then you may have a case that can get you compensation for the harassment. Give us a call now, and start the fight back.
by Paul MankinIs Butte County Credit Bureau Harassing You?
Butte County Credit Bureau
Butte County Credit Bureau (BCCB) provides debt collection services, including litigation, attorney representation, credit reporting, and bad check recovery. BCCB was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Chico, California.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. The CFPB has received consumer complaints against BCCB. Most commonly, consumers complain that BCCB engages in the following unlawful debt collection practices:
- Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
- Using profane, obscene and/or abusive language; and
- Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.
A consumer complained that BCCB continued to harass the consumer to pay a debt that did not belong to the consumer. The consumer reported to the CFPB that they disputed the debt and requested validation of the debt; however, BCCB could not provide validation of the debt because the original creditor was no longer in business.
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), when a consumer requests proof of a debt, a creditor or debt collector must provide a response. Within five (5) days after its initial communication, the creditor or debt collector must send a notice, referred to as the G-Notice. A consumer then has thirty (30) days to dispute a debt and to request proof of the debt. Failure to respond to the request for proof of a debt is a direct violation of the law.
Creditors and debt collectors should be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being harassed or subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold Pinnacle accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs second Alliance, Inc. Harassing You?
Second Alliance, Inc.
Second Alliance, Inc. (Second Alliance) provides student loan collection services. It is located in Canoga Park, California.
According to its website, Second Alliance’s core values are service, leadership, and integrity with a focus on providing attention to the students, or in other words, the consumers. Although Second Alliance promises to collect debts with integrity, consumer complaints depict a company that engages in unfair and abusive debt collection practices. The Better Business Bureau gives Second Alliance a B- rating for failing to respond to consumer complaints. Additionally, despite being in operation for twenty (20) years, Second Alliance is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. To be accredited by the Better Business Bureau a company must demonstrate trust, honesty, transparency, responsiveness, and integrity.
In addition to the Better Business Bureau, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received numerous consumer complaints against Second Alliance. The CFPB is a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. Second Alliance is most commonly reported for engaging in the following unlawful practices:
- Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
- Improperly discussing the consumer’s debt with a third party;
- Attempting to collect an old debt;
- Harassing consumers by calling repeatedly and calling at places of employment; and
- Using obscene, profane, and/or abusive language.
A consumer filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau because Second Alliance made repeated and continuous phone calls. The consumer reported receiving four (4) phone calls a day from Second Alliance. The consumer reported these harassing debt collection practices to the Better Business Bureau. As a result of that complaint, Second Alliance agreed to cease collection activities on that account.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) prevent creditors and debt collectors from abusive and harassing debt collection practices. This includes calling consumers repeatedly or continuously with the intent to annoy, abuse or harass. Although federal and state law does not state the exact number of calls that would constitute harassment, there is a large volume of case law that interprets three (3) or more calls a day from the same debt collector to be harassing.
Creditors and debt collectors should be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being harassed or subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold Second Alliance accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency Asset Maximization Group harassing you?
When it comes to debt collection agencies, Asset Maximization Group is a new kid on the block. So, does this mean that they are legal, and upright in how they conduct business? That is what we will let you know, as it is important to know who you are dealing with. Here is what you need to know if you have been contacted by Asset Maximization Group about a debt, and how to defend yourself against their harassment.
What is Asset Maximization Group?
Asset Maximization Group Inc. is listed as a debt collections agency based out of New York. They are said to offer debt collection services to any and all people that need their help. They are said to serve the Metropolitan area of New York, and are headed by a Mr. T Neil Chan, who is listed as the president of the company.
Is Asset Maximization Group a legit Debt Collection Agency?
They are considered to be a legitimate debt collection agency. They were started in 2002, with their business file being opened in the Better Business Bureau database in 2007. They became accredited through the BBB in 2013, and have since been in operation for 17 years. They currently hold an A+ rating with the BBB, but have a 1 star out of 5 star average with one review on the BBB database.
Asset Maximization Group Contact Information
Address: PO Box 190191 S Richmond HI, NY 11419-0191
Website: Http://www.assetmax.net
Phone Number: 1-800-280-9770
Other Phone: 1-718-371-7000
Known Names: AssetMax
Does Asset Maximization Group have Complaints against them?
Asset maximization Group do have quite a few complaints made against them. Through the BBB database, there are 5 listed complaints that were closed within the last 3 years, with 1 being made within the last 12 months. They also have 1 customer review on the BBB database that rates them at 1 star out of 5 stars.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database shows 16 complaints matched to Asset Maximization Group as well.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
The complaints vary in issue and problem, but many center around the method of debt collection, as well as the amount that they attempted to collect on. The BBB database shows that all 5 of the complaints made are due to billing or collection issues. Indeed, the complaints made deal with the collection practices and methods being used that are illegal and predatory in nature. These include attempts at contacting family members, and giving false information while not authenticating the debts.
The CFPB’s CCD shows that the complaints made against Asset Maximization Group also deal with collection methods, as well as misinformation given by the debt collection agency that border on illegal practices. According to the complaints, many of the complaints state that the debts were already paid, or that the debts were not authorized for payments, and that the debt collection representatives attempted to utilize improper collection methods.
These methods that have been described above are dangerous and highly illegal if true. According to the Federal Debt Collection Practice Act, a debt collection agency or representative may not use the following when attempting to collect on a debt:
- Excessive calls/robocalls
- Threatening or abusive language
- Improper language or contact with family members/work place
- Misinformation or intentionally misguided information
- Threats of legal action and repercussions
Of those listed above, Asset Maximization Group has broken each of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act’s (FDCPA) laws and guidelines. These put them in illegal territory, with their actions being labeled as illegal and being punishable by law. This is what is known as debt collection harassment, and should be reported to the proper authorities.
How can I protect myself and fight back against Asset Maximization Group?
There are many ways that you can protect yourself against the predatory nature of Asset Maximization Group. The first step is to ask for authentication of the debt in question. Authenticating a debt just means you verify that the debt is legitimate and that they are not trying to scam you. This can be done by asking the debt collection agency for a detailed report of the debt, or asking to get in contact with the original debt holder before paying the debt. You may also ask to verify the representative’s place of work, ensuring that you are not talking to a scammer just using the Asset Maximization Group’s name.
Once you have verified the debt, you can ask them to stop the calls and harassment. This is well within your right, and is covered by the FDCPA. If they do not comply, and continue to try to call and get in touch with you, you may have a legal case on your hands. It is best to then look to hire a knowledgeable and professional debt collection harassment attorney or lawyer. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC are well-known for dealing with such cases, and have an excellent team ready to back you up. We can assist you in identifying the harassment, documenting it, and then reporting it to the proper authorities for good measure.
Not only can we help you to defend against harassment, we can also help to build a case, and assist you in understanding where the illegal collection patterns are for debt collectors. We are also able to help facilitate any communications or discussions between the parties, ensuring that nothing you say can be used against you.
The most important bit of information in your fight is to always remain vigilant. No matter who you have at your side, it can seem like a daunting battle against such a large company and agency. If you have ever been the subject of:
- Multiple calls per week from a third party collection agency
- Multiple calls in the early morning or late night from debt collectors.
- Violent and belligerent language and harassment from debt collectors.
- Threats of arrests or poor credit due to outstanding debts.
- Having your friends, family, and coworkers harassed from debt collectors.
- Automated robocalls from third party collection agencies.
Then you may have a case available. So do not wait, make sure to give us a call, and get started fighting back against the debt collection harassment.