Uncategorized Archives - Page 20 of 46 - The Law Office of Paul Mankin

Are You Receiving Harassing Phone Calls From American Express?

American Express Company

American Express Company (AMEX) is a Fortune 500 Company that provides charge and credit cards, and travel services to consumers. AMEX was founded in 1850 and is headquartered in New York, New York. According to the company’s website, AMEX has $189 billion in assets and a net income of approximately $6.9 billion. Its mission statement is to enrich customers’ lives, have their backs and provide AMEX’s special brand of service.

But instead of having customers’ backs, AMEX often engages in creditor harassment. Consumers have filed numerous complaints against AMEX to the Better Business Bureau. In the past three (3) years, 3,038 complaints have been filed, and 707 of those complaints are related to AMEX’s billing and debt collection practices. Specifically, AMEX has been accused of the following illegal debt collection practices:

Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
Attempting to collect a debt that has been paid;
Repeatedly contacting a consumer after being informed in writing to cease communication; and
Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.

In 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a Government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive and abusive debt collection practices, ordered AMEX to pay approximately $85 million to over 250,000 consumers for illegal credit card practices. The CFPB found that AMEX violated consumer protection laws at every stage of its consumer experience, including debt collection. As part of its debt collection practices, AMEX deceitfully misled consumers into believing that if they paid off old debt, then the payment would be reported to the credit bureaus and their credit scores would be improved. These were false statements because AMEX did not report the payments to the credit bureaus, and even if they had, most of the debt was so old that it would not have any impact on the consumers’ credit reports.

Both federal and California state law prohibit such deceptive practices. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) expressly prohibits creditors and debt collectors from making false and misleading representations to consumers.

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 AMEX accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is Account Control Systems harassing you?

Account Control Systems is a debt collection agency located in Montvale, New Jersey. It has been in business since 1999 and also uses the name Account Control Systems, Inc. The debt collection agency collects for all types of companies nationwide.

Contact Information:

85 Chestnut Ridge Rd Ste 113

Montvale, NJ 07645-1836

Phone: (201) 367-1622

http://www.accountcontrolsystems.com

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) each list one complaint filed against Account Control Systems. One of the consumers was unaware of any debt owed until a collection account from Account Control Systems appeared on a credit report and believes the debt to be a result of identity theft. It does not appear as if the consumer attempted to contact Account Control Systems before filing the complaint and according to the CFPB the complaint has been closed. The other complaint alleges that the collection company has failed to inform the original creditor that the account has been paid in full and false information is being reported to the credit reporting agencies as a result. The BBB’s website lists this complaint as unanswered by Account Control Systems. These may both be violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

The FDCPA is a federal law that was enacted to help protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, and abusive collection practices, the Act prohibits debt collectors from using certain tactics in order to collect on a debt. Some specific practices the Act prohibits include:

Failing to provide debt validation information to a consumer
Reporting false information to credit reporting bureaus
Falsely implying that a consumer can be arrested for not paying a bill
Continuing to call a consumer after receiving a letter asking them to cease all contact
Attempting to collect fees that were not provided for in the original contract
Failing to identify themselves and provide consumers with the mini-Miranda
Using profane, obscene, or abusive language
Calling a consumer at work when it knows the employer prohibits this type of call
Calling a consumer before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.

If you believe that Account Control Systems is using any unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in order to collect a debt from you, it is time to hold them accountable for their actions. We can help you stop the harassment, settle your debt, or even get you money from Account Control Systems– all at no cost to you! Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency Alexander Collections Agencies harassing you?

Getting a call from a debt collector can be an extremely scary thing. Whether they call inquiring about a debt, or threaten you with physical harm if the bill is not paid, debt collectors seem to have free reign when it comes to harassing and abusing you or those that you care very much about.

With the current system, however, there are limitations that are in place with how much, and how far, a debt collection agency is allowed to contact you. These only apply to those debt collectors that are legal and attempting to follow the laws. For some, they may be attempting to scam you, or frisk you for a free payday. These companies that operate outside of the law can be very dangerous, as they can sometimes see very legitimate

So, how are you able to tell who is a legal debt collector, and who is not? There are a few ways to tell. For one such debt collection agency, Alexander Collections Agencies, here are the details that you need to know about, as well as if they are legitimate or not.

What is Alexander Collections Agencies, and are they legit?

With a name such as given, Alexander Collections Agencies sounds to be a very legitimate agency. Alexander Collections Agencies may appear to be a normal legitimate company, but there is virtually no information about them online. Currently, the Better Business Bureau, the online listing for almost, if not all, legitimate companies around the United States, has no known information on an Alexander Collections Agencies.

Because of this, we would be very cautious about making any payments to Alexander Collections Agencies. If this name has been registered on a phone call or email you have received, then it is possible it is a scam, and the phone call should be handled cautiously. Not only that, ensure that you are protected and document what is said to you through either a phone call or email, as this information may be vital in upcoming attempts at threatening you by the scammers.

Alexander Collections Agencies Contact Information

There is no known contact information for Alexander Collections Agencies. The better business bureau has no registered information on their website, with no page on Alexander Collections Agencies.

Although the BBB not having information on them does not mean that they are immediately excluded as a legitimate business, it is a very good indication. The BBB is considered one of the most conventional and trusted websites of collections, and is used periodically as a resourceful site to see basic information on businesses. If the business is not on the website, there are two options: the business is too new to have a company page, or they did not exist in the first place. Generally, it is safe to assume that the latter is the appropriate reason.

What does this mean for you?

With all of this information at your fingertips, it is safe to assume you were contacted by a scammer attempting to collect on a fake bill. This is not uncommon, and can happen to anyone. Because of the tendency for people to panic and become fearful when being told that they have a bill of some sort, you can easily fall into a pit of despair. You may end up getting harassed and constantly approached by these scammers, and the harassment from the fake debt collectors can, in some cases, win out. This means you may have to contact law enforcement to help you out and protect you and your family.

How can I protect myself and fight back against Alexander Collections Agencies?

If you have been contacted by Alexander Collections Agencies, there are quite a few things that you can do. The first step that you can take to prevent any further harassment is, surprisingly, asking for verification of the debt. This can be done in a number of ways, but the simplest is to ask for proper identification and verification of the debt in written form. You may also do this through electronic registry checks, and asking for a way to verify it on your own. However, asking for a written document that states the validity of the debt is well within your rights as a potential debtor.

Another way to protect yourself is to look for an experienced and knowledgeable debt collection harassment attorney or lawyer who is familiar with all the laws under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. Although it may not seem like the most obvious move, getting an attorney or lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the industry will be able to point out where the laws have been broken. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have many knowledgeable and well-versed debt collection harassment attorneys that are able to help you in your fight against the scammers. We can assist you in taking the proper steps forward to reporting the harassment, as well stopping the harassment to possibly those that you love under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

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 by 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.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is The Best Service Company Harassing You?

The Best Service Company

The Best Service Company (TBSC) is a family-owned debt collection agency located in Culver City, California. It provides services for national, regional, and local banks and credit unions.

Numerous consumer complaints have been filed against TBSC. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers of unlawful debt collection practices by TBSC. After receiving similar complaints against TBSC, the Better Business Bureau contacted the company in November of 2018 to receive clarification on its business practices. The company never provided a response. Consequently, the Better Business Bureau gives TBSC a rating of “F.” Furthermore, TBSC 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 also received complaints from consumers regarding TBSC’s unlawful debt collection practices. The CFPB is a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. Consumers most commonly complain that TBSC engages in the following unlawful debt collection practices:

Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
Attempting to collect an old debt;
Making false statements;
Improperly discussing the consumer’s debt with a third party;
Continuing to contact consumers after being asked to cease communication; Using profane, obscene and/or abusive language;
Threatening to take legal action if payment is not made; and
Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.

One consumer reported that TBSC continuously attempted to collect a debt that was beyond the statute of limitations. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prevents creditors and debt collectors from filing lawsuits against old debt. Debt collectors only have a certain number of years to file a lawsuit to collect on a debt. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. In California, there is a four (4) year statue of limitation for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt. Debts that are beyond the statute of limitations are considered “time-barred.”

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 TBSC accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency Alco Collections harassing you?

Getting a notice about a debt that has gone unpaid can be a severely negative event. Getting a phone call about a debt can be even more so. However, getting constant robocalls or harassing phone calls will not only inhibit your daily life and activities, it can also have a physical drain on your health.

As such, knowing who is calling you and if they are legitimate can allow you to quickly assess the situation, as well as determine if the caller is a legitimate debt collector, or if they are attempting to scam you. Alco Collections is no exception to this. If you have been contacted by Alco Collections about a debt you may have, these are some of the facts that you need to know before moving forward.

What is Alco Collections?

Alco Collections is seen as a collections agency based in Louisiana. They have been in business for 28 years, and are headed by Mr. James Allen, who is listed as President and CEO of Alco Collections.

Is Alco Collections a legit Debt Collection Agency?

Alco Collections is considered to be a legitimate debt collection agency. They are situated out of Baton Rouge, LA, and are said to be in business for close to 34 years. They hold a currently A Rating through the Better Business Bureau. However, this does not take into account Customer Reviews. Alco Collections is not accredited through the BBB.

They currently have a 1.1 star rating out of 5 on the BBB website, with 5 customer reviews being cited.

Alco Collections Contact Information

Address: 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 702 Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Fax Number: 1-225-751-5659

Phone Number: 1-225-751-5660

Website: http://www.alcocollections.com

Does Alco Collections have Complaints against them?

Alco Collections has currently three complaints lodged against them within the last three years. They have one as recently as within the last year as well. There are also 5 customer reviews on the BBB, with all of them being 1 or 2 stars.

Alco Collections has 20 registered complaints lodged against them according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Complaint Database. Most of these complaints against Alco Collections allege violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

What kind of Complaints have been made?

Alco Collections has complaints of various integrity and issues. The primary complaints come from unprofessional, abusive, and negative language used when talking with clients and customers. Reviewers and consumers have stated that Alco Collections representatives used abusive language when attempting to collect on debts, even threatening harm to family members and coworkers of the consumers in question.

There are also statements that they do not return phone calls promptly even when they called earlier on the same day. There have been listed attempts to contact them regularly, with little to no success.

There are also complaints lodged stating that they attempted to collect on bills that are not under the called consumer’s name, and as such, attempted to use misinformation as a way to solicit a payment. Most of these complaints, if true, would be violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Are the Practices of Alco Collections Legal?

Of the practices stated by complaints, Alco Collections employs illegal and highly abusive practices in an attempt to solicit a payment.

Attempting to threaten a consumer to pay a debt through targeting family members or coworkers directly goes against the FDCPA laws and regulations. Aggressive tactics such as these are seen as debt collector harassment, and can be punishable by law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Utilizing and manipulating information in an attempt to scam or blackmail a consumer also goes against FDCPA regulations. Stated in 2018 by a complaint on the BBB, a consumer stated that they were never sent a bill for the debt, and were never able to verify the debt either as the representative hung up on them multiple times.

How can I protect myself and fight back against Alco Collections?

There are plenty of ways to protect yourself against such abusive and intrusive language and practices. The first is to verify if the debt is real. Verifying a debt is fairly simple. Simply contact the debt collection agent and ask for authorization and verification of the debt. This comes in many forms, such as a mailed form with information, or electronic information regarding the debt and where it comes from.

If you are fighting against debt collection harassment and abusive phone calls, it is best to contact a debt collection harassment attorney or lawyer who focuses in debt collector harassment and abuse. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC hold a great number of experienced and knowledgeable debt collection harassment attorneys that will be able to assist you with your harassment issues from debt collectors.

Not only can we help you to defend against debt collection 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.

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.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is Credit One Bank Calling or Harassing You?

Debt Collector Profile: Credit One Bank:

Name: Credit One Bank, N.A.

Headquarters: 6801 South Cimarron Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89113

Phone Number(s): (877) 825-3242  

CEO:  Robert Dejong

Annual Revenue: US$ 581 million (2017)

Website: https://www.creditonebank.com/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creditonebank/

Number of Employees: 625 (2017)

INTRODUCTION:

Founded in 1984, Credit One Bank specializes in the issuance of credit cards. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Credit One Financial, which is in turn affiliated with Sherman Financial Group, LLC through common ownership. Credit One Bank has issued over seven million credit cards throughout the US., primarily to customers with weak credit. 

Credit One Bank offers no fewer than seven different credit cards, each one subject to its own fees and cash back benefits. Consumers with credit scores as low as 300 can qualify for a secured or unsecured credit card. Because these credit cards are geared towards those with weak credit, people with strong credit, used to better terms, are unlikely to find Credit One’s credit terms acceptable. 

The Credit One Bank Platinum Visa is an unsecured credit card that is available to those with fair (but not poor) credit — no security deposit is required.  Many people with weak credit start out with a secured credit card simply to build their credit, and then graduate to an unsecured card later. Credit One Bank offers a “stairway” back to strong credit; however, many users have complained about various aspects of the system and about Credit One Bank’s behavior.

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS:

Many consumers have complained about Credit One Bank’s debt collection behavior. Following is a summary of their record with two consumer watchdogs, the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Affairs.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU:

Credit One Bank’s BBB profile displays an “A-” rating (which is virtually meaningless), and one out of five possible stars based on customer reviews. There have been 1,262 complaints filed against Credit One over the past three years. There are also  410 reviews on the BBB website, the overwhelming majority of which are negative. Nevertheless, Credit One Bank has been BBB-accredited since 2011.

Credit One Bank’s record shows  many complaints concerning various banking and collection issues. Consumers assert that Credit One Bank charges its customers without authorization (sometimes repeatedly), and that it often imposes unexplained fees. Consumers also complain that Credit One Bank sends inaccurate financial information to the three major credit reporting agencies — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS:

Like the BBB, Consumer Affairs is a private consumer watchdog. The following complaints have been recorded on the Consumer Affairs website.

Sending regular monthly bills to a non-customer in an apparent case of mistaken identity;

Too many fees for various purposes, many of them counter-intuitive and surprising;
Charging late fees or interest (or bth) against the accounts of customers who always pay on time;
Charging its customers for the privilege of making a payment;
Trying to trick customers into thinking they are Capital One;
Reporting inaccurate information to credit bureaus; and
Many other grievances.

CREDIT ONE AS A DIRECT CREDITOR:

Since Credit One Bank generally collects that are owed to it, rather than debts that are owed to someone else, it is not considered a “third party creditor” the way that a debt collection agency is. As such, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) does not apply to its activities. Many federal and state laws do apply, however — the California Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, for example. Nevertheless, its status as a direct debt collector limits its liability.

Another consequence of Credit One Bank’s status as a direct creditor that keeps it out of court (but doesn’t necessarily limit its liability) is that, like virtually all credit card issuers, it inserts a mandatory arbitration clause into its credit card agreements that keeps most disputes out of court by law. Arbitration proceedings, moreover, are not generally part of the public record. 

LAWSUITS AND SETTLEMENTS:

One example of the numerous legal actions that have been taken against Credit One Bank occurred in 2016, when a consumer filed a lawsuit against Credit One for over 3,000 telephone calls. These calls occurred despite the consumer demanding that Credit One stop calling him. 

Following is a short list of some of the other lawsuits that have been filed against Credit One Bank:

Are You a Victim of Debt Collection Abuse? Paul Mankin Can Help You Fight Back

Many consumers do not realize that even if they are delinquent debtors, they still enjoy considerable legal rights that they are entitled to enforce against abusive creditors — even to the point of turning the tables by demanding compensation from their creditors. If you are being subjected to any form of debt collection abuse, contact the Law Office of L. Paul Mankin, APC for a free consultation. Simply call us at 1-800-219-3577 or fill out our online contact form.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is Portfolio Recovery Associates Harassing You?

Portfolio Recovery Associates

Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA) is a third-party debt collection agency. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is based in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) is a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. The CFPB has received nearly 9,000 consumer complaints against PRA for unlawful debt collection practices. Consumers most commonly report that PRA engages in the following unlawful debt collection practices:

Attempting to collect a debt not owed by the consumer;
Improperly discussing the consumer’s debt with a third party;
Harassing consumers by repeatedly and frequently calling.
Continuing to call after being asked to stop; and
Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.

After receiving repeated calls from PRA, a consumer wrote a letter requesting that PRA cease all communication with the consumer. PRA continued to contact the consumer. The consumer began keeping a call log of all the phone calls PRA continued to make. The consumer then filed a complaint with the CFPB and provided the call log as evidence.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from communicating with a consumer after the consumer has informed them in writing to stop communication. Once the debt collector has received a letter requesting that all communication stop, the debt collector may only contact the consumer again to either inform the consumer that the debt collector is no longer seeking to collect the debt or to inform the consumer that the debt collector will be filing a lawsuit.

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 PRA accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is the collection agency Able Recovery Service harassing you?

Able Recovery Service holds the name that seems quite soft and easy to understand. They sound very promising, with the understanding that a service that helps you get back onto your feet would have the name Able Recovery. However, are they legal and legitimate? We dive into what we found out about Able Recovery Service, and if they are a proper debt collection agency or not.

What is Able Recovery Service?

Able Recovery Service is supposedly listed as a debt collection agency. However, not much is found about them. Looking through the Better Business Bureau, they have no recognizable page, and seem to not be a legitimate business at all. As there are no listings for Able Recovery Service, they may very well be a sham, with the next closest thing being Able Recovery, which is a rehab facility in Oklahoma.

Is Able Recovery Service a legit Debt Collection Agency?

As there is no discernable information about Able Recovery Service, it is safe to assume that they are not legitimate. There is no listing for them in the BBB, and no listings or information anywhere on the internet either. The closest that they do have is an addiction treatment center located in Oklahoma, which should have no discernible correlation with Able Recovery Service.

If you are contacted by someone stating that they are from Able Recovery Service, assume it is a scam, or a robocall that you should not answer, in case they attempt to take your information.

Able Recovery Service Contact Information

Currently, there is no listed information or contact information for Able Recovery Service. They have no known addresses for buildings, or a phone number, or fax number.

Does Able Recovery Service have Complaints against them?

They do not have any complaints filed against them. The Better Business Bureau and CFPB have no registered debt collection agency listed as Able Recovery Service.

Should I be worried about the Able Recovery Service?

There is a potential situation where the name Able Recovery Service is a false name given for a third party debt collection agency to harass and abuse customers and debtors with little to no backlash.

Debt collector harassment is very problematic, with many companies skirting the lines between legal and illegal practices. However, if a debt collection agency were to use a stand-alone name, or a fake name, they would have, for some time, unlimited access to abusing and harassing debtors without fear of repercussions.

Would this practice be legal?

Absolutely not. Harassment by debt collectors is against federal laws, as listed in the FDCPA. The FDCPA, or Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, was specifically passed to curb and safeguard debtors and people with debts against abusive behaviors and collection methods. These debt collector harassment practices can range in levels of severity. They include such things as:

Constant phone calls to your work or private numbers
Threatening letters and emails involving legal abuse
Harassing neighbors and friends and family for debt collection

These are just a few of the ways that debt collectors may attempt to extort and steal your hard earned money.

These practices are generally regulated by the legal authorities in different states. However, the main concern comes when the company attempting to collect from you has no past history, or traceable path for the collections.

How can I protect myself and fight back against Able Recovery Service?

If you or a loved one have been contacted by the Able Recovery Service, know that you have many rights at your disposal.

The first step that we recommend is to hire a professional and experienced debt collector harassment lawyer. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have many skilled and proficient attorneys and lawyers that are well-versed when it comes to debt harassment. We are able to help you stop the debt collector harassment, as well as report it to the proper authorities, ensuring that you will not be harassed any further.

If they continue, we are also able to help you build a case against them if it ever goes to court. We can help you file the information, as well as focus on the proper forms of harassment, and document where, and how long, the harassment has been going on for.

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.

Feel free to contact us at 1-800-219-3577. We are experience debt collection agency harassment attorneys and will provide you with a free no obligation case evaluation.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency Asset Acceptance harassing you?

Have you been getting phone calls from random numbers? Some calling warning you that you have an outstanding debt that needs to be paid off? If you have, then you know the feeling of being lost and confused when it comes to debt collection agencies and their tactics. Debt Collection Agencies such as Asset Acceptance may use very aggressive tactics. But what is legal, and what is illegal? We bring you the information you need to know when it comes to Asset Acceptance, the debt collection agency.

What is Asset Acceptance?

Asset Acceptance, also known as Asset Acceptance LLC, is known as a debt collection agency. They label themselves as a company that helps consumers resolve past-due debt obligations. Supposedly, they do this by providing payment plans and a path that resolves their outstanding obligations. They are said to serve multiple different locations including:

Genesee County, MI
Lapeer County, MI
Livingston County, MI
Macomb County, MI
Oakland County, MI
Saint Clair County, MI
Shiawassee County, MI
Washtenaw County, MI
Wayne County, MI

Is Asset Acceptance a legit Debt Collection Agency?

They are considered to be a legitimate debt collection agency as well. As they do operate with financial records and information, it is understood that they also collect on debts owed. They opened in 1994, with their Better Business Bureau file being opened on the same day. In 1997, their business was accredited by the BBB, and they currently hold an A+ rating on the BBB page. However, they have an average of 2 stars out of 5 stars with 3 different customer reviews.

Asset Acceptance Contact Information

Address: 320 E Big Beaver Rd Ste 300 Troy, MI 48083-1238

Phone Number: 1-800-545-9931

Other Phone: 1-586-446-7826

Does Asset Acceptance have Complaints against them?

They do have some complaints made against them. On the BBB database, there are 6 complaints made against them in the last 3 years, with none of those complaints being closed within the last year. There are also 3 customer reviews giving less than 3 stars on the review page of the BBB database.

There are no registered Asset Acceptance companies within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database. This does not mean the company does not exist, just that there are no complaints listed against them.

What kind of Complaints have been made?

These complaints range in issues, but primarily center on complications with the tactics and practices employed by Asset Acceptance. Many of the complaints explicitly state that there has been some harassing phone calls from their representatives, as well as threatening and controlling/abusive language.

Within the PACER records, which is a database of recent cases, there is a notable case that was made against Asset Acceptance by a Jack Coleman. In 2011, Jack Coleman had been contacted by Asset Acceptance representatives regarding a hospital bill. These calls were consistent, continuing into 2012. At this time, Mr. Coleman alleged in court that the debt collectors had used the following tactics:

Excessive calls within a single day
Calling at improper times
Failing to identify themselves during the conversations
Threatening legal repercussions
Misinformation when attempting to claim the bill payment.

Mr. Coleman eventually hired an attorney to help in his case, with the case eventually being settled out of court.

The above issues brought about during the case dive into illegal activities that debt collection agencies must not dip their hands into. With debt collection, agencies are not allowed to cross certain lines. These lines and rules are outlined with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act’s (FDCPA) rules and guidelines. If these guidelines and laws are broken, the debt collection agency may be sued for up to $1,000 per violation they are found to have performed.

How can I protect myself and fight back against Asset Acceptance?

There are plenty of ways to protect yourself against debt collection agencies such as Asset Acceptance. The first thing to do is to first ask for verification. Asking for authentication of the debt can be done through many means, and is your right to do as a consumer being called. You can do this by asking for where the original debt came from, as well as if the representative is actually from Asset Acceptance like they state they are.

If Asset Acceptance continues to harass you through all this, it may be time to get in contact with an experienced debt collection harassment attorney or lawyer. We here at Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have a great team of debt collection harassment attorneys and lawyers that have worked with plenty of plaintiffs that have dealt with debt collectors and their harassment and excessive calling. We can assist you when it comes to identifying the harassment, stop the harassment, and get the harassment reported to the proper authorities.

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.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

by Paul Mankin

Is Team Recovery, Inc. Harassing You?

Team Recovery, Inc. is a debt collection agency located in Stow, Ohio. The agency has been in business since 1999 and also uses the name Team Recovery. The company provides debt collection services to a wide range of creditors, including healthcare providers.

Contact Information:

3928 Clock Pointe Trl Ste 101

Stow, OH 44224-6964

Phone: (330) 916-7030

http://teamrecovery.com/

While no complaints have been filed against Team Recovery, Inc. with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the Better Business Bureau (BBB) lists six complaints filed with it since 2016. Most of the complaints are unavailable to the public through the website. One of the available complaints alleges that the company refused to provide any details regarding the debt it was attempting to collect, stating that it could not answer any questions about the debt. The complainant also says that the representative talked down to her because she had Medicaid and made derogatory remarks about her not paying her bills. The other complaint that is visible to the public alleges that Team Recovery, Inc. continuously reported delinquent accounts to the three credit reporting agencies that did not belong to him and refused to provide him with any verification of the debt. The collection agency responded to both of the public complaints; however their response was rejected by one of the consumers who still believes that the company was being dishonest in its collection attempts and reporting to the credit reporting bureaus. Team Recovery, Inc. is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating. BBB ratings are not based on a company’s lack of complaints, though, but rather on its responsiveness to the complaints that are filed.

In a lawsuit filed by an Ohio resident against Team Recovery, Inc., the Plaintiff alleges that the company violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) when it left messages for him that failed to disclose the calls were an attempt to collect or a debt or to give the name of the company calling. The suit was settled later dismissed.

The FDCPA was passed in order to protect consumers from abusive and unfair debt collection practices, such as refusing to provide verification of a debt, using abusive language when attempting to collect a debt, reporting false information to the credit reporting bureaus, and failing to inform consumers that the communication is an attempt to collect a debt.

If Team Recovery, 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 consultation at 1-800-219-3577.

UncategorizedNovember 7, 20230 comments

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