by Paul MankinIs BCA Financial Services Harassing You?
BCA Financial Services is a debt collection agency located in Palmetto Bay, Florida. The agency has been in business since 1956 and provides debt collection services to healthcare providers.
Contact Information:
18001 Old Cutler Rd STE 462
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157-6437
Phone: (305) 909-2200
In the last three years, 12 consumers have filed complaints against BCA Financial Services with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and 34 with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Complaints allege the debt collector engages in collection practices such as:
- Calling consumers before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
- Falsely reporting credit information to the credit reporting agencies
- Failing to provide debt verification to consumers
- Continuing to attempt collection on a debt before providing verification and/or after being asked in writing not to contact the consumer
These are all violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law enacted to help protect consumers from abusive, deceptive, and harassing practices by debt collectors. Other collection tactics specifically prohibited by the Act include:
- Calling a number repeatedly and/or allowing the phone to ring continuously
- Telling consumers they will be arrested if they do not pay a bill
- Adding fees or expenses not authorized by the original contract
- Failing to inform consumers calls are a debt collection agency, attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose
- Contacting debtors after being asked in writing to stop
- Speaking to a third party about a consumers debt
This is not an all inclusive list of the acts prohibited by the FDCPA and if you feel that BCA Financial Services is using unfair, deceptive, 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 debt collection agency Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc., harassing you?
What is Andrews, Bolden & Associates, Inc.?
Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc., is a debt collection agency that was founded and incorporated in Ohio in 1984. Andrews, Bolden & Associates, Inc. has approximately 51 to 200 employees and is operated under its president, Mr. Lawrence P. Brock.
Is Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc. a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Yes, Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc. is a legitimate debt collector. They have been recognized by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in 1985 but is not accredited and has no BBB rating or consumer reviews. It appears they do not perform collections under the name Andrews, Bolden & Associates, Inc.—or at least not a substantial volume—but either assist in collections or perform collections under aliases.
Andrews, Bolden & Associates, Inc. Contact Information:
3501 W. 117th St.
Cleveland, OH 44111
(216) 941-5400 (phone)
(216) 941-1513 (fax)
What kind of complaints does Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc. have against them?
Consumer complaints against Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc. generally include the following consumer grievances: continued attempts to collect debt not owed; threatening to take legal action; improper contact or sharing of info (talked to a third party about a debt); not giving enough info to verify debt; not disclosing communication as an attempt to collect a debt; threatening or suggesting your credit would be damaged; and attempting to collect on debt already paid. If these allegations are true, these actions would qualify as violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA).
Are Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc.’s Practices Legal?
Among other practices, it is strictly unlawful for a collections agency like Andrews, Bolden & Associates, Inc. to make any false or threatening statements in connection with an attempt to collect on a consumer debt. Many complaints against Andrews, Bolden, & Associates contain allegations of gross violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including and especially allegations that Andrews, Bolden, & Associates impersonated an attorney or anyone in an official capacity for the purpose of intimidating a debtor into paying on a debt. Even if they are attorneys—or an attorney is the one to contact the alleged debtor—they cannot use that title to mislead the debtor or to attempt to harass the debtor into paying the demanded fee out of fear. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides for up to $1,000 in statutory damages, as well as other state and federal remedies.
How can I defend myself against a debt collector like Andrews, Bolden, & Associates, Inc.?
Complaints regarding a debt 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 debt collection agency or other business can be made at BBB complaints. Complaints against Ohio-based debt collectors may be filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint or (800) 282-0515. General information about Ohio debtor rights can be found at Ohio Attorney General’s Office debt collection FAQ.
If you believe you have a claim for collection 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 collector harassment attorney immediately. Contact us today to discuss your matter and see how we can help at no cost to you.
by Paul MankinPrivacy Policy
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by Paul MankinIs General Revenue Corporation Calling You?
General Revenue Corporation is a debt collection agency located in Mason, Ohio. It has been in business since 1981 and also uses the name GRC. The agency collects on past due student loans and is owned by Navient Corporation, a student loan servicing and collection company.
Contact Information:
4660 Duke Dr Ste 200
Mason, OH 45040-8466
Phone: (800) 234-1472
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports over 74 complaints filed against General Revenue Corporation in the last three years. These complaints allege that the company:
- Leaves repeated voicemail messages made by robo-callers which are of too low quality to understand
- Makes repeated calls to third parties about a consumer’s debt
- Demands that consumers provide them with personal information before they tell them why they are calling
- Continues calling consumers in an attempt to collect on a debt after being told they have the wrong person
- Refuses to identify themselves as a debt collector when a consumer returns a telephone call
- Fails to provide consumers with debt verification information
- Falsely reports information to credit reporting agencies
Some of these practices may violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that prohibits debt collectors from using unfair, abusive, or deceptive practices in order to collect on a debt. The Act specifically prohibits practices such as:
- Repeatedly contacting third parties about a debt
- Falsely implying that a consumer will be arrested if they do not pay
- Calling consumers before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
- Charging fees not allowed for in the original contract
- Reporting false credit information
- Refusing to provide a consumer with verification of a debt it is attempting to collect
- Failing to read consumers the mini-Miranda warning
- Making telephone calls without properly identifying themselves
Any harassing, deceptive, or abusive practice used by a debt collection agency may also violate the FDCPA or other state or federal consumer protection laws and if those practices are being employed by an debt collector in an attempt to collect a debt from you, they may owe you money.
If you believe that General Revenue Corporation is using unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in order to collect a debt from you, it is time to hold them accountable for their actions. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation case review at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinTerms of Use
The information provided in these pages is not legal advice, and should not be relied on as such. The content on these pages is for informational purposes only, and is meant as a starting point on your search for answers to your legal questions.
The law is constantly changing and evolving.
We can not guarantee that all information contained in this website is up to date at all times.
Therefore, we recommend that you contact an experienced attorney in your area to guide you through your legal matter.
When you speak with our attorneys and staff, everything you tell us about your case is confidential. However, we do not represent you (in court or otherwise) unless and until a retainer agreement is signed by both you and us, and a retainer is received.
Nothing in this website should be taken to create an attorney-client relationship.
We may offer any person a no-obligation initial consultation. This in no way obligates us to represent you, or to answer any specific questions. We reserve the right to deny a consultation to anybody, for any reason.
This disclaimer applies to all pages and content contained in this domain.
by Paul MankinAnti-spam
We have a strict policy against spamming. We forbid the sending of unsolicited bulk emails or emails of any kind in connection with the marketing of our websites or attorneys.
Our definition of spamming is any activity whereby you directly or indirectly transmit email messages to any email address that has not solicited such email and does not consent to such transmission.
In addition, we consider it spamming to post ads in newsgroups in violation of the rules of the newsgroup, in posts that are off-topic, or in groups that do not explicitly permit ads. This goes for the placement of ads on message boards, forums and chat rooms against the terms of participation in such sites.
If you are “spammed” by anyone regarding our website, services, or any matters relating to us our our attorneys, please report this to us directly.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC harassing you?
What is Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC?
Founded in 1996, Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC (ACT) provides customer relationship management outsourcing programs for customer service, sales support, fraud and dispute management, claims processing, and a wide variety of other programs. ACT is based in Pennsylvania and operates in five additional states: Arizona, California, Kansas, Texas, and Tennessee. It is operated by its president, Mr. Joseph Lembo, and director of business services, Ms. Kristine Pizzirani.
Is Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC a legit Debt Collection Agency?
ACT has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2008 and maintains an A+ rating by the BBB. The company has responded to its one BBB complaint and appears to operate as a legitimate debt collector. Its reported services, however, do not align with that of a collection agency, and its response on the BBB website was simply an acknowledgment of the complaint’s existence rather than a substantive comment or attempt at resolving the consumer’s problem. Despite its BBB accreditation, it appears that Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC may not be operating as a legitimate debt collection agency.
Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC Contact Information:
1235 Westlakes Dr Ste 160
Berwyn, PA 19312-2417
(423) 283-5000 (phone)
(866) 704-5580 (toll free)
(610) 640-4981 (fax)
What kind of complaints does Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC have Complaints against them?
Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC has received one BBB consumer complaint and 27 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaints. The complaints against Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC predominantly including the following:
- Repeated automated calls regarding debt that isn’t owed
- Calls from multiple numbers that revolve to evade call blocking
- Talking to a third-party about a consumer’s debt
- Threatening to contact someone or share information improperly
- Missing information that the collector should have provided to the complainant or reported elsewhere
- Problem with personal statements of dispute
In 2010 Texas resident Allen Jones was awarded more than $1.5 million in a lawsuit over obscene and racist voicemail messages allegedly left by Advanced Call Center Technologies debt collectors. They were trying to collect an $81 credit card debt that Mr. Jones insisted had already been paid.
The following phone numbers have been reported as being associated with collections calls from Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC:
(866) 704-5580
(520) 417-7900
(928) 314-9300
(916) 830-9603
(928) 314-9349
(785) 210-0435
(956) 366-4029
(423) 283-5029
(423) 283-5023
(876) 632-5435
Are Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC’s Practices Legal?
The FTC enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which makes it illegal for debt collectors to use abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices when they collect personal debts, including credit card debt, auto loans, medical bills, student loans, mortgage, and other household debts. Under the FDCPA, debt collectors are, generally, allowed to call, send letters, send emails, or even send text messages to collect on debts, but they are not allowed to bother consumers at inconvenient times without the debtor’s permission or at locations such as a debtor’s place of employment unless personal calls are permitted by the employer.
Some of the consumer complaints lodged against Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC represent activity that might violate the FDCPA, including speaking to third parties about an individual’s debt and attempting to collect without providing sufficient information for the contacted individual to identify the alleged debt. In addition to state remedies, each violation could mean a $1,000 penalty under federal law.
How can I defend myself against a debt collector like Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC?
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.
Complaints regarding Pennsylvania-based collectors can made by submitting an online complaint form at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/
If you believe you have a claim for collector harassment or are a victim of another violation of state or federal debtor’s rights, you should speak with a debt collection harassment attorney or debt collector harassment lawyer immediately. Contact us today to discuss your matter and see how we can help at no cost to you.
by Paul MankinHow are Debt Collectors Allowed to Contact Me?
Communications from a debt collector may be via telephone, e-mail, text message, letter, and even in person. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) does not prohibit any means of communication except postcard. There are however rules about when and where communication may occur, what the collector is allowed to say, and when they must stop communicating with you.
Prohibited Communications Under the FDCPA
The FDCPA does not allow a debt collector to contact a consumer at unusual times or unusual places. To be specific, they may not call you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. your time. So if a collector is in a different time zone, where it is 8:00 a.m., but it is only 7:00 a.m. in your time zone, they may not call you without reason to believe that it is after 8:00 a.m. in your time zone. They are also specifically prohibited from contacting you at work if they know your employer does not allow personal calls. Other times or places may be considered unusual under the law even though they are not specifically mentioned in the Act.
Debt collectors are required by the FDCPA to tell consumers certain things during communications and also to refrain from saying certain things. A collector may not:
- Threaten to use violence or to commit any other illegal act
- Use profane or obscene language
- Falsely imply that a consumer has committed a crime by not paying a debt
- Lie about the amount of the debt that is owed
A debt collector must inform you that they are attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose. This is sometimes known as the ‘mini Miranda’ and is required by the FDCPA. Collectors are also required to provide you with basic information about the debt either during the initial communication or within five days of the initial communication if the debt has not yet been paid. This includes:
- The amount of the debt;
- The name of the company or person to whom the original debt is owed;
- Notice that you have 30 days to dispute the debt before it is assumed to be valid; and
- Notice that upon written dispute the collector will send written verification of the debt
When Must a Debt Collector Cease Communication?
A debt collector must cease all communication with a consumer upon receiving written notice that the consumer wants the collector to stop the communications or that he or she refused to pay the debt.
If you believe that a debt collector or creditor is has violated the FDCPA while attempted to collect a debt from you, you please contact our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.
by Paul MankinWho is calling me from 312-380-4059?
Calls from 312-380-4059 are coming from Harris & Harris Ltd., a debt collection agency located in Chicago, Illinois. The agency has been in business since 1968 and provides debt collection services to healthcare providers, utility companies, and government agencies.
Contact Information:
111 W Jackson Blvd STE 400
Chicago, IL 60604-4135
Phone: (312) 251-2300 and 312-380-4059
Almost 300 complaints have been filed against the collection agency with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency created to help prevent companies in the financial industry, such as banks, credit card companies, and debt collection agencies, from abusing and deceiving consumers since 2015.
Many of these debt collection tactics that consumers allege the company uses are violations of the FDCPA and some may violate other federal or state law.
If you are getting abusive, annoying, or deceptive telephone calls from 1-312-380-4059, the debt collection agency may have violated federal law. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation case review at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency American Collection Systems harassing you?
Being contacted by a debt collection agency can be a harrowing event. Between the constant verbal abuse, as well as robocalls and excessive letters and emails, debt collection agencies will use every trick in the book to try to get you to cough up your money.
In the case of American Collection Systems, their debt collector harassment may not be as severe. However, they still use techniques and practices that are borderline, as well as deeply, illegal and harassing. Here are the things you need to know if you have been contacted by American Collection Systems, and how to defend yourself.
What is American Collection Systems?
American Collection Systems is listed as a multi-location debt collection agency. They primarily work within the Northern Colorado and Wyoming areas, and boast over 50 years of experience.
Is American Collection Systems a legit Debt Collection Agency?
American Collection Systems is seen as a legitimate debt collection agency. They were started in 1963 and are listed as a partnership with Bobby Garmon listed as COO, Annie Walker as Collections Manager, Steve Johnson as CEO/Owner, Kay Kennedy as Collections Manager, and Elizabeth Koski as CFO. They currently have 57 years of business experience and hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. However, they do have a 1 star review from a customer, putting them at a 1 out of 5 stars on the BBB website.
American Collection Systems Contact Information
Address: 800 Cross Pointe Rd Ste D Gahanna, OH 43230-6688
Website: http://acsiwest.com
Phone Number: 1-307-742-3711
Fax Number: 1-307-742-2167
Does American Collection Systems have Complaints against them?
American Collection Systems does have complaints against them. In the BBB database, they have one customer review against them from 2018 that has been left open.
They also have approximately 23 complaints logged through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database. These include the open branch of American Collection Systems, as well as the Ohio based company. As such, these complaints may pertain to both groups.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
The complaints made vary depending on the database used. Through the BBB, the review states that the representatives are rude, disrespectful, and unwilling to work with consumers on getting their debts paid.
The CFPB’s CCD states that many of the debts were not debts that were owed by the consumer. Indeed, many state that the debts that were attempted to be collected on were due to identity theft, as well as debts that were paid off some time ago. There are also verification issues where American Collection Systems did not verify the debt, thereby creating an air of vileness and misinformation.
Are the Practices of American Collection Systems Legal?
These practices are not legal. The act of using misinformation, as well as threatening tactics, are unlawful under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) standards and laws. These regulations state that the use of misinformation, or improper information, is punishable by law, and consumers are protected from such tactics.
Not only that, using abusive or aggressive language in an attempt to badger a consumer into paying a bill that is not verified is considered debt collection harassment, and is also punishable by law.
How can I protect myself and fight back against American Collection Systems?
If you or a loved one have been contacted by American Collection Systems, know that there are ways you can protect yourself against their harassment attempts. The best way to start protecting yourself is to vet every debt that is sent to you from American Collection Systems. If you receive a bill from them stating you owe money on the debt, make sure to ask for verification and authorization for the debt. Ask where the debt came from, and if you can get in touch with the original debt holder. If they are not able to produce these items for you, then they will be on the cusp of breaking federal law.
You should also look to get a well-versed and experienced debt collection harassment attorney or consumer protection lawyer. We here at The Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have many years of experience under our belts. Our team of attorneys will be able to help you identify debt collection harassment, as well as put a stop to the harassment once and for all. Not only that, we can help you report these offenses to the proper authorities, making sure these debt collectors aren’t able to do it to anyone else.
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.