Is Ability Recovery Services, LLC Harassing You?

by Paul Mankin

Is Ability Recovery Services, LLC Harassing You?

Although there are plenty of smaller groups of debt collection agencies about, there are some that hold larger stakes in the business, even though they were started much later than others. Ability Recovery Services, LLC is one such debt collection agency, with a large backing and history over the years. However, they do have a difficult past, which leads to them having very poor reviews.

What is Ability Recovery Services, LLC?

Ability Recovery Service is a Collections agency that has been operating since 2005. After the business was started in 2005, in February, their BBB file was opened in 2009, with their business being incorporated in 2011 in Pennsylvania. They currently hold an A+ rating with the BBB, while maintaining a 1.10/5 rating with an average of 25 customer reviews.

Is Ability Recovery Service a legit Debt Collection Agency?

Yes, Ability Recovery Services, LLC is a legitimate debt collection agency. Having been operating for quite some time, approximately 14 years and counting, they also have multiple other locations within Pennsylvania. Currently, the Better Business Bureau has listed 2 other addresses for them within Pennsylvania, giving them a much wider berth to work with.

Ability Recovery Service Contact Information

Addresses:

284 Main St, DuPont, PA 18641-1960

18 Pierce Street Kingston, PA 18704

1 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507-1777

Fax Number: 1-(570)-207-2682

PO Box: PO Box 4262 Scranton, PA 18505-6262

Phone Number: 1-(855)-207-1892 ext. 205

Website: http://www.abilityrecoveryservices.com

Does Ability Recovery Services, LLC have Complaints against them?

Ability Recovery Services, LLC have quite a few complaints lodged against them. With the BBB, they have 267 complaints closed within the last 3 years, with 107 of those complaints lodged within the last 12 months. A search of Ability Recovery Service on the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Consumer Complaint Database shows a total of 945 matching complaints made against the Ability Recovery Service.

What kind of Complaints have been made?

The complaints range in variation and severity. The most common one that can be seen is that Ability Recovery Service tend to attempt to collect on bills that have either been already paid, or that do not even have a bill to pay in the first place.

Many also detail phone harassment and physical harassment, from harassing phone calls, as well as direct debt collector harassment from things such as letters, meetings, and after-hours harassment. Both the Better Business Bureau and the CFPB consumer complaint database detail improper filings and misleading and fraudulent paperwork being sent to them, which is also a major violation with the laws in place.

Are the Practices of Ability Recovery Service Legal?

Many of the practices done by Ability Recovery Service are deemed illegal, or borderline legal. These include such things as: Harassing phone calls, harassing family and friends, and fraudulent or misleading information on paperwork. This includes such things as medical information fraudulence, calls on credit cards and harassment from credit card companies, as well as persistent calls and contact even when told to stop.

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

Although it may seem perilous, there are actually numerous ways that you can help defend yourself against such harassment and abuse from debt collectors. The first step is to hire an experienced and knowledgeable debt collection harassment lawyer or attorney.

Having an attorney that focus in these issues will help you stay on course and be able to build a case for you. These attorneys, such as the collection harassment ones we have here at The Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC make sure to help you understand how to stop debt collector harassment, how to report debt collector harassment, and how to identify harassment and abuse.

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.

If you feel as if you are being harassed or abused by Ability Recovery Services, LLC, it is time they are held accountable for their actions. Please call our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency Diversified Consultants calling and harassing you?

Diversified Consultants, Inc. Profile:

Diversified Consultants Headquarters: 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd. #309, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Diversified Consultants Phone Number: (904) 247-5500

Known Debt Collection Numbers: (one of the numbers their debt collectors use when calling you; others may be used as well). 1-800-771-5361

COO: Gordon Beck

Website: https://www.Diversified Consultantscollect.com/ (not public; authorization required to access)

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diversified-consultants-inc-/about/

WHAT IS DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS?

The better question is “Who is Diversified Consultants?” Diversified Consultants, Inc., not to be confused with Diversified Consulting or Diversified Cns, is a debt collection agency 

that was founded in 1992. Diversified Consultants employs a workforce of over 200 employees.

Diversified Consultants operates in Florida, Oregon, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, California, Michigan and even Nigeria. Diversified Consultants specializes in the collection of wireless, cable, satellite, utilities and other telecommunications-related debt.

WHY IS DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS CALLING ME?

Diversified Consultants is most likely calling you because they believe, rightly or wrongly, that you owe a debt that they have either bought or have been promised compensation for collecting. While none of this is illegal per se, debt collectors frequently resort to abusive practices that are illegal and that could entitle you to demand money from them. 

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS:

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AGAINST DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS:

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency dedicated to protecting consumer rights, has recorded over 4,000 complaints against Diversified Consultants.
• Diversified Consultants’ Better Business Bureau profile indicates that 899 complaints have been closed against Diversified Consultants over the past three years. It received 1.5 out of 5 stars based on 53 customer reviews. It is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

LAWSUITS AGAINST DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS, INC.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Diversified Consultants, Inc., including the following:

• In Davis v. Diversified Consultants, Inc., Plaintiff alleged that Diversified Consultants violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act; the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; and the Massachusetts Privacy Act. Plaintiff was awarded damages.
• In Fabio, Jesse v. Diversified Consultants, Inc, Diversified Consultants lost a default judgment b because it failed to respond to the lawsuit.
• In Higgs v. Diversified Consultants, Inc., Plaintiff complained that Diversified Consultants called several times a day to collect a debt. Diversified Consultants was awarded a summary judgment.  
• In McGill v. Diversified Consultants, Inc. Plaintiff claimed that he settled a debt but that Diversified Consultants reported to the creditor and another collection agency that the debt was still owed, resulting in the harassment of the Plaintiff..
• In Nussbaum v. Diversified Consultants, Inc., Plaintiff complained that Diversified Consultants subjected him to “robocalls” (automated dialing).
• In Sheridan v. Diversified Consultants Inc et al, the court denied the Plaintiff’s request to certify his lawsuit as a class action lawsuit. The motion was denied without prejudice, which means that the Plaintiff can try again after repairing deficiencies in his original pleading.

• In O’Connor v. Diversified Consultants, Inc., Plaintiff alleged that Diversified Consultants violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA), 47 U.S.C. § 227, et seq. and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 
• In Waite v. Diversified Consultants, Inc., a 17-year-old girl alleged that Diversified Consultants made hundreds of debt collection “robocalls” to her cell phone, even though she owed no debts to anyone.
• In Wallace v. Diversified Consultants, Inc., Diversified Consultants was sued for failing to clarify the alleged debtor’s right to dispute the debt. The claim was dismissed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

HOW DO I STOP A COLLECTION AGENCY FROM CONTACTING ME?

First, send a signed letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, asking the collection agency to stop contacting you, and keep a copy of the letter for yourself. Once the collection agency receives the letter, it can only contact you for two purposes:

• To confirm that it will no longer contact you about the debt; and
• To notify you that it is taking legal action (such as filing a lawsuit).

If you inform the collection agency that you have retained a lawyer, and you provide contact details for the lawyer, the collection agency can only contact your lawyer about the debt, unless your lawyer fails to respond within a reasonable time.

Somebody told me that I am being harassed by a debt collection agency, I can demand money from them. Is that true?

Yes, it’s true. For example, you can demand up to $1,000 for each violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, without even proving that you suffered any damages other than minor annoyance.The California Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a state law, is in some ways even more debtor-friendly than the federal version, and it also allows you to sue for damages.

WHAT TYPES OF DEBTS ARE COVERED BY THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (FDCPA)?

The FDCPA is aimed at consumer debts — credit card debt, automobile loans, mortgages, healthcare expenses, student loans, and similar consumer dents. The FDCPA does not apply to business debts. This statute is also aimed at third-party debt collectors — it doesn’t apply if your original creditor is trying to collect a debt from you.

WHAT IS A VALIDATION NOTICE?

A validation notice is a written notification that a third party debt collector is legally required to send you. It must state how much money you owe, who you owe the money to, and what you can do if you do not believe the debt is legitimate.

If you Diversified consultants is harassing you, please contact our office at 1-800-219-3577 for a free, no obligation consultation.

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency Aldous & Associates, PLLC harassing you?

What is Aldous & Associates PLLC?

Established and incorporated in Utah in March 2011, Aldous & Associates PLLC is a law firm that prides itself on its ability to act as a debt collector with all the power and resources of a call center. Focusing primarily on fitness centers, Aldous & Associates teams up with gyms and banks to enforce membership compliance and collect on past due memberships dues. Aldous & Associates PLLC also conducts business under the name TSRJ Resolution, Inc. and is operated by its chief operating officer, Mr. Tyler Rice, and its principal attorney, Mr. Jeffrey Aldous.

Is Aldous & Associates PLLC a legit Debt Collection Agency?

Yes, it is legit. There appears to be some ambiguity about whether and when the company acts as a law firm and provides legal services versus when it acts as a collector, which is a potential problem for the business. If you get a letter or phone call from Aldous & Associates about an overdue gym membership payment, however, it is most likely a legitimate effort to collect a debt.

Aldous & Associates PLLC Contact Information:

PO Box 171374

Holladay, UT 84117-1374

http://www.aldouslegal.com

(888) 221-5155 (phone)

(801) 272-5281 (alt. phone)

What kind of complaints does Aldous & Associates PLLC have against them?

A Better Business Bureau (BBB) file was opened for Aldous & Associates PLLC on 11/19/2009, and it currently has 62 consumer complaints and a 1.2-star review. Aldous & Associates PLLC has an additional 189 Consumer Finance Protection Bureau complaints.

For a collection agency doing a large volume of business, ~ 250 public complaints isn’t too alarming as long as the complaints are varied and generally of such nature that the issues could be due to reasonable mistakes and can be easily corrected. A disproportionate number of complaints against Aldous & Associates PLLC, however, regard rude and often unlawful actions that the collector took deliberately, including harassing the debtor and using aggressive language, threatening the debtor with legal or criminal action, continuing to call the debtor after the debtor has issued a formal do-not-call-request, and failing to provide the legally required notices when attempting to collect on a debt.

Are Aldous & Associates PLLC’s Practices Legal?

Many of Aldous & Associates PLLC’s disputed practices are, if true, unlawful under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including all of the practices mentioned above. Using proper communication tactics tends to be a pitfall for even the most well-meaning collectors since there are numerous potential violations of the FDCPA, and Aldous & Associates PLLC appears to make its share of communication violations.

How can I defend myself against a debt collector like Aldous & Associate PLLC?

You can file a complaint with the Utah State Division of Consumer Protection at https://consumerprotection.utah.gov/complaints/manual.html. For more information about Utah State’s consumer resources, see the Consumer Referral Guide. 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.

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 collection harassment attorney or a consumer rights lawyer immediately. Contact us today to discuss your matter and see how we can help at no cost to you.

by Paul Mankin

What is a Debt Relief Agency?

If you are in debt and looking online for help you will most certainly find many offers of help from debt relief agencies. So what is a debt relief agency, what can they do to help, and should you use one if you are struggling with debt?

Debt Relief Agencies

The term “debt relief agency” can have a few different meanings. It can mean an agency that prepares and files bankruptcy petitions, on that provides debt consolidation loans, or one that helps a consumer manage their debt by allowing them to make one monthly payment directly to the agency, who then distributes the money to each creditor for them. This discussion will be about the later, which is sometimes also referred to as a debt management agency.

How Does a Debt Relief Agency Help with Debt?

Debt Relief, or Debt Management, Agencies help you manage your debt by calculating the total of your monthly bills, adding their monthly fee, then collecting that amount from you every month. The agency then pays your creditors for you and may also attempt to negotiate settlements with creditors that allow you to pay off the debt for less than you actually owe.  This can help many consumers who actually have enough money to pay their bills, but do not have the time or skills to negotiate, budget and then pay all of their bills on time, by allowing them to just pay the one bill every month to the debt relief agency. But for consumers who do not have the money to pay all of their bills every month, a debt relief agency may not offer much help in managing and paying the debt.

Should I Use a Debt Relief Agency To Help Me With My Debt?

Most consumers who are struggling with debt should not use a debt relief agency. This is because the majority of consumers struggling to pay their bills on time do not have enough regular income to pay all of their debt and adding a debt relief agency’s fee to this will only make it more difficult to pay the bills on time.  Consumers who are unable to pay their debt and are being subjected to collection calls should consider talking to a consumer protection attorney who may be able to help stop the calls and help them decide if they have any claims against the collection companies or if they should consult with a bankruptcy attorney.

If a creditor or debt collector is using any unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in order to collect a debt from you, feel free to contact our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation. 

by Paul Mankin

Is Sequoia Financial Services Harassing You?

Sequoia Concepts, Inc. D/B/A Sequoia Financial Services

Sequoia Concepts, Inc. is a debt collection agency that does business as Sequoia Financial Services (Sequoia). It provides services to utility, government, medical, educational and retail companies. It was founded in 1991 and is based in Glendale, California.

According to its website, Sequoia prides itself on its integrity and professionalism, and claims to comply with all state and federal consumer laws. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), however, has received numerous complaints against Sequoia from consumers. The CFPB is a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. The most common complaints leveled against Sequoia include:

• Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
• Making false or misleading statements; and
• Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.

A complaint was filed against Sequoia for threatening to harm a consumer’s credit. The consumer had received a letter from Sequoia informing the consumer that a debt was owed. The consumer ignored the letter because he believed that the letter was a scam. The consumer received several more letters from Sequoia stating that interest on the debt was accruing and that if the consumer did not make a payment, then Sequoia would report the debt to a credit bureau. The consumer reviewed his credit report and found that Sequoia had not reported any debt to any credit bureaus.

While it is lawful for a debt collector to report a debt that is less than seven (7) years old to a credit bureau, it is unlawful for the debt collector to threaten to report. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) prohibit debt collectors and creditors from threatening to report a debt to a credit bureau when the debt collector has no intention to do so. This is considered a false and misleading representation that is designed to intimidate or force the consumer to make a payment.

Sequoia’s actions clearly violated both the FDCPA and RDCPA. Therefore, after filing his complaint with the CFPB, Sequoia settled the matter to the consumer’s satisfaction.

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

by Paul Mankin

What Is A Mixed Credit Report File?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus are required to maintain accurate information about a consumer’s financial history and to disclose only accurate information in the consumer’s credit report.

When a credit reporter provides information from two or more individuals in a single consumer’s credit report, the resulting ‘mixed’ credit report file violates the FCRA because it contains information that isn’t applicable or attributable to the consumer whose credit viability is represented by the report.

In older cases, a mixed file could result from human error during filing of paper documents in physical folders. When hard files were digitized, mixing errors would likely have been carried over into the digital file or might even have been created by the mixing of documents or information during the digitization process. If such an error was never identified and corrected, it could conceivably, if erroneously, sit on a consumer credit report indefinitely.

More commonly, mixed credit reports result from identity mixups. Some identity mistakes occur due to simple, yet consequential, typographical-type errors, including:

• Single or multiple digit errors or transpositions in a consumer’s social security number or alternative tax ID.
• Misuse of title, such as adding ‘Jr.’ to a name or using ‘Jr.’ where ‘Sr.’ is the accurate title.
• Misstatement of generation, such as using ‘II’ at the end of a name where ‘III’ is accurate.
• Misspelling of a first or last name, such as assigning a debt for ‘Jon Smith’ to ‘John Smith’.

While typographical errors are not terribly uncommon, they are—in an infallible universe—preventable. Even when a mixed report results from a single-digit SSN typo, odds are that the reported debt fairly belongs to the consumer having the intended SSN.

In other cases, however, mixed credit reports can result when a creditor or credit reporter essentially guesses at the correct consumer when assigning a debt. This practice can be harmless when the assignment happens to be correct or when there is only one reasonable guess, such as when the debtor has a unique name and is known to live in a sparsely populated area.

Harm (i.e., a mixed report) is more likely to occur when the debtor has a common name and/or lives in a densely populated region. For example, if a court judgment is entered against a Mr. John Smith in San Francisco and little else is known about the particular debtor’s identity, reasonable odds exist that the debt will be assigned to a different John Smith residing in San Francisco.

A mixed credit report does not always result in a negatively impacted credit score. For example, an active account in good standing might actually boost the score of a consumer who doesn’t have much credit history (e.g., a young adult). Even such a benign incident of mixing, however, creates the possibility of negative credit treatment down the road, such as if the misassigned account goes from ‘current’ to ‘delinquent’. A mixed report should always be reported to the reporting agency—i.e., TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian—as report mixing violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and is required by law to be corrected.

by Paul Mankin

Is DCM Services, LLC Harassing You?

DCM Services, LLC is a collection agency located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The collection agency has been in business since 2006 and also operates under the Balogh Becker Ltd. It collects on the debts of those who are deceased. The collection agency is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating with bureau; however ratings are not based on the lack of complaints against a company, but on the company’s timely response to complaints that are filed.

Contact Information

7601 Penn Ave S A600

Minneapolis, MN 55423-3645

Phone: (612) 243-8620

http://www.dcmservices.com/

The BBB reports 22 complaints against DCM Services, LLC in the last three years. A large majority of the complaints allege that the company attempted to collect debts of deceased loved ones from them, after being informed that there was no money in the estate to pay the debt. One consumer’s complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair practices of financial companies, just as debt collections agencies, alleges that DCM Services, LLC began putting his name on collection letters instead of his deceased son’s, who the debt belonged to, in order to make him believe that he was legally responsible for paying the bill. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits a debt collector from misrepresenting the legal status of a debt, which includes falsely implying that someone else is legally responsible for the debt of a person who has passed away.

In 2017 a proposed class action lawsuit was filed against DCM Services, LLC in the Eastern District of Wisconsin by a consumer who was harassed by the debt collection agency to pay a debt belonging to her deceased husband. A letter she received from the agency said, “We are contacting you about the debt for services provided to your spouse because it is our understanding that you may have liability for these medical expenses.” In her complaint, the consumer alleges that DCM Services, LLC sent debt collection letters such as this to consumers who had recently lost a loved one in order to capitalize on the death by collecting a debt that the decedent’s family members may not be legally responsible for paying. The case was settled and dismissed in December of 2017.

Two complaints, similar to the ones filed with the BBB and in the District Court of Wisconsin, were filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency created to help ensure that financial services companies, such as debt collection agencies, do not abuse consumers.

If you feel as if you are being abused or harassed by DCM Services, LLC, it is time they are held accountable for their actions. Please call our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.

by Paul Mankin

Stop Debt Collector Harassment And Credit Report Abuses

At the Law Office of Paul Mankin, we are strong advocates for consumers throughout California. Experienced and tenacious, we work hard to stop harassment by debt collectors and to remove inaccurate information from credit reports.

If you have debt problems, are being harassed by collection agencies, or are being held down by a bad credit rating, we may be able to help. Call us at 800-654-9517 for a free consultation.

We Make Harassing Debt Collectors Pay You

Debt collectors and collection agencies must obey the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act(FDCPA) and other consumer protection legislation and other laws. If a debt collector violates FDCPA, the collector can be held liable for $1,000 for each violation. If a debt collector violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the collector may have to pay $500 for each offending call.

Our firm can represent you, seeking to end debt collector harassment and maximum compensation under FDCPA, TCPA and other laws. We can handle your case at no charge to you, because the debt collector will be responsible for paying our attorney fees.

Stopping Credit Report Abuses

Our firm helps people remove inaccurate information from their credit reports. We can provide you with free credit report analysis and a complementary letter you can use to request the removal of inaccurate information from your credit report.

If we believe that a credit bureau or another party has violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we can represent you. If we are successful, you may obtain $1,000 for each willful violation, plus attorney fees and court costs.

Contact A Lawyer Today

For a free consultation about debt collector harassment or credit report inaccuracies, call the Law Office of Paul Mankin at 800-654-9517 or contact us online. We serve clients throughout California from offices in the San Diego area and Los Angeles.

by Paul Mankin

Are you being harassed by debt collection agency 1st Credit of America, LLC?

1st Credit of America, LLC is a debt collection agency that has recently had many complaints lodged against them. In this article, your will learn who they are, how to deal with their harassing and persistent calls, and become educated on legal options surrounding harassment from credit card companies.

Who are they?

1st Credit of America, LLC is a debt collection agency based out of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2004, the company is still relatively small. It is said to have approximately 10 to 20 employees within their business. Because they are relatively small in comparison to other debt collection agencies, their private ownership shields them from many prying eyes, allowing them to fly under the radar on their debt collection practices.

Is 1st Credit of America, LLC a scam?

They are a legit company. 1st Credit of America, LLC is a legit and grounded debt collection agency. According to the Better Business Bureau, 1st Credit of America LLC is located on 330 N Elizabeth St, Chicago, IL 60607. With 15 years under their belts, you are able to contact them through a variety of different numbers. The three phone numbers listed for their business are:

• 1 (866) 505-2632
• 1 (800) 293-1486
• 1 (800) 852-9465

If you are in need of getting in contact with their management head, Ms. Addie Watkins is the manager of the establishment, as well as the Customer Support Contact.

What kind of complaints have they had?

Since their inception in 2004, 1st Credit of America, LLC has not had any formal complaints lodged against them. The database of the Better Business Bureau shows that they have an A+ BBB Rating. However, they are not BBB accredited, and customer reviews are not used in the calculation of the BBB rating. This does not mean, however, that they have not attempted to harass debtors such as yourself through such means like phone calls from debt collectors, or using underhanded methods such as wrong number harassment.

Although they have had no formal complaints lodged against them previously, there were rumors of a case that had them on the radar. In July of 2006, 1st Credit of America, LLC allegedly demanded an amount from a New York consumer in the collection amount of $37.00. The consumer believed that the collection fee was not authorized or valid under law or the original creditor agreement. As such, the consumer retained an attorney to sue 1st Credit of America, LLC for attempting to collect an illegal amount not permitted by the law or the original agreement, using unfair means to collect the debt, and misrepresenting the amount, character, and legal status of the debt.

The case was later dismissed by the courts.

Can 1st Credit of America, LLC sue me?

Under the formal law, it is illegal for a debt collector to attempt to make empty threats to sue you or attempt to garnish your wages to pay back your debt. It is also unlikely that a small company such as 1st Credit of America will attempt to sue you for a debt that you may not owe them, and that they are not able to validate through proper means.

However, this does not mean they will not attempt to extort you through other methods. Many debt collection agencies have been known to summon you to court and attempt to garnish your wages through a default judgement of the courts.

Can you help Protect me from 1st Credit of America?

We absolutely are able to help you. Protecting debtors from illegal harassment, such as the email claim from 1st Credit of America, LLC, is something that is necessary and needed. Depending on how they attempt to harass you, you are not only eligible for protection through certain means, but you may also be entitled to a No Fee Lawsuit depending on the level of harassment.

In many ways, many of the practices attempted by debt collectors can be illegal and against the FDCPA. For instance, in the case mentioned above, if 1st Credit of America attempted to continue the sustained harassment through a series of emails and phone calls, they would be going against federal laws that specifically prohibit the usage of harassment and threatening language when collecting on debts. Not only that, but since the collection in the above case may have been deemed false or misleading, if you run into this situation as well, you may have a larger case against the company for improper practices.

However, if you wish to enforce your rights and stand for yourself, you need to make sure you sue. Debt collector harassment can only be combated through vigilant and aggressive means by you, the debtor, calling them out and making it known that you are being harassed by debt collectors.

Although it may seem scary and intimidating attempting to sue a debt collector, it is very possible. Look to hire a specialized debt collector harassment lawyer or attorney. These attorneys specialize in debt collector harassment. They will also be able to guide you on how to report debt collector harassment, and ensure that you are not left exposed to their tactics.

If you are being harassed by the collection agency 1st Credit of America, LLC, please give us a call at 1-800-219-3577 for a free no obligation case evaluation.   We are experienced debt collection harassment attorneys.

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency American Credit Acceptance Corp harassing you?

Who are American Credit Acceptance Corp? Although they look like a legitimate company that works in finance, is that all there is to it? And are they going above and beyond the court of law? Here are all the things you need to know if you have been contacted by the debt collection agency American Credit Acceptance Corp about a new or existing debt, and how to handle them.

What is American Credit Acceptance Corp?

American Credit Acceptance Corp, also known as American Credit Acceptance LLC, is considered as a Consumer Finance Company that serves upstate South Carolina. They deal in multiple different areas, in both financing, as well as debt collection for and through businesses.

Is American Credit Acceptance Corp a legit Debt Collection Agency?

Although they are not primarily a debt collection agency, they are known to help collect on debts as well. They have been in business since 2007 and have been accredited since 2013. They also go by the name Spartan Financial Partners and hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. However, they also have a 2.6 star rating out of 5 from 60 customer reviews.

American Credit Acceptance Corp Contact Information

Address: 961 E Main St FL 2 Spartanburg, SC 29302-2185

Phone Number: 1-866-544-3430

Website: https://www.americancreditacceptance.com

Fax Number: 1-866-731-4883

Does American Credit Acceptance Corp have Complaints against them?

American Credit Acceptance Corp has multiple complaints against them. Through the BBB, they have over 400 customer complaints, as well as 40 negative reviews left in the BBB database.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database shows 467 complaints that match with American Credit Acceptance as well.

What kind of Complaints have been made?

Although they have multiple complaints lodged against them, they are a bit varied, as some are for things outside of debt collection and harassment. On the CFPB’s CCD, there were 106 complaints about credit reporting, repair, and other personal consumer reports, as well as 71 due to debt collection. Many consumers state that they were given improper information, and that their information was tampered with in an attempt to get the consumer to pay more. Not only that, it is listed that American Credit Acceptance Corp attempted to not report monthly payments from some consumers in an attempt to get them to have to pay late fees.

On the BBB’s database, 281 were due to billing/collections issues, and 122 stated they had issues with the product or service provided to them. The same issues are found here, with many complaints stating that their information was tampered with, or that their monthly payments were not being reported properly, resulting in a loss on their credit score, or overdraft and overdue fees racking up.

Are the Practices of American Credit Acceptance Corp Legal?

These practices are very much not legal. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA), debt collection agencies must follow a set of guidelines set forth by the federal government. Many of these laws state that a debt collector may not manipulate, misinform, or misguide you in an attempt to elicit payment. In the cases listed above, it is quite obvious that they attempted to trick and deceive consumers into paying more than they actually owe, which breaks the FDCPA’s rules and guidelines.

How can I protect myself and fight back against American Credit Acceptance Corp?

If you or someone you love has been caught up with American Credit Acceptance Corp, rest assured, there are plenty of steps you can take. The first step is to identify the debt. Make sure that the debt is proper by asking for verification that the debt is real. This can be done in many ways, such as asking for written letters, or getting in contact with the original debt holder.

If they continue to harass and threaten you, it may be time to contact an experienced debt collection harassment attorney or consumer rights lawyer. Debt collection harassment attorneys and consumers protection lawyers like the attorneys we are at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC, work around the clock to provide you proper care and assistance when facing such harassment and slander. We are able to help you identify, stop, and report these cases of harassment from debt collectors such as American Credit Acceptance Corp, and give you some peace of mind throughout the entire process.

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.

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.