by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC harassing you?
What is Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC?
Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC was founded and incorporated in Oregon in 2004 and conducts business under at least one other name, “Anderson Collection Agency.” The debt collector is operated under its managing member, Mr. James Thomas, and performs debt collection services for consumer account holders commercial account holders, medical and dental providers, property managers, evictions, foreign money award holders, and general debt holders.
Is Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Yes, Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC is a legitimate debt collector. They have been recognized by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2007 and maintain an A+ BBB rating. The debt collector is not BBB-accredited but has claimed its BBB business listing and is active in responding to consumer complaints.
Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC Contact Information:
12971 SW Pacific Highway
Tigard, OR 97223
(503) 293-5400 (phone)
(503) 813-2159 (fax)
http://www.andersoncollectionagency.com
What kind of complaints does Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC have against them?
The complaints against Anderson and Associates are fairly standard and relatively few. Notably, one client of Anderson’s has made a public complaint that the majority of their accounts were not adequately collected on, but the collector has so far evaded receiving any negative consumer reviews. On other forums, consumers have posted complaints that Anderson and Associates have threatened to take legal action if the debtor did not immediately pay up, as well as complaints that Anderson called repeatedly in a harassing manner. If Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC routinely threatens consumers with litigation without the ability to initiate litigation and/or without the intent to file a lawsuit, these threats would violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA).
Are Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC’s Practices Legal?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a set of federal laws that provide protection for consumers against debt collection harassment or other abusive practices. Many of the complaints against Anderson and Associates constitute activity that is potentially unlawful and punishable under both the FDCPA and state consumer protection laws. Namely, it is unlawful under certain circumstances for a debt collector to threaten legal action if an alleged debtor does not pay on demand, and the recipient of such treatment could be entitled to recover damages.
How can I defend myself against a debt collector like Anderson and Associates Credit Services, LLC?
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 collector or other business can be made at BBB complaints. Complaints regarding Oregon-based collectors can be made by submitting a Consumer Complaint Form or by calling 1-877-877-9392. 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. 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 collection harassment attorney immediately. Contact us today to discuss your matter and see how we can help at no cost to you.
by Paul MankinIs Helvey & Associates, Inc. Harassing You?
Helvey & Associates, Inc. is a debt collection agency doing business in Warsaw, Indiana. The agency has been in business since 1955 and collects on many types of consumer accounts and maintains call centers and payment solution services across the Midwest.
Contact Information:
1029 E Center St
Warsaw, IN 46580-3420
(574) 269-1726
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have received over 40 complaints against Helvey & Associates, Inc. in the last four years. The company has been accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in several different ways, including:
- Failing to provide verification of debt
- Attempting to collect on debt that was paid or does not belong to the consumer
- Providing false information to credit reporting agencies
A large number of the complaints filed with the BBB and CFPB concern the original creditor, Duke Energy, who most of the consumers allege they did not owe any money to when the account was apparently turned over to Helvey & Associates, Inc. A majority of the consumers also state in their complaint that they were never contacted by the collection agency, or Duke Energy, about the bills and knew nothing of the outstanding debt until they saw the agencies name on their credit report. Complaints also allege that the company promises to remove negative information from credit reports once the debt is paid, and then refuses to do so. Helvey & Associates, Inc.’s common response to complaints that it refuses to remove negative information from consumer’s credit reports when the account is either paid or does not belong to the consumer is:
“Presently, there is no evidence regarding incomplete or inaccurate information explaining the reason for the request that we remove the information from the credit file. If the consumer has additional information for us to consider with regard to the request we will be happy to review it. We have reported all information accurately as required of data furnishers by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.”
The response is verbatim, each time, as if the consumer’s complaint and file were never read or reviewed by Helvey & Associates before the company offered it.
The collection agency’s website says that it is ethical and strictly adheres to applicable laws, however, the company has been sued a handful of times for violations of the FDCPA, and
the number and nature of complaints filed against it with the BBB and CFPB would seem to indicate otherwise. The company’s website also displays a “BBB Accredited Business” graphic, when the BBB clearly lists it as NOT accredited.
If Helvey & Associates is attempting to collect on a debt you do not believe you owe, refusing to send you verification of the debt, or reporting false information to the credit reporting bureaus, it is time they are held accountable for their actions. For a free, no obligation case review, please call our office at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency American Debt Services, LLC harassing you?
Debt collection agencies can be a fearsome foe to go up against. Not many know how they function, and any talk of a debt collector brings up images of men in dark suits coming for you with baseball bats.
However, debt collectors in this day and age use far more disgusting tactics. Including harassing phone calls and robocalls, a debt collection agency such as American Debt Services, LLC may attempt to misinform and misguide you in an attempt to get you to pay up, even if the debt is not your own. So how do you defend yourself? Here are the things you need to know if you have been contacted by the debt collection agency American Debt Services LLC, and are facing their wrath.
What is American Debt Services, LLC?
American Debt Services LLC is a debt collections agency based in Minnesota. They work with the Minnesota region, as well as parts of North Dakota, and is run by Esther Berman, who is listed as their legal manager. They go by the alternate name American Debt Service, LLC as well.
Is American Debt Services, LLC a legit Debt Collection Agency?
American Debt Services, LLC is considered to be a legitimate debt collection company. They have been in business since 2007, and had their Better Business Bureau file opened in 2009. Since then, they hold a BBB rating of A+. However, they have no customer reviews or complaints listed under their BBB file.
American Debt Services, LLC Contact Information
Address: 5151 Edina Industrial Bl #520 Minneapolis, MN 55439-3050
Other Address: PO Box 390306 Minneapolis, MN 55439-0306
Website: http://www.amdebts.com
Phone Number: 1-952-905-3300
Other Phone: 1-952-905-3333
Other Phone: 1-800-698-2175
Alternate Business Names: American Debt Service LLC
Does American Debt Services, LLC have Complaints against them?
American Debt Services LLC currently have no listed complaints against them on the BBB database.
They do have 4 complaints against them in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
The complaints made on the CFPB’s CCD all pertain to debt collection issues. The main complaint listed of them all is that the consumers were not given the right to dispute notice ahead of time.
The right to dispute a debt is labeled clearly in most cases. As such, not being given this notice means that the American Debt Services LLC was attempting to use misinformation and lack of communication in an attempt to bottleneck and swindle consumers out of their money.
Are the Practices of American Debt Services, LLC Legal?
The actions taken by American Debt Services LLC in the above complaints are wholly illegal and improper. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA), consumers, such as yourself, are allowed to have rights and safeguards against debt collection harassment and abuse. In the above, the abuse came from a representative of American Debt Services, LLC not informing consumers about their rights, and as such, attempting to sabotage their chances of getting verification of the debt. This directly goes against the Fair Debt Collection Protection Act’s laws and guidelines, which means that American Debt Services LLC are practicing illegal debt collection tactics that violate the FDCPA and RFDCPA.
How can I protect myself and fight back against American Debt Services, LLC?
Of the many debt collection agencies that are currently open, it may seem impossible to do anything against them. However, the FDCPA affords you plenty of options when it comes to defending yourself.
The first step is to verify the debt. Verification can come in many shapes. The easiest is to ask the debt collection agency to send you a letter or email verifying the debt’s original owner, as well as verification information linking you to the debt. This includes names, addresses, and other such personal information. If the debt collection agency is unable to do so, then you are under no obligation to pay the debt at that moment.
If the debt collection agency continues to harass you, then it may be time to hire an experienced debt collection harassment attorney or consumer protection lawyer. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have been hard at work defending consumers such as yourself against such tyrannical abuse. We have an experienced team of debt collection harassment attorneys that can help identify debt collection harassment against you, as well as put a stop to it quickly.
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 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.
by Paul MankinIs Allied Interstate Calling You?
Allied Interstate, LLC
Allied Interstate, LLC (Allied Interstate) is a third-party debt collector that provides accounts receivable, customer retention, and debt collection services to blue chip companies. Allied Interstate was founded in 1954 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a subsidiary of iQor, Inc.
On its website, Allied Interstate published a consumer pledge. This pledge states that Allied Interstate will respond quickly to consumer requests, resolve issues fairly and with dignity, ensure privacy and security, and comply with consumer debt collection regulations.
In contrast to this consumer pledge, numerous complaints have been filed against Allied Interstate for its unfair, deceptive, and abusive debt collection practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a Government agency that is tasked with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and taking action against companies that violate consumers’ rights. The CFPB has received 1,414 complaints against Allied Interstate. Consumers complain that Allied Interstate has engaged in 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;
- Harassing consumers by repeatedly and continuously calling; and
- Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.
In 2018, Allied Interstate reached a settlement agreement with eighteen (18) district attorneys in California in a case that involved numerous harassing phone calls. Allied Interstate was accused of excessively calling consumers, and in some cases, hundreds of times, calling the wrong person numerous times, and failing to cease communication after being told that they had contacted the wrong person.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) prevent creditors and debt collectors from abusive and harassing debt collection practices. This includes calling consumers repeatedly or continuously with the intent to annoy, abuse or harass. Although federal and state law does not state the exact number of calls that would constitute harassment, there is a large volume of case law that interprets three (3) or more calls a day from the same debt collector to be harassing.
The FDCPA and RDCPA also regulate debt collectors’ communications with third parties. A debt collector is only permitted to contact a third party when the debt collector reasonably believes that person would have information regarding the consumer’s location or telephone number. More importantly, debt collectors are only permitted to contact a third party once. When a debt collector mistakenly contacts somebody other than the intended consumer, then the debt collector has effectively contacted a third party and is not permitted to continue to contact you.
As part of the settlement agreement, Allied Interstate agreed to cease certain practices including calling consumers at an unreasonable frequency, calling phone numbers that have been identified as wrong numbers, calling numbers after being requested to stop calling, and using robo-dialing technology to call consumers’ cell phones without their consent. Allied Interstate was also forced to pay a civil penalty of $9 million.
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 Allied Interstate accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency American Medical Collection Agency harassing you?
How bad can debt collection agencies be? How far is too far when being a debt collection agency, and what can you get away with? Not many would ask this question, but nowadays, it seems like they can get away with just about anything when they are attempting to collect on a debt.
For instance, American Medical Collection Agency may seem like a proper, well, and legitimate company. But are they as clean as they seem to make themselves seen? In this article, we dive into who American Medical Collection Agency is, and what you should know if you have been contacted by them.
What is American Medical Collection Agency?
American Medical Collection Agency is labeled as a debt collection agency by the Better Business Bureau. They currently serve the Metropolitan New York area, and go by many different names, such as Retrieval masters, RMBC, and many more.
Is American Medical Collection Agency a legit Debt Collection Agency?
American Medical Collection Agency is a legitimate debt collection agency. They started in 1977, and have been in business for 42 years. Their BBB file was opened in 1999, and holds an F rating with the BBB. They also have a 1 star average after 9 customer reviews.
American Medical Collection Agency Contact Information:
Address: 4 Westchester Plaza Suite 100 Elmsford, NY 10523
Other Address: PO Box 160 Elmsford, NY 10523
Website: http://www.retrievalmasters.com
Phone Number: 1-914-592-0055
Other Phone: 1-800-666-8097
Other Phone: 1-914-345-7136
Fax Number: 1-914-992-8935
Other Fax: 1-914-345-5023
Alternate Names: Retrieval-Masters Creditors Bureau Inc, Retrieval Masters, RMBC, A.M.C.A., AMCA.
Does American Medical Collection Agency have Complaints against them?
American Medical Collection Agency has quite a few complaints against them. On the BBB database alone, they have 59 complaints within the last 3 years, with 17 of those complaints being made within the last 12 months. They also have 9 customer reviews, with an average of 1 star between them all, and their F Rating is due to non-responding to complaints, as well as length of time between responses to the complaints.
On the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database, there are no matching complaints to AMCA’s company name. However, the name Retrieval-Masters Creditors Bureau Inc yielded a plethora of complaints, for a grand total of over 710 complaints.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
The complaints made against AMCA have a massive spread of different genres. The most complained about problem with AMCA is with debt collection, and specifically misinformation and improper information handling. Multiple complaints on the CFPB’s CCD state that AMCA mishandled their information, reporting negative and misleading information to major credit bureau’s in an attempt to slander the consumer’s name.
Other complaints state that AMCA attempted to collect on a debt that was not even under their name, but were almost forced to pay the debt due to the constant debt collection harassment and abusive language that was used.
Are the Practices of American Medical Collection Agency Legal?
All of these practices performed by the American Medical Collection Agency can be considered illegal, as well as highly improper. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act’s (FDCPA) guidelines and regulations, a debt collection agency may not use verbal harassment, or attempt to robocall/excessively call a consumer in an attempt to get them to pay for a debt. Along with that, a debt collection agency may not misinform a consumer in an attempt to get them to make a payment towards a debt.
AMCA has broken each of these rules. As such, they are considered to be performing debt collector harassment, and can be taken to court over their actions.
How can I protect myself and fight back against American Medical Collection Agency?
Although it may feel completely hopeless, there are quite a few things that you can do to help protect yourself against such debt collectors and their debt collection harassment. The first step is to take is to verify whether or not the debt is yours. To do this, ask for a verification document, or some form of authorization stating that this debt is indeed yours. If they are unable to provide you the documentation, then you are under no obligation to pay the debt.
If continue to receive debt collection harassment, then you may need to seek legal protection. The best way to get legal protection is to hire an experienced and well-versed debt collection harassment attorney. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC, have many years of experience under our belt, and our team of lawyers and attorneys are ready to help you every step of the way. We are able to properly identify debt collection harassment and abuse, as well as get it to stop. If the collection harassment is severe enough, we can even help you document and report the harassment to the proper courts to get the harassment to stop.
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.
by Paul MankinIs the collection agency AG Adjustments LTD harassing you?
The debt collection business is seeing more businesses enter than ever before. With the rise of technology, it has become easier and much more simple for collectors to attempt to collect on a debt or bill. As such, there are often scenarios of people being harassed and consistently pushed into a corner by these collectors.
These debt collection agencies all seem to only want one thing, and that is for money to be in their pockets. Because of this, there has been a rise in scammers and illegal companies being run in hopes of hitting a quick payday. It can be extremely difficult weeding out the legal from the illegal companies. One such company, AG Adjustments LTD has been seen around and made the rounds. If you have been contacted by AG Adjustments LTD, these are the things you need to know about them. They also are known as A G Adjustments and A.G. Adjustments LTD.
What is AG Adjustments LTD?
AG Adjustments LTD is noted as a full service commercial debt agency, as well as a collections agency. They currently work out of New York, and have been in business for quite a few years.
Is AG Adjustments LTD a legit Debt Collection Agency?
AG Adjustments LTD are seen as a proper debt collection agency. They have been operating since 1972, and have had their file open on the Better Business Bureau since 1990. They have been accredited since 2017 through the BBB and hold an A+ rating with the BBB. However, they currently hold a 1.65 rating out of 5 stars, with 5 customer reviews on the BBB database.
AG Adjustments LTD Contact Information
Address: 740 Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11747-2212
Fax Number: 1-631-425-8808
Phone Number: 1-631-425-8800
Other Phone: 1-888-496-1600
Website: http://www.agaltd.com
Does AG Adjustments LTD have Complaints against them?
AG Adjustments LTD currently have 4 complaints against them on the BBB website. 1 complaint is with a product or service, and 3 are due to billing and collections.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Complaint Database currently has no listed company under the name AG Adjustments LTD. As such, there are no listed complaints against them on the CFPB.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
The complaints made against AG Adjustments LTD fall within debt collecting through billing/collections and issues with the collections as well. The issue with the product/service complaint stems from February of 2019 where a victim states that they were contacted by AG Adjustments who were attempting to collect on a fraudulent account that had used their name to create a debt. This is a case of misinformation, as well as unfortunate circumstances.
The other complaints state that the agents from the collection agency reached out and contacted their employer in an attempt to harass and threaten the victim to pay. There are also complaints stating that the debt collectors are harassing their family members, as well as improperly filing said information in an accurate manner. This caused legal headaches for the victim, who is not able to pay off the debt, creating a larger debt deficit.
Are the Practices of AG Adjustments LTD Legal?
All of the practices listed above are considered to be illegal under the FDCPA. The fair debt collection practice act states that debt collectors are not allowed to use threatening or aggressive tactics when attempting to enforce a debt. These include, but are not limited to:
- Threatening friends, family, or coworkers
- Excessive and overreaching calls/robocalls
- Threatening legal action against victim
- Misinformation or manipulation of personal data
These are just a few of the practices that are deemed harassing and illegal if a debt collector attempts to do these.
How can I protect myself and fight back against AG Adjustments LTD?
If you have been contacted by AG Adjustments LTD for a non-authorized bill, or feel that you are being harassed by them, it is important to know what your rights are. An important step is to document the harassing phone calls, from recording the phone numbers, as well as telephone calls from AG Adjustments LTD. You are also allowed to dispute a debt if they do not show proper authorization and verification of the debt.
Another way you can protect yourself is to hire yourself an experienced and knowledgeable debt collection harassment lawyer or attorney. We here at Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have a strong set of collection harassment attorneys that are able to not only help you stop the debt collector harassment, but also report the harassment to the proper authorities. They can help you build a solid case against the harassment as well, and ensure that you are properly compensated for the emotional and possible physical damage that you have sustained.
If you or someone you love has been a target of harassment, debt collector wrong number and robo calls, or have been threatened with legal abuse, then contact us at 1-800-219-3577. Let us help you against the harassment of debt collectors.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency Alpat Company harassing you?
Some businesses wane in and out of style. For whatever reason, a business may fold, and have to close up shop, either due to running out of funds and profit, or if the owners decided to move on to different ventures.
However, the left-over names and contact information can be prime targeting for those that may be attempting to do some illegal activities. Inactive companies can be the perfect setup for a scammer attempting to front as a legitimate business.
This can be said to be the same issue that is ongoing with Alpat Company. If you have been contacted by someone stating that they are affiliated, or working with, Alpat Company, make sure to know these details before moving forward with their demands and requests.
What is Alpat Company?
Alpat Company is listed as a collections agency working mostly out of Louisiana. They were started in 1993, and is stated to work primarily in the greater New Orleans area.
Is Alpat Company a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Unfortunately, the current status of Alpat Company is that of a closed business. The Better Business Bureau has them listed as having been out of business since 2017. Indeed, the one review that has been listed on the BBB website has a written answer from the BBB stating that the business has been shut down since 2017, and that all accounts have been returned to the clients. They hold a BBB rating of NR that reflects their inactivity.
Alpat Company Contact Information
As stated, Alpat Company has been out of business since 2017. The information that follows should be taken as disconnected and improper, and any persons attempting to contact you with said information should be seen as not representing Alpat Company.
Address: 40070 Cane Avenue Suite 400 Slidell, Louisiana 70461
Other Address: P.O. Box 1689 Slidell, Louisiana 70459
Phone Number: 1-985-641-1751
Other Phone: 1-985-641-0495
Fax Number: 1-985-641-7341
Does Alpat Company have Complaints against them?
Alpat Company currently has no complaints on the BBB, and one customer review on the BBB.
There are currently 16 listed complaints on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau consumer complaint database. These date from 2013 to 2018. Most of these complaints, if true, list violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
What kind of Complaints have been made?
The review on the BBB database, which was a 3 out of 5 stars rating, states that the customer had attempted to contact Alpat for approximately a week back in 2017. He found that the numbers were disconnected, and subsequently, learned that Alpat had been out of business since early 2017.
Interestingly, the CFPB consumer complaint database has a single registered complaint against them from 2018. This complaint was lodged due to credit card debt, and that the issue was that the debt had already been paid off. However, this could have been a scam, as the company had already been out of business for close to a year prior to that complaint.
The other complaints listed range from 2013 to 2016. These are mostly due to debt verification and non-interaction with clients, which lead to improper timings on the payments.
Is a debt from Alpat Company legal?
A debt that is currently being called on in regards to Alpat Company is considered to be illegal and non-verified. This is due to the company having being listed as out of business. As such, anyone attempting to call and collect, harass, or do harm to debtors has ill intent, and does not wish to follow the rules of law.
These scammers who masquerade as Alpat Company may use illegal and forced methods in an attempt to get you to pay without checking all of the details. These practices may include methods like harassing you at work or on a private call, threatening bodily harm, and attempting to call your friends and family. All of these can be considered illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which states that a debt collector may not use abusive or harassing behavior to collect on a debt.
How can I protect myself and fight back against Alpat Company?
If the people calling to get you to pay on a debt are not in the legal debt collection business, it can seem almost impossible for you to fight back against them. However, there are plenty of ways for you to defend yourself, as well as push back against their harassment and/or phone and robocalls.
The first step to take is to ask for some form of verification. If they are calling about a legitimate debt, they will be able to provide some form of authorization letting you know that the debt is, indeed, a proper debt. If they cannot, then you do not have to worry about being penalized or in trouble for declining to pay the debt.
The second step to take, if the debt collectors continue to harass you, is to hire a well-versed and experienced debt collection harassment attorney or lawyer, like the ones here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC are able to assist you in identifying what debt collector harassment is, how to stop the harassment in its tracks, and how to report the activity to the proper authorities.
Not only can we help you to defend against harassment under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 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. We are experienced debt collection harassment attorneys.
by Paul MankinIs CAC Financial Corp Harassing You?
CAC Financial Corp
CAC Financial Corp is a debt collection agency located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It has been in business since 1943 and collects for healthcare providers and financial institutions nationwide.
Contact Information:
2601 N West Expy
Ste 1000E
Oklahoma City, OK 73112-7238
Phone: (405) 425-1500
Over 40 complaints have been filed against CAC Financial Corp with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) since 2015. A number of the complaints concern medical bills that the consumer believed were paid, either by them or their insurance company, or that the healthcare provider refused to report correctly to the collection agency. Other complaints allege that the company:
- Refused to provide verification of debts
- Failed to read consumers the “mini-Miranda”
- Allowed a consumer’s phone to ring continuously in an attempt to annoy them
- Attempted to collect the wrong amount of a debt
- Attempted to collect a debt from a consumer who the debt did not belong to
- Failed to send proper notices to consumers
- Failed to acknowledge payments after being sent proof of such
- Reported false information to credit reporting agencies
- Attempted to collect on a debt that was discharged in bankruptcy
- Continued to contact consumers after being asked to stop
These collection tactics may violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law enacted to help protect consumers from deceptive, abusive, and unfair collection practices. Some of the practices specifically prohibited by the law include:
- Refusing to provide a consumer with verification of a debt it is attempting to collect
- Failing to read consumer the “mini-Miranda”
- Reporting false credit information
- Allowing a consumer’s telephone to ring continuously
- Misrepresenting the legal status of a debt
- Using language that is abusive
- Calling a consumer before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
- Falsely implying that a consumer may be arrested if they do not pay a bill
- Continuing to contact a consumer after being asked in writing to stop
- Using obscene or profane language
- Failing to properly identify themselves when collecting on a debt
If you believe that CAC Financial Corp 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 MankinDid an auto dealer force you to purchase for gap insurance?
Gap insurance is typically offered by dealers to buyers of new vehicles and is designed to cover the difference between the cost of a vehicle and the value that would be ascribed to the vehicle by an insurer once driven off the lot. For example, a buyer might finance a new car for $20,000. If the buyer drives the car home and gets into an accident that totals the car, the insurer’s assessed replacement value might only be $15,000 since there is no replacement value for costs like taxes and other new car fees. Gap insurance would, ideally cover the $5,000 difference.
Gap insurance is not all the same, however, and a buyer should always ask questions and do the math themselves to make sure the cost of the insurance is worth its potential value. Since gap insurance is rarely used, it is fair to look at the purchase as buying peace of mind, but a buyer should be careful not to just throw away their hard-earned money on a gap policy that will not actually benefit them in the event it must be used. Using the example above, if the buyer pays $800 for a gap policy that covers up to 10% of the insurer’s ascribed value, it likely is not in the buyer’s economic interest to pay $800 plus interest just to prepare for the unlikely event the buyer will save $1,500.
Gap insurance is offered by most dealers but cannot be forced on a buyer. A customer is entitled to deny gap insurance, but dealers have some leeway in how they present that option to a buyer. It is not unlawful, for example, for a dealer to automatically add a gap insurance line item to the sales contract before ever discussing it with the buyer. When the buyer sits down with the salesman to review, initial, and sign the contract, the salesman will explain the purpose and cost of gap insurance, usually somewhere in the middle of explaining a bunch of other non-negotiable costs and fees. Dealers bank on buyers being somewhat tired and frustrated by this point in the auto buying process and might even pull stunts, such as insisting the contract will have to be re-done if the buyer declines to purchase gap insurance, which can nudge a hesitant buyer into getting the gap insurance just to avoid adding time to the buying process. Unless the buyer specifically denies the line item, it will end up in the auto loan irrespective of whether the buyer actually understood what they were buying or not.
A dealer is not allowed to misrepresent what their gap insurance costs or what it will cover in the event it is used, and a buyer should take care to understand these terms before agreeing to purchase it. Dealers understand that gap insurance is rarely used and that they can make money off offering it as a little bit of peace of mind for the buyer. The low risk of there being an issue where the buyer uses the insurance is enough for some less scrupulous dealers to make misrepresentations or simply mis-characterize certain terms, such as the amount of coverage, to influence an ignorant or tired buyer. If a dealer forces a customer to purchase gap insurance by using threats or unreasonable language or by refusing to sell the vehicle without gap insurance, the buyer is entitled, at the least, to a refund of the gap insurance price.
by Paul MankinIs the debt collection agency Apex Asset Management, LLC harassing you?
What is Apex Asset Management, LLC?
Founded in 1997 by Jeff Holloway and its current president, Mr. John S. Kline, the company launched and originally operated under the name Account Management Services, LLC (AMS). In 2013, the company was rebranded as Apex Asset Management, LLC, claiming they have a “proprietary 270/271 batch eligibility engine with a direct connection to several major payers, ensuring no health insurance coverage goes undiscovered for our clients.” The debt collector provides third-party payer and patient debt collection services that approach recoveries from a client-based first-party perspective.
Is Apex Asset Management, LLC a legit Debt Collection Agency?
Yes, they are legitimate. Apex Asset Management, LLC has been recognized by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since August 1999 but is not BBB-accredited and the BBB listing has not been claimed by the business owner. While Apex Asset Management, LLC appears to be legitimate in a technical sense, the majority of their debt collection business appears to be conducted under the name Account Management Services, LLC (AMS) or another unidentified alias.
Apex Asset Management, LLC Contact Information:
2501 Oregon Pike, Suite 102
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 519-1770 (phone)
(888) 592-2144 (toll free phone)
(888) 592-2149 (toll free fax)
What kind of complaints does Apex Asset Management, LLC have against them?
Apex Asset Management, LLC has received 22 BBB consumer complaints and 90 Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaints. The substantial majority of complaints allege the collector’s harassment of the complainants in the form of repeated phone calls and attempts to collect amounts that the collector knows to be inaccurate. If the consumers’ allegations are true, then Apex Asset Management, LLC very well may have violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA).
Are Apex Asset Management, LLC‘s Practices Legal?
It is illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) for a debt collector to attempt collection on an amount more than you owe, which appears to be a somewhat common practice for Apex Asset Management, LLC. It is also unlawful for a debt collector to make other false statements about the amount or the nature of the debt (e.g., tacking on their own fee and calling it ‘interest’) or about the actions they intend to take, such as threatening legal action over bad debt. If Apex Asset Management, LLC has used any of these practices in collection efforts against you, you might have a claim against them. Harassment and other unlawful collector practices could entitle you up to $1,000 in statutory damages, actual damages, and other state and federal remedies.
How can I defend myself against a debt collector like Apex Asset Management, LLC?
Complaints regarding Pennsylvania-based collectors can be made by submitting an online complaint form at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/. 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 collector or other business can be made at BBB complaints.
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 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.