Is A&S Collection Associates Harassing You?

by Paul Mankin

Is A&S Collection Associates Harassing You?

What is A&S Collection Associates?

A&S Collection Associates is a debt collection agency located in Williamstown, Vermont that claims “Guaranteed Results in Writing” when it comes to collecting money for clients. They have been listed as a debt collection agency through multiple different markets, and have been in business for quite a few years.

Is A&S Collection Associates a legit Debt Collection Agency?

Although A&S Collection Associates do have a legitimate background and information layout, there is some misinformation and unknown factors to consider about them. Currently, they are listed to be residing within Williamstown, Vermont, which is where their headquarters is said to be, as well as employ close to 40 employees under their name on some websites. They are said to have been in business since 1993, and have a combined business experience pool of over 150 years.

The Better Business Bureau has them listed as residing in Citrus Heights, California. They are listed as having started in 1995, with 24 years of experience under their belt. They are also listed as having been shut down after the passing of the listed Vice President, Ronald Saldi Jr. on the BBB.

As such, there seems to be an understanding that A&S Collection Associates was in business previously, and operated in many different areas, primarily in Vermont. However, since the passing of Ronald Saldi Jr, the debt collection agency has since been shut down in 2017.

A&S Collection Associates have a rating of NR with the BBB.

A&S Collection Associates Contact Information

Since A&S Collection Associates has been listed as closed down, it is important to understand what that means going forward if you have been contacted by them. All known numbers associated with the A&S Collection Associates are deemed to be invalid. These numbers include:

1-(802)-433-2100

1-(800)-660-6642

1-(800)-244-3425

Their websites listed are also domains that currently have some purchase, but should be assumed dead and unusable. These domains include:

www.a-scollections.com

www.ascollections.com/index.php

Their addresses have not been confirmed, and the buildings associated with the addresses have no confirmed association with A&S Collection Associates anymore. These addresses include:

5828 Riddio St, Citrus Heights, CA 95610-6711

Does A&S Collection Associates have Complaints against them?

Currently, A&S Collection Associates have no complaints lodged against them through past years. The Better Business Bureau and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have no lodged complaints against an A&S Collection Associates in their records, nor from their associated name, A & S Collection Associates.

What if I received Calls from A&S Collection Associates?

If you have received a call, email, or other form of communication from a person or group claiming they are with A&S Collection Associates, they should immediately be identified as a scammer, or illegal debt collector. A&S Collection Associates has been confirmed closed since 2017, and as such, anyone trading on that name should be immediately distrusted.

This includes any form of debt collection harassment and attempts. Any phone calls, robocalls, emails, or letters threatening debt collection penalties, or use harassing and negative language, should be considered as a legal threat against your well being, and should not be seen as a valid form of debt collection.

How can I protect myself and fight back against A&S Collection Associates Scammers?

If you or someone you know has been contacted by a person or persons claiming to be associated with A&S Collection Associates, the best thing to do is avoid their phone calls. In these situations, reporting the number to the BBB or CFPB will help in cutting down on harassing phone calls, as well as put you on a block list for that number specifically.

If the harassment continues, know that you are protected by the FDCPA. Not only are all the methods used by these scammers or debt collectors illegal, they are highly immoral, and coincide directly with the laws and acts put into place to protect you.

The most important form of protection that you should be aware of is a vigilant nature. If you are being harassed, do not succumb to what they want, or what they threaten you with. Instead, look to hire a practiced and experienced debt collector harassment lawyer or attorney. We here at Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC have many talented attorneys that will be happy to assist you in your defense against such people.

Our experienced attorneys will be able to assist you in understanding how long a debt collector can harass you, what is considered harassment by a debt collector, and how to report and stop harassment from debt collectors. They can also assist you in getting a lawsuit brought against the company, as well as whoever is using their name to harass and extort you.

If you have been subjected to:

• 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 have an open and viable case that can be pursued. So, do not wait or hesitate to get help. Pick up the phone, make the call, and get started fighting back against debt collection harassment.

by Paul Mankin

Are you being harasse by the debt collection agency Accelerated Collection Service, Inc.?

Accelerated Collection Service, Inc. is a debt collection agency located in Kent, Washington. The agency opened in 2005 and collects for many industries including healthcare, landlords, construction, retail, and financial.

Contact Information:

1209 Central Ave S #210

Kent, WA 98032

Phone: (253) 735-3200 and (866) 499-7717

http://www.acceleratedcollection.com

Three consumers have filed complaints against Accelerated Collection Service, Inc. with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the last three years and while the Better Business Bureau reports no complaints, two consumers have filed company reviews with the site, which were basically complaints.  Reviews and complaints allege that the company:

• Used abusive language while attempting to collect on a medical debt
• Attempted to charge interest not allowed for in the original contract
• Failed to identify themselves when calling a consumer
• Reported false information to the credit reporting agencies
• Failed to provide debt validation information
• Communicating information about a debt to a third party

These collection practices are violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) a federal law governing debt collectors’ behavior when attempting to collect on a debt. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from using unfair, abusive, or deceptive practices in order to collect on a debt. The Act specifically prohibits the above practices as well as others, such as:

• Falsely implying that a consumer will be arrested if they do not pay
• Falsely indicating that they are an attorney, law enforcement officer, or affiliated with a government agency
• Calling consumers before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
• Threatening to commit acts of violence against a consumer
• Threatening to take action it has no legal right to take or does not intend to take
• Allowing a consumer’s telephone to ring continuously in order to annoy them
• Failing to inform of a consumer of their mini-Miranda rights

If Accelerated Collection Service, Inc. is refusing to provide you with debt validation information, attempting to charge you interest not allowed for in the original contract, has reported false information on your credit report, or is using any abusive practices in order to collect a debt from you, it is time to hold them accountable for their actions. Please contact our office at 1-800-219-3577. We can help get the harassment to stop, negotiate a settlement, and may even get Accelerated Collection Service, Inc. to pay you money – all at no cost to you.

by Paul Mankin

Are you being harassed by the debt collection agency A-1 Collections Agency, LLC?

What is A-1 Collections LLC?

A-1 Collections LLC is known as a Collections Agencies as listed by the Better Business Bureau. Started in 1992, they have been in business for approximately 27 years based out of Colorado. They currently collect on medical bills and overdue fees, as well as assist in processing bills and collections for medical facilities. They are also known Western Healthcare Alliance and Healthcare Collections LTD, while holding an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

However, they do have some issues through their claims and billing systems. Many of their complaints are due to medical billings and expenses, as well as outstanding balances on consumer credit bills and cards. They have also had complaints lodged against them due to improper calls and emails, as well as physical mail and threats made towards jobs and family.

A-1 Collections LLC Contact Information

Address: 715 Horizon Dr Ste 401, Grand Jct, CO 815206-8731

Customer Contact: Mr. Todd Bonatti

Fax Number: 1-(970)-683-5255

Other Fax: 1-(970)-683-5249

Other Fax: 1-(970)-245-4484

Phone Number: 1-(970)-242-2740

Other Phone: 1-(970)-241-2075

Other Phone: 1-(970)-683-5207

What Complaints have been against A-1 Collections LLC?

There have been several complaints lodged against the debt collection agency. These range from harassment from credit card companies to harassing phone calls from the debt collectors, even when it is the wrong number.

The Better Business  Bureau has 5 closed customer complaints lodged against A1 Collections within the last year. 1 of those complaints was closed as recently as within the last 12 months. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint database holds that A-1 Collections LLC, under their other names as well, hold over 20 filed complaints within the last 3 to 4 years as well.

Almost all of the complaints come from medical expense billings and debts, ranging from getting harassed by debt collectors over unpaid amounts, or mistakes on the billing reports. Indeed, one such billing complaint on the Better Business Bureau shows that a consumer was harassed by A-1 Collections even after the bill was paid. This lead A-1 Collections to continue to harass them through phone calls and mail stating that the consumer had a large unpaid balance after their surgery, even though the consumer had actually overpaid to the debt collector, as well as leaving derogatory remarks and notes on the consumer’s bills and credit reports.

Other complaints show similar issues from A-1 Collections, whereas they tend to call non-listed numbers for bill payments, as well as attempt to call wrong numbers in hopes of gaining payment through misleading and improper information.

Can this happen to me?

Unfortunately, this can also happen to you. ALthough these practices are unethical and illegal, it is possible that debt collectors may still attempt to mislead you to gain payments.

You may be subject to harassment and attacks from these collectors through other various means, such as ghosted phone calls, harassing emails and letters, and harassment to your place of employment. It is important that you notice and are able to identify the signs of harassment from a debt collector, so that you can fight back and gain back any potential lost money.

How do I fight back against harassment from A-1 Collections?

Fighting back against A-1 Collections can be done in various ways. The first thing we recommend you do is find an experienced debt collector harassment lawyer or attorney. We have many attorneys that have deep experience and knowledge when it comes to dealing with debt collector harassment, as well as dealing with misleading information and potential outstanding balances.

If you feel like you have been the target of unwanted or illegal harassment through any of the methods described, you may also be entitled to a No Fee Lawsuit against A-1 Collections. If you were robocalled about a medical debt or outstanding balance multiple times, that would be grounds a lawsuit against them. In some instances, debtors that have taken the companies to court have seen their balances overturned, as well as proper compensation being paid out.

What if they are Calling me?

In cases of being called and threatened, the debt collection agency may be in violation of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. The FDCPA regulates the actions and practices that a debt collector may use when attempting to collect. These illegal practices include: Abusive or threatening language; false or misleading information; pure harassment.

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 A-1 Collections Agency, LLC accountable.

If you are being harassed by the collection agency A-1 Collections Agency, 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 California Recovery Bureau, Inc. Harassing You?

California Recovery Bureau Inc.

California Recovery Bureau Inc. is a collection agency located in San Marcos California. The company has been in business for 18 years and specializes in collections for telephone companies, medical service providers, credit card companies, and the automobile industry. California Recovery Bureau Inc. is licensed to do business in several states including California, Nevada, New York, and Florida.

Contact

135 Vallecitos De Oro #G

San Marcos, CA 92069

(800) 972-2721

http://www.crbcollections.com/

Since 2003, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices, has collected 10 complaints against California Recovery Bureau Inc. The complaints allege that the collection agency:

• Made repeated telephone calls
• Attempted to collect on debts that were paid
• Attempted to collect debts that did not belong to the consumer
• Attempted to collect on debts that had been discharged in bankruptcy
• Continued making telephone calls to the consumer after receiving written notice to stop

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) specifically prohibit debt collectors and creditors from harassing or annoying you by calling your telephone repeatedly or letting it continually ring or contacting you after receiving written notice that you want them to stop. The two Acts also prevent collectors and creditors from engaging in behavior the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse a consumer. Repeated phone calls from an agency attempting to collect on a debt which does not belong to you, has been paid, or was discharged in bankruptcy will most certainly make you feel harassed and abused!

If you are being harassed or abused by any of these debt collection practices, it is time to hold California Recovery Bureau Inc. accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.

by Paul Mankin

What is a Hard Credit Inquiry?

As a simple rule of thumb, a “hard” inquiry (or hard “pull”) into a consumer’s credit history is one that requires the consumer’s consent, such as when the consumer applies for a credit card or a loan. This contrasts with a “soft” inquiry (or soft “pull”), which can be done without the consumer’s consent. The other key difference between hard and soft inquiries is that hard inquiries negatively affect a consumer’s credit score.

The severity of a hard inquiry’s impact on a consumer’s credit report depends on the type of score and the timing of the inquiry. Depending on the inquirer’s particular request, a credit reporting bureau—e.g., TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax—will provide the consumer’s credit history along with, typically, a FICO or VantageScore credit score. A hard FICO score inquiry could reduce a credit score by up to 5 points, whereas a VantageScore inquiry will shave off anywhere from 10 to 20 points.

The type of hard inquiry—i.e., FICO versus VantageScore—is also a factor in how “rate shopping” impacts one’s credit report. If a consumer’s credit is pulled multiple times over a short timespan, as often occurs when shopping for the best rate for a home or auto loan, FICO will treat all such inquiries within a 45-day period as a single hard inquiry. VantageScore, on the other hand, only consolidates hard inquiries made within a rolling two-week window. While FICO and VantageScore assign different weights to hard inquiries for the purpose of calculating a credit score, a hard inquiry of any kind will only affect a credit score for up to one year and will (should) fall off a consumer credit report altogether after two years.

While soft inquires can be performed without a consumer’s knowledge, the Fair Credit Reporting Act not only requests the consumer’s consent for a hard credit inquiry, it also requires the consumer to have notice of the credit event. It may seem obvious that if a consumer gives consent they necessarily are on notice, but this separate requirement actually serves to better protect the consumer.

When a hard credit inquiry is performed without the consumer’s consent, the inquirer not only violates the law requiring consent but also violates the rule requiring notice. The threat of a second violation and its associated penalties serves as a deterrent for inquirers to disregard consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Since hard inquiries affect a consumer’s credit score, they must appear on the consumer’s credit report, which the consumer can monitor at no cost and without penalty. When a consumer discovers a hard inquiry for which they did not provide consent and were not notified, they should promptly file a dispute with the reporting bureau. If the reported inquiry was in error or if the inquirer cannot prove that consent was actually obtained, the hard inquiry should be removed and the consumer’s credit score should increase in response.

A simple reporting error or a non-consensual hard inquiry is not without consequence and can impact a consumer’s ability to access credit unless and until the consumer discovers the error and takes action to have it removed. While it may be annoying or arduous for a busy consumer, the consequences of failing to discover and correct an erroneous credit inquiry could be dire. Unfamiliar activity on a consumer credit report is often an indication of identity theft, so a consumer should keep an eye on every aspect of their credit report and take prompt action if and when anything unfamiliar crops up.

by Paul Mankin

Is the debt collection agency Associated Credit Services harassing you?

When it comes to businesses, you would assume that the longer it has been around, the more trustworthy it is. However, that is not the case when it comes to the debt collection agency Associated Credit Services. This debt collection agency has been around for a few decades, and yet still seems to be clouded by illegal activity. So what should you do if you are contacted by Associated Credit Services? Here is what you need to know.

What is Associated Credit Services?

Associated Credit Services, or Associated Credit Services Inc., is a collections agency based out of Massachusetts. They work to serve the Central and Western parts of Massachusetts, as well as the Northeastern CT. Their mission is to provide liquidation and recovery while maintaining ethical standards. It is believed they have around 60 employees in their company. At the head is Andrew Robinson, listed as the president of the company. They also have Rachael Bartlett as the Customer Contact, and Walter Steele, who is the Chief Compliance Officer.

Is Associated Credit Services a legit Debt Collection Agency?

Yes, they are a legitimate debt collection agency. Started in 1969, they have had their Better Business Bureau file opened since 1973, and have been in business for 51 years. They have been accredited through the BBB as well since 1973, and have an A+ rating with them. They also hold a 3.8 star rating out of 5 stars on the BBB database through an average of 3 different consumer reviews.

Associated Credit Services Contact Information

Address: 115 Flanders Rd, Suite 140 Westborough, MA 01581-1087

Hours of Operation: M – F 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Website: http://www.acsrecovery.com

Phone Number: 1-800-531-6500

Fax Number: 1-888-978-5738

Does Associated Credit Services have Complaints against them?

Associated Credit Services has quite a few complaints lodged against them. Through the BBB database profile, there have been 26 complaints made against them within the last 3 years. Within the last 12 months, 13 of those complaints have been made and closed.

Through the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database, there have been over 150 complaints made against them.

What kind of Complaints have been made?

Of the 26 complaints lodged against Associated Credit Services through the BBB database, 22 of those were due to billing and collections, while 4 of them were due to problems with the product or service. Of these complaints, the responses towards these complaints by the company in question challenge the legitimacy of the consumers lodging the complaints in almost every single one. This alone shows negligence by the company to take responsibility for their faults, and instead look to pawn off their errors to the consumers, making the consumers out to be at fault.

Through the CFPB’s CCD, over 140 of the complaints are due to debt collection issues and problems, with the other complaints being due to incorrect credit reporting or banking account issues.

A majority of the complaints bring up specific problems in the debt collection method taken by the representatives of Associated Credit Services, specifically that they harass and threaten the consumers. Indeed, almost 80% of the complaints state that representatives used harassing and threatening language, threatened consumers with legal repercussions, and attempted to use false information to get consumers to pay on debts that they sometimes did not even own.

Are the Practices of Associated Credit Services Legal?

These practices by Associated Credit Services are definitely not legal. The tactics used by this debt collection agency falls under what is known as debt collection harassment. This is when a debt collection agency uses methods that go directly against FDCPA codes and guidelines. The FDCPA, or Federal Debt Collection Practice Act, is the federal law set that governs the practices a debt collection agency or representative may take when attempting to collect on a debt.

The FDCPA specifically prohibits such tactics like:

• Using robocalls, or excessive calls at unreasonable hours
• Calling a consumer’s workplace or family members/friends
• Using threatening language and abusive language
• Using misinformation and false data in an attempt to coerce payments from consumers
• Threatening a consumer with legal action.

How can I protect myself and fight back against Associated Credit Services?

If you have been contacted by Associated Credit Services, or a representative claiming that they work for them, then there are some steps you should take before fully engaging with them. The first step is to ask for authorization of the debt itself. This is well within your rights, even if the representative says they do not need to. Asking for authentication is simple, and can be done by either the representative giving you the original debt holder’s information for you to contact them, or sending you a written itemization of the debt. If this cannot be done, you are under no obligation to pay the debt.

The next step is to firmly tell them you do not want them contacting you again. Even if the debt is real, a debt collection agency is not allowed to call or contact you again if you request them to stop. If they continue, it is considered debt collection harassment, and is punishable by law. At this point, it is best to get in contact with an experienced and knowledgeable debt collection harassment attorney, such as our team here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC. Our team of debt collection harassment attorneys can help you defend against Associated Credit Services disgusting and illegal tactics. We can assist you in identifying debt collection harassment, getting the harassment to stop, and reporting the harassment to the proper authorities.

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 Mankin

Is 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 Mankin

Is 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

http://www.hlv.com/

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 Mankin

Is 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 Mankin

Is 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.