Acclaim Credit Technologies ACT Collections Complaints? Calling, Harassing You?

Is Acclaim Credit Technologies legit? Are they a scam?

Acclaim Credit Technologies or ACT is a legitimate third-party debt collection agency founded in 1997 and based in California. According to its website, Acclaim Credit Technologies is a full-service collection and self-pay billing agency that specializes in commercial and consumer accounts. Acclaim Credit Technologies provides a variety of debt collection services to suit the unique needs of its clients, including specialized software for managing collection accounts as well as employing a highly-skilled leadership team and bilingual staff who were selected based upon their experience in the debt collection industry.

Acclaim Credit Technologies’ commercial collection division boasts that it’s capabilities allow it to “evaluate and research all details of the business, as well as locate assets to help us find the best avenue for successful collection.” Acclaim Credit Technologies offers to cover all of the costs associated with litigation, promising that it’s clients can “rest easy knowing that we assume all risks associated with collecting your accounts.” Acclaim Credit Technologies advertises to it’s clients that it will file legal actions against debtors on their behalf for as little as $500 owed.

Acclaim Credit Technologies’ consumer division incorporates skip traces to assist in the location of debtors, and Acclaim Credit Technologies actively searches for new contact information, such as address, phone numbers, and places of employment where debtors can be located. Acclaim Credit Technologies leverages its relationship with all Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to report delinquent accounts. Like it’s consumer division, Acclaim Credit Technologies promises to pursue legal action against debtors who owe as little as $500 to its clients.

Acclaim Credit Technologies is affiliated with numerous debt-collection associations, including The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals and the California Association of Collectors, Inc.

Who does Acclaim Credit Technologies collect for?

Acclaim Credit Technologies serves a diverse clientele, collecting debt on behalf of creditors in numerous industries, including commercial debt, agriculture debt, healthcare debt, education debt, credit card debt, government debt, financial services debt, and consumer and commercial judgments.

As a third-party debt collection agency, Acclaim Credit Technologies is required to adhere to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that protects consumers from abusive debt collection tactics. Nevertheless, consumers have filed complaints accusing Acclaim Credit Technologies of violating the FDCPA. Those accusations have included claims that the debt collection agency has threatened to sue consumers without actually intending to do so and talking to third parties about consumers’ debts. It’s imperative that you know your rights under the law before speaking with Acclaim Credit Technologies debt collectors.

Reviews: How many complaints have been filed against Acclaim Credit Technologies?

Acclaim Credit Technologies is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but the BBB lists five complaints against Acclaim Credit Technologies in the past three years, only one of which has been closed. All of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections practices. As of October 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not received any complaints about Acclaim Credit Technologies’ debt collection practices. Justia, one of the largest online legal databases in the United States, does not list any cases of civil litigation involving Acclaim Credit Technologies.

Acclaim Credit Technologies harassing you?

If you’ve been contacted by ACT, you have the right to sue them in federal court if the debt collection agency has violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Signs that you may be on solid legal footing are:

• The debt collection agency called you several times in a single week
• A debt collector calls you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
• You’ve told the debt collection agency that you can’t receive calls at work, but they call anyway
• The debt collection agency is threatening to sue you
• A debt collector has disclosed information about your debt to family members, coworkers, or friends
• The debt collection agency is asking you to pay collection fees
• A debt collector swears at you or calls you names

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was put into law in order to protect consumers like you, but there’s a catch. While the government sues debt collection agencies that egregiously violate the law, it doesn’t sue agencies on behalf of individual consumers. Instead, the FDCPA has what’s called a fee-shifting provision. This means that, if you sue and win, then the debt collection agency has to pay your court costs and attorney fees. Fee-shifting levels the playing field so that you can assert your rights.

Are you asking yourself…

Why is Acclaim Credit Technologies calling me?

Acclaim Credit Technologies could be calling for a number of reasons, all of them related to debt collection:

• They could be collecting a debt on behalf of a creditor. For example, your dentist may have hired the agency to collect on a past due dental bill.
• They may be calling about a debt incurred by someone you don’t know. For example, it could be a wrong number call or your phone number could have been previously owned by the person who actually owes the debt.
• They could be calling to ask the whereabouts of someone you know. For example, they may believe that a family member of yours owes a debt and they’re trying to get a hold of his or her phone number or find out where he/she works.
• They may be trying to get you to make a small payment on a time-barred debt in order to restart the clock on the statute of limitations. For example, they could have purchased a very old bundle of uncollected cell phone bills that are legally unenforceable; convincing a consumer to pay even a dollar makes the debt current again.

If you’ve been contacted by ACT it’s important to know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If they’ve violated your rights, you can take the agency to court and sue for statutory damages of up to $1,000 – along with court costs and attorney fees.

Can Acclaim Credit Technologies sue me?

Yes. Acclaim Credit Technologies can sue you if you owe the debt, however, threatening to sue or serve you with papers if they don’t intend to do so is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Additionally, after receiving the first collection notice, you have 30 days to dispute the debt. If you dispute the debt, then ACT is required by the FDCPA to prove that you do, in fact, owe the money. A debt collection agency isn’t allowed to sue you if, for example, the debt is past the statute of limitations or if you do not legally owe the debt. It’s a good idea to speak with a fair debt attorney if you’ve been served with a summons or legal complaint.

Can Acclaim Credit Technologies garnish my wages?

Yes. However, Acclaim Credit Technologies cannot threaten you to garnish your wages and garnishment can only only occur if ACT files a lawsuit and obtains a judgment against you. It’s common for consumers to ignore notice of a lawsuit; if you don’t appear in court, the judge may automatically rule against you. Debt collection agencies have been known to avoid serving consumers with notice to increase the odds of obtaining a judgment. This is called “sewer service” or “gutter service.” The bottom line? If wage garnishment takes you by surprise, talk to a consumer attorney who can fight for your rights.

Can Acclaim Credit Technologies report my debt to the Credit Bureaus?

Yes. Acclaim Credit Technologies can report debts in collection to the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Once a debt is reported to the credit bureaus, it will appear on your credit report and will impact your credit score.

Can Acclaim Credit Technologies put a lien on my house or property?

Yes. However, as with wage garnishment, a property lien can only arise out of a court judgment against you. If ACT files a lawsuit against you and the judge rules in their favor, then the debt collection agency has a right to collect that money. One way of doing that is by putting a lien on your house or property. That’s why it’s imperative to respond to legal papers and to have an attorney by your side who will fight on your behalf.

Can Acclaim Credit Technologies arrest me?

No. Acclaim Credit Technologies – or any other debt collection agency like ACT for that matter – has no authority whatsoever to arrest you. In fact, threatening you with arrest or jail is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. While so-called “debtors prisons” are illegal, only non-payment of things like traffic tickets can lead a judge to issue a bench warrant, which in turn can lead to arrest.

Can I sue Acclaim Credit Technologies?

Yes. You absolutely have the right to sue Acclaim Credit Technologies if you believe ACT violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA says that debt collection agencies that violate the law must pay consumers up to $1,000 in statutory damages, as well as court costs and attorney fees. That’s why engaging a fair debt attorney to represent you in an FDCPA lawsuit typically doesn’t cost you anything out of pocket. The attorney that agrees to take on your case knows that the debt collection agency will be forced to pay their fees.

Ready to fight for your rights?

If Acclaim Credit Technologies – or any other debt collection agency – is calling you to the point of harassment, using abusive or profane language, or violating the FDCPA in some other way, it’s time to fight back. Under the law, you may be entitled to up to $1,000. At Lemberg Law, we won’t charge you a dime out of pocket, and we only get paid when you win. Call us today for a free, no-obligation, case evaluation. We’ll get the justice that you deserve.