Account Control Bureau ACB Collections Complaints? Calling, Harassing You?

Is Account Control Bureau legit? Are they a scam?

Account Control Bureau or ACB is a legitimate third-party debt collection agency founded in 1994 and based in Shreveport, Louisiana. According to content from its now password protected website, Account Control Bureau “specializes in professional debt collection services” by helping its clients retrieve bad debt. Account Control Bureau employed a staff of at least 20 individuals to collect on behalf of its clients. Account Control Bureau utilizes recovery tactics such as reporting delinquent accounts to the big three credit agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Account Control Bureau also engages in repetitive telephone calls to every account in order to negotiate immediate collection of debt. In addition, Account Control Bureau sends collection demand letters to debtors, and if necessary, Account Control Bureau promises to litigate debts through legal action in the courts to obtain judgments on behalf of its clients.

Account Control Bureau’s early-out collection services are provided as “Account Adjustment Associates, a registered trade name” owned by ACB. These services are intended for “accounts that are not past-due or bad-debt.” Account Control Bureau’s early-out collectors “take control of the follow-up to notify the customers of the debt, the balance, and then set up satisfactory payment arrangements until the debt is paid in full.”

Account Control Bureau states that its collection staff operates in full compliance with all state and federal laws. Previously, ACB also provided an ethics page that displayed Account Control Bureau’s mandatory collector’s pledge. However, that information can no longer be verified due to the password-protected nature of Account Control Bureau’s website.

Who does Account Control Bureau collect for?

Account Control Bureau services medical debt and consumer debt.

As a third-party debt collection agency, Account Control Bureau 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 Account Control Bureau 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 Account Control Bureau debt collectors.

Reviews: How many complaints have been filed against Account Control Bureau?

Account Control Bureau is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though the BBB lists 15 complaints against Account Control Bureau in the past three years, none of which have been resolved. 14 of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections practices, while one complaint alleged problems with Account Control Bureau’s advertising and sales practices. Since April 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 49 complaints against Account Control Bureau. 43 of these complaints contain allegations related to Account Control Bureau’s debt collection practices, and six of the complaints contained allegations related to credit reporting. Justia, one of the largest online legal databases in the United States, does not list any cases of civil litigation involving ACB.

Account Control Bureau harassing you?

If you’ve been contacted by ACB, 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 Account Control Bureau calling me?

Account Control Bureau 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 ACB 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 Account Control Bureau sue me?

Yes. Account Control Bureau 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 ACB 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 Account Control Bureau garnish my wages?

Yes. However, Account Control Bureau cannot threaten you to garnish your wages and garnishment can only only occur if ACB 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 Account Control Bureau report my debt to the Credit Bureaus?

Yes. Account Control Bureau 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 Account Control Bureau 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 ACB 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 Account Control Bureau arrest me?

No. Account Control Bureau – or any other debt collection agency like ACB 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 Account Control Bureau?

Yes. You absolutely have the right to sue Account Control Bureau if you believe ACB 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 Account Control Bureau – 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.