Accredited Collection Service ACS Collections Complaints? Calling, Harassing You?

Is Accredited Collection Services legit? Are they a scam?

Accredited Collection Services, Inc. (a/k/a Fast Track Outsourcing, Inc.) or ACS is a legitimate third-party debt collection agency founded over 35 years ago and based in Omaha, Nebraska. Accredited Collections Services, Inc. has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as failing to verify debts and attempting to collect debts not owed. If ACS has contacted you about past due collection items, make you understand your rights before you respond.

According to its website, Accredited Collection Services, Inc. utilizes sales techniques to maximize debt collection on behalf of its clients. Accredited Collection Services, Inc. bills its debt collectors as “professional, assertive and persistent.” Accredited Collection Services, Inc. maintains its goal is to collect the debt balance “in full.” Accredited Collection Services, Inc. is motivated to collect the maximum amount possible from debtors because its payment is derived from a portion of the amount it collects. If full collection is not possible, Accredited Collection Services, Inc. will try to persuade the debtor to find possible alternative sources of financing or negotiate a payment arrangement that would result in timely repayment to the client. Additionally, Accredited Collection Services, Inc. offers a wide range of classes and seminars to train its employees to more successfully collect on behalf of its clients. If these tactics fail, Accredited Collection Services, Inc. will take debtors to court to obtain judgments and wage garnishments against debtors at no cost to its clients.

Accredited Collection Services, Inc. states that it employs “diligence to comply with all state and federal regulations.” ACS. states that it has “no FDCPA violations and are recognized by the Better Business Bureau as an ‘Outstanding Member.’” However, its client-facing website has no links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies

Who does Accredited Collection Services collect for?

Accredited Collection Services, Inc.’s website does not provide information about the types of businesses or industries for whom it collect debts.

As a third-party debt collection agency, Accredited Collection Services, Inc. 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 Accredited Collection Services, Inc. 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 Accredited Collection Services, Inc. debt collectors.

Reviews: How many complaints have been filed against Accredited Collection Services?

Accredited Collection Services, Inc. has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 1998. The BBB issued an “A+” rating to Accredited Collection Services, Inc., though the BBB lists four complaints against Accredited Collection Services, Inc. in the past three years, none of which have been resolved in the last 12 months. Three of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections practices, while one complaint alleged problems with services provided by Accredited Collection Services, Inc. Since March 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 17 complaints about Accredited Collection Services, Inc.’s debt collection practices. In addition, Justia, one of the largest online legal databases in the United States, lists at least two federal cases of civil litigation involving ACS since 2012.

Accredited Collection Services harassing you?

If you’ve been contacted by ACS, 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 Accredited Collection Services calling me?

Accredited Collection Services 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 ACS 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 Accredited Collection Services sue me?

Yes. Accredited Collection Services 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 ACS 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 Accredited Collection Services garnish my wages?

Yes. However, Accredited Collection Services cannot threaten you to garnish your wages and garnishment can only only occur if ACS 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 Accredited Collection Services report my debt to the Credit Bureaus?

Yes. Accredited Collection Services 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 Accredited Collection Services 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 ACS 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 Accredited Collection Services arrest me?

No. Accredited Collection Services – or any other debt collection agency like ACS 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 Accredited Collection Services?

Yes. You absolutely have the right to sue Accredited Collection Services if you believe ACS 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 Accredited Collection Services – 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.