Affinity Global or Affglo debt collection agency is bound by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Learn more about the company and how you can stop harassing debt collection calls.
Is Affinity Global legit? Are they a scam?
Affinity Global, Inc. or AffGlo is a legitimate third-party debt collection agency founded in 1999 and headquartered in Ontario, Canada. Affinity Global, Inc. boasts more than 500 workstations, which are devoted to outbound debt collection calls. Affinity Global, Inc.’s call centers are located in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, and Panama. Specifically, they operate from Denver, Dallas, New York, Buffalo, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, London, and Panama City, which makes Affinity Global, Inc. a truly global operation. Affinity Global, Inc. offers numerous collection-related services to its customers, including Accounts Receivable Management, Business Process Outsourcing, Customer Acquisition, Customer Care, Software Development, and Technical Support.
According to its website, Affinity Global employs a dedicated workforce of collections professionals who will make every effort to collect debt on behalf of its clients. AffGlo uses a number of tactics to accumulate debt, including telephone calls, letter collection, and skip tracing tactics. Affinity Global, Inc. boasts that it is a results-driven company that offers “best-in-class customer care, debt collection, technical support, business process, development and telesales solutions, we help our customers protect their reputations and enhance their brands.”
Who does Affinity Global collect for?
Affinity Global, Inc. specializes in a diverse range of industries, including the auto industry, communications, retail, financial services, insurance, social media management, and travel and leisure.
As a third-party debt collection agency, Affinity Global, 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 Affinity Global, 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 Affinity Global, Inc. debt collectors.
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Reviews: How many complaints have been filed against Affinity Global?
Affinity Global, Inc. is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which issued Affinity Global, Inc. an “A-” rating, despite 44 complaints against Affinity Global, Inc. in the past three years, only 19 of which have been resolved in the past 12 months. 36 of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections, while seven complaints alleged problems with services provided by Affinity Global, Inc. Since April 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 18 complaints involving Affinity Global, 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 AffGlo pending since 2017.
Affinity Global harassing you?
If you’ve been contacted by Affinity Global, 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 Affinity Global calling me?
Affinity Global 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 Affinity Global 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 Affinity Global sue me?
Yes. Affinity Global 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 AffGlo 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 Affinity Global garnish my wages?
Yes. However, Affinity Global cannot threaten you to garnish your wages and garnishment can only only occur if AffGlo 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 Affinity Global report my debt to the Credit Bureaus?
Yes. Affinity Global 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 Affinity Global 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 AffGlo 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 Affinity Global arrest me?
No. Affinity Global – or any other debt collection agency like AffGlo 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 Affinity Global?
Yes. You absolutely have the right to sue Affinity Global if you believe AffGlo 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 Affinity Global – 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.
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