If you’re being harassed by debt collectors, you can contact a law firm that specializes in consumer protection. They can help you find out whether the company is following proper debt collection procedures or if they’re engaging in illegal practices. These law firms can also provide you with legal remedies if the debt collection agency is violating your rights. For example, they may be contacting your family, friends and co-workers to embarrass you, which is illegal. They may also be calling your employer to threaten you with a lawsuit, which is another violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Advanced Capital Solutions is a debt collection agency that operates nationally and purchases old debts to collect on them. Their website claims they have extensive experience with a variety of services, including skip tracing technology, lettering campaigns, phone contact, debt portfolio management and litigation services. Their site also states that they “comply with all applicable state and federal regulations,” including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (or FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Despite being required to adhere to federal laws, ACS has received numerous complaints from consumers for using abusive collection tactics. Often these complaints involve falsely reporting the debt to the credit bureaus and misrepresenting the amount of the debt that is owed. In addition to this, ACS has been known to threaten consumers with legal action that they do not intend to take and to talk to third parties about consumers’ debts.
You have a right to dispute the debt with any collections agency, including ACS. They are required to send you a written notice within five days of the initial contact with you that includes how much you owe, who you owe it to and how to dispute the debt. They must also abide by your request to not call you at work if you tell them that your employer frowns upon personal calls. Additionally, they cannot threaten you with violence, corporal punishment or arrest.
While a debt collection agency can’t sue you for a debt that has not been validated or for which you may not be responsible, they are known to do so frequently. They have also been known to summon consumers to court and garnish wages after a default judgment is passed.
If you have been contacted by ACS and believe that they are violating your rights, it is important to contact a debt collection attorney immediately. You can file a suit under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus court costs and attorneys’ fees. In addition, if your lawsuit is successful, you may be able to get the debt collection company to pay you for their violations of your rights. A good lawyer will know how to negotiate with a debt collection agency and can get you the best settlement for your case. They can even get your debt removed from your credit report if it is inaccurate, so you can have a fresh start. advanced capital solutions reviews