Generally speaking, third-party collection agencies like Array Services Group behave professionally. However, a few aggressive third-party collectors can poison the reputation of an entire industry.
Fortunately, the U.S. government has recognized that aggressive collection methods are unacceptable and has given consumers a tool to combat them. Aggressive collection methods haven’t gone away. But now more than ever, you have tools to help you fight back.
Know Your Rights
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is one of those crucial tools. The FDCPA is a federal law that is meant to keep third-party collection agencies from engaging in harassment in order to collect debts. This is just a sample of some of the prohibited behaviors:
- Reporting false information on your credit report
- Sending you embarrassing media that blatantly states that it’s from a debt collector
- Calling you before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. in your time zone
- Contacting unauthorized parties about your debt
Keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list of the prohibited behavior. To find out how to use the FDCPA to your advantage and learn what your next steps should be, contact an FDCPA attorney.
Going to Court with Array Services Group
Once you decide to file a claim, Array Services Group will be served notice. The notice contains two pieces of information: the complaint and the summons. The complaint tells Array Services Group why it is being called into court, and the summons gives details about when and where to appear.
Array Services Group will be taking the court appearance seriously, and so should you. This means making sure that you have transportation set for that day that will allow you to get there on time, if not early.
Being late to court is one of the quickest ways to torpedo the impression you leave in court, so do whatever it takes to get there on time. If you find yourself getting nervous, remind yourself that you won’t go to prison for falling behind on your bills.
Preparing for Your Court Appearance
Your attorney will help the most with two parts of your case: collecting evidence and preparing you for questioning. Be transparent with your attorney about all of your interactions with Array Services Group so that your attorney has a sense of what evidence would be most compelling and where to find it.
Next, your attorney will help you prepare for the questions that you’ll receive in court. This will make it much easier to face Array Services Group’s attorney during your actual court appearance, so take this part of the process seriously.
You don’t want any surprises on your day in court, and with good preparation, you won’t have any.
Talk to an Attorney
This process can feel intimidating and confusing. But hiring an FDCPA attorney can give you an immediate ally that understands the ins and outs of this process. Better yet, you won’t even have to worry about paying your attorney unless you win your case. Contact one today.
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Array Services Group, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
Additional Resources