Being Called By Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc.?

If you are so deep in debt that your monthly obligations have gone into arrears, sooner or later debt collectors will contact you and demand payment in full. Don’t let them intimidate you into making payment arrangements you can’t afford right now: you have the right to tell them to back off.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, limits what debt collectors can say or do when communicating with consumers. Actions like those listed below violate the FDCPA and can result in fines and even loss of the agency’s license.

● Demanding amounts that exceed the original debt
● Discussing the debt with anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney
● Pretending to be police officers or federal agents
● Trying to collect when you refuse to pay
● Calling at inconvenient times,
● Threatening consequences they cannot legally inflict

Company Profile: Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc.

If you are being called by Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc., below are some additional details about the company.

Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc., which also does business as Sherloq Financial, is a collection agency in Tampa, Florida. It opened its doors in 1958, has 25 employees, and is managed by Larry Tartaglino. Litigation summaries viewable at the PACER website indicate that those who felt that they were being harassed by Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc. did not back down and pay.

Alleged Violations against Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc.*

According to PACER, on or around August 9, 2017, Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc. sent a collection letter to an Illinois consumer. On September 2, 2017, her legal aid attorney sent a letter to the company advising it that she was represented by counsel and that her financial circumstances forced her to refuse to pay the debt. Nonetheless, the company sent her another collection letter on October 11, 2017.

Feeling harassed by Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc., the consumer took the agency to court for:

● Contacting her directly despite the knowledge that she was represented by counsel
● Continuing collection attempts after she refused to pay

The case was later resolved.

Hire a Consumer Lawyer

The phone numbers for Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc. are:

● 1-800-749-7710
● 1-813-273-7606

The appearance of either one on your caller ID confirms that Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc. is on the line. If you refuse to pay and they continue to send harassing collection letters, protect yourself by hiring a consumer lawyer and filing a claim against Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc. A judge may award you $1,000 per FDCPA violation, making it worth your while to defend your rights in court.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case: 1:18-cv-03339 from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

Additional Resources

• Debt Collection Agencies: M
• Did A Collection Agency Make False Statements Regarding Your Debt?

Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.