Is Apple Recovery Calling You?*

Is Apple Recovery calling you?* Here’s what you need to know.

Being chased by a collection agency is never a positive experience. Every time the phone rings, you’re reminded that you owe more money than you can afford to pay back. If the debt collector harasses you constantly and refuses to agree to an affordable payment plan, you may be tempted to declare bankruptcy, but take a minute first and educate yourself on your rights as an indebted consumer.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, protects indebted consumers from being abused by third-party debt collectors. This consumer protection law makes it illegal for a collection agency to use tactics like those below when attempting to collect a debt.

• Maliciously reporting false information to the credit bureaus
• Trying to collect more than the law and / or the original creditor agreement allow
• Pretending to be police officers or federal agents
• Telling your friends and family that you owe money
• Threatening consequences that they cannot legally take or have no intention of taking
• Calling before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone

Company Profile: Apple Recovery

Apple Recovery is a debt collection agency located in Phoenix, Arizona. It was established in 2002 and is managed by its Vice President of Operations, Mike Gough. It has been the subject of 10 complaints to the BBB in the last three years. A review of records kept at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirms that Apple Recovery has been sued by consumers who felt that their rights had been violated.

Alleged Violations against Apple Recovery

Michael Price, Individually and on Behalf of all Others Similarly Situated vs. Apple Recovery

According to PACER**, in or around late 2014, Texas resident Michael Price received automated voicemail messages on his phone that stated, “Please have Michael Price call our office at the following number: 844-232-2775. When returning this call, please refer to reference number 1013740. Thank you. Good bye.”

After enough of these messages had been received, Mr. Price hired an attorney and filed a class action lawsuit against Apple Recovery for the following alleged FDCPA violations:

• Leaving voicemail messages that did not meaningfully disclose the caller’s identity
• Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Apple Recovery are:

• 1-602-812-7400
• 1-844-232-2775

If you see either of these numbers on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that a debt collector is trying to reach you. If they use an automated dialing system to call you and leave messages that are vague and non-revelatory, hire an attorney. The FDCPA requires complete transparency when dealing with consumers, and doing otherwise is against the law. If you decide to sue, you could receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. When a debt collector disrespects you as a consumer, the law may give them an expensive wakeup call.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is (Case 4:15-cv-00027 from United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division)

*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 Apple Recovery or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.