Debt collection agencies, such as AR Resources, may contact you if you have a large amount of debt and are behind in paying your bills. There may be times in which debt collectors use deceptive, abusive, and unfair treatment when contacting debtors. Because of this, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enacted the Fair Trade Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in the 1970s.
The goal of the FDCPA is to provide debt collectors with certain guidelines to ensure that they do not harass debtors, and to allow debtors the right to take legal action against a debt collection agency if they feel that their rights have been violated.
AR Resources is a debt collection agency based out of Pennsylvania. They are a small company with less than 50 employees.
Laws AR Resources is Accused of Violating
According to Leagle**, in a 2012 class action lawsuit against AR Resources, a Connecticut woman claimed that she was sent debt collection letters from the agency when they were not yet licensed to collect debt in the state of Connecticut. This was alleged to be a violation of the FDCPA as it was both a deceptive and unfair means of contacting debtors.
A fund of $5,000 was established for the other members of the lawsuit, with the original plaintiff receiving $2,000 in damages, coverage of her legal fees, and a refund for the original debt she paid to AR Resources.
What to Do if AR Resources Is Trying to Collect a Debt from You*
If you’ve received a call from 1-866-896-9506, this could be AR Resources. If AR Resources has violated your rights under the FDCPA, there are certain options available to you for taking action. It is a good idea to first request that AR Resources stop contacting you about the debt, which you have a right to do. This can either be a verbal or written request. Sending a written request as certified mail is the best way to ensure that you have proof of the request, which could be helpful if you later file a lawsuit against them.
When they receive your request for cease of contact, AR Resources should stop contacting you about your debt. If they don’t, you should make a record of every time that they contact you after your request. Log the date and time of the call, as well as the name of the person calling you. Note that each call counts as a violation of the FDCPA and may award you up to $1,000 in damages, plus additional payments.
You might also want to contact an FDCPA attorney. A lawyer who specializes in FDCPA claims can help you collect the evidence you need to file a successful claim. They can also determine the amount of money in damages that you should request and help you to pursue AR Resources in court. You can file an FDCPA claim in state court, with the FTC, or in small claims court. You can also file a claim with your state attorney general’s office.
**Case taken from Leagle: O’CONNOR v. AR RESOURCES.
*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 AR Resources or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.