If you receive a debt collection call or letter from ABC Financial Services, you must be aware that this company has been accused of violations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA is a federal law intended to protect consumers like you from harassing and other illegal actions employed by collection agencies.
ABC Financial Services, Inc.
Commonly identified simply as ABC Financial or ABC, this company is a software, billing, and payment process firm that specializes in handling accounts for fitness centers and gyms. The company is headquartered in Sherwood, Arizona and has more than 6,600 clients throughout Canada, the United States, and Puerto Rico. ABC employs more than 800 people, many of whom work from home as “remote call center representatives.”
According to the BBB**, the company’s financial disclosure and debt collection practices have been the subject of hundreds of consumer complaints. In the past 3 years, 707 complaints have been filed with ABC, 516 of which were about billing and collection issues. Consumers have also accused ABC of poor customer services and unethical and fraudulent billing practices. Lawsuits have additionally been filed against ABC Financial alleging FDCPA violations in at least two U.S. District Courts since 2007.
If a Collection Agency Contacts You*
If you are contacted by a collection agency, you have the right to request the company cease communications. While this will not make any debt the company is trying to collect go away, it can decrease stress and stop the phone calls and collection letters.
If the agency continues to contact you after you’ve submitted a formal request to them, then they may be in violation of FDCPA regulations. If they have violated federal law, you can sue the collection firm for violating your rights. Under the FDCPA, a collection firm can be required to pay a consumer $1,000 for violation of the consumer’s rights in addition to actual damages, court costs, and legal fees.
Track all communications from the debt collector, including phone calls and letters received after you submitted your “cease communications” request. Your log of potential FDCPA violations can be instrumental in any legal action you pursue against the agency.
FDCPA violation lawsuits are filed in U.S. District Court, as the FDCPA is a federal law, but you may also be able to hold the collection agency accountable for their actions under state laws as well. To better understand your rights and to protect your personal and financial interests, you may wish to seek legal counsel from an FDCPA attorney.
**Information taken from the Better Business Bureau(BBB)
*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 Aargon Collection Agency or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.