Is Acclaim Credit Technologies Calling You?*

Is Acclaim Credit Technologies calling you?* Here’s what you need to know.

Debt collectors are arguably one of the least-liked professionals in the country. Their calls and letters remind us that we owe money. Many of them are also aggressive and rude. If you’re dealing with an especially hostile collection agency, the good news is that you have rights that debt collectors disregard at their own professional risk.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA prohibits abusive and unethical debt collection practices. It was originally enacted in 1977 and continues to regulate what debt collectors may say or do while communicating with consumers. Under the FDCPA, practices like those below are illegal and could result in license revocation:

• Raising their voice and making threats they have no intention of following up on
• Calling at inconvenient times, such as before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Discussing the debt with anyone except you, your spouse, attorney and any co-signers
• Calling you at work after you tell them that you can’t take personal calls there
• Threatening legal action they cannot take, such as having you arrested and seizing your assets
• Refusing to prove that a debt is valid and they are authorized to collect it

Company Profile: Acclaim Credit Technologies

Acclaim Credit Technologies is a debt collection company located in Visalia, California. It was established in 1997, has 20 to 49 staff, and is managed by owner Bruce Tschannen. Litigation records archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that Acclaim Credit Technologies has been accused of violating consumer rights during certain debt collection attempts.

Alleged Violations against Acclaim Credit Technologies

Santiago Capul vs. Acclaim Credit Technologies*

According to PACER, in or around January of 2014, Acclaim Credit Technologies placed a collection call to California resident Santiago Capul and allegedly left a voicemail message that failed to disclose the caller’s identity as a debt collector seeking to collect a debt. Mr. Capul, believing he was being deceived into returning the call, hired a consumer attorney and sued Acclaim Credit Technologies for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt
• Failing to disclose that the communications were from a debt collector

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Acclaim Credit Technologies are:

• 1-559-741-7111
• 1-888-411-9605

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 about a debt you allegedly owe. If they leave messages that do not clearly identify the reason for their call or the fact that they are a debt collector, hire a consumer attorney. This lack of transparency violates the FDCPA, and if you take the matter to court you could potentially win $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. When debt collectors cross the line, it could mean a payday for you instead of them.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 8:14-cv-00300-CJC-DFM from the United States District Court, Central District of California, Southern Division.

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 Acclaim Credit Technologies or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.