Are You Being Called By Acme Credit Service?*

Debt collectors are extremely resourceful and persistent when it comes to collect debts. Unfortunately for many of the consumers being contacted by them every day, some of the methods that they use are illegal under federal law. If you find yourself on the receiving end of such harassment, know that the law is on your side.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, requires third-party debt collectors to follow a professional code of conduct when collecting consumer debts. Tactics like those below are illegal, and can result in revocation of the agency’s license.

• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. your time
• Threatening you with consequences or actions they can’t legally take or have no intention of taking
• Using profane or obscene language
• Calling you at work after they’ve been advised that such calls are not allowed
• Discussing your debt with anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney
• Telling you that you have committed a crime and will be arrested if you don’t pay them right now

Company Profile: Acme Credit Service

If you are being called by Acme Credit Service information about the company is below.

Acme Credit Service is a debt collection agency located in Springfield, Illinois. It was established in 1961, has less than 10 employees, and is managed by its owner, Peggy Wilson. According to records archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website, people who believed they were being harassed by Acme Credit Service fought back by filing lawsuits of their own.

Alleged Violations against Acme Credit Service

David Seneff, on behalf of himself and a class vs. A.C.S. Companies, Inc. d/b/a Acme Credit Service*

According to PACER, during April 2010, Illinois resident David Seneff received the following voicemail message on his cell phone.

Hi. This is for David. This is Kim 217-241-4414. It’s very important you back in contact with me. Again that’s 217-241-4414. I will be in the office this evening until 5:30. Thank you.

The number 217-241-4414 was issued to Acme Credit Service, but the caller allegedly did not identify the company they worked for or state that the call was for debt collection purposes.

Feeling harassed by Acme Credit Service, Mr. Seneff hired a consumer attorney and filed a class action lawsuit against the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt
• Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors in each communication

The matter was later settled.

Hire an FDCPA Attorney

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-217-241-4400
• 1-217-241-4414
• 1-800-500-2263

If you see any of these numbers on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Acme Credit Service. If they leave voice messages that fail to identify them as third-party debt collectors, hire a consumer attorney. If you file a claim against Acme Credit Service with your attorney’s help and win, you could potentially be awarded $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 pay to fight back.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:10-cv-03100-JES-CHE from the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Springfield 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 Acme Credit Service, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.