Are You Being Called By Alco Collections, Inc.?*

Are you being called by Alco Collections, Inc.?* Here’s What You Need to Know

If your monthly bills go into arrears because you lost your job or became too sick to work, eventually debt collectors will start calling. There’s nothing illegal about this, unless they threaten, bully, and otherwise attempt to intimidate you. Then you have the right to -and definitely should- contact a consumer attorney.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was passed in 1977 and regulates what third-party collectors can say and do while attempting to collect a debt. When a debt collector uses approaches like those below, they are violating federal law.

• Using profane and abusive language
• Discussing the debt with anyone except the you, your attorney, spouse, or co-signer
• Calling you several times per day using an autodialer
• Calling before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Demanding amounts that exceed the amount of the original debt
• Threatening action they cannot legally take or have no intention of taking

Company Profile: Alco Collections, Inc.

If you are being called by Alco Collections, Inc., information about the company is below.

Alco Collections, Inc. is a debt collection company located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was established in 1987, has 11 to 50 employees, and is managed by its CEO, James Allen. Its most recent Better Business Bureau rating is B. Files archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that many consumers who believed they were being harassed by Alco Collections, Inc. refused to cave into perceived demands and fought back in court.

Alleged Violations against Alco Collections, Inc.

Robert M. Senior vs. Alco Collections, Inc. et al*

According to PACER, on or about March 22, 2016, Alco Collections, Inc. sent Louisiana resident Robert Senior a collection letter. It identified the creditor as “504 Financial” and referencing “Account # 149698”. Because he had never heard of either, Mr. Senior made repeated attempts to contact Alco Collections, Inc. but allegedly never received an answer. He also sent an email on March 25, disputing the debt in writing.

On or about May 4, 2016, Alco Collections, Inc. reported Mr. Senior’s alleged debt to “504 Financial” to Transunion and Experian and did not report it as disputed. It also sent him another collection letter on or about May 31, this time identifying the creditor as “504 Fitness”, a gym he had once joined.

Feeling harassed by Alco Collections, Inc., Mr. Senior hired a consumer attorney and sued the agency for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Failing to properly identify the creditor in the first letter
• Refusing to stop collection efforts after he disputed the debt
• Reporting inaccurate information to the credit bureaus

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this collection agency is 1-225-751-5660. If it appears on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Alco Collections, Inc.. If they are obscure about exactly who you owe the money to and fail to report a debt as disputed to the credit bureaus, hire a consumer attorney. If you file a claim against Alco Collections, Inc. and the judge rules in your favor, you could potentially receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus any associated costs. When debt collectors cross the line, the law helps you push them right back.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 2:16-cv-10877-ILRL-JCW from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

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 Alco Collections, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.