Are You Being Called By Alternative Collections, LLC?*

When people become overwhelmed by their debts, it’s not always because they were financially irresponsible. When the economy falters, there are mass layoffs that can affect someone’s ability to pay their debts. In other cases, the debtor becomes disabled and has to survive on benefits.

Unfortunately, the collection agencies assigned to their accounts often bully them for payment, ignoring the fact that these debtors have rights.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

If a collection agency is bullying or harassing you, they can be fined thousands of dollars or even lose their license. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is a federal statute that makes it illegal for third-party debt collectors to use methods like these to make you pay.

• Making threats they have no intention of following up on
• Using an autodialer to call you
• Contacting you even after you’ve ordered them to cease communications
• Talking to third parties about your debt
• Calling you at inconvenient times and places
• Saying that there is a warrant out for your arrest

Company Profile: Alternative Collections, LLC

If you are being called by Alternative Collections, LLC, a company background is below.

Alternative Collections, LLC, which also does business as Alternative Collection Solutions, ACS Asset Compliant Solutions, and ACS, is a debt collection agency located in Buffalo, New York. It opened for business in 2006, has 26 employees, and is managed by President & CEO, Brian Noble.

Records at the PACER website suggest that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Alternative Collections, LLC fought back in court and often prevailed.

Alleged Violations against Alternative Collections, LLC

According to PACER, on or around July 10th, July 11th and July 12th, 2013, Alternative Collections, LLC allegedly called the 90-year-old mother of a Minnesota consumer they were trying to contact.

During the July 13th conversation, Alternative Collections, LLC allegedly kept asking the consumer’s elderly mother for information about her son, saying that he owed a debt. When she said that she was too old to listen, the collector allegedly replied that the call had nothing to do with her age.

On July 11, 2013, Alternative Collections, LLC sent the consumer’s sister and brother-in-law an email, attaching to the email a collection letter addressed to the consumer.

Feeling harassed by Alternative Collections, LLC, the consumer hired legal counsel and sued the company for allegedly:

• Making details about the debt available to third parties
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt

A judge awarded the consumer $14,699.72, consisting of $2,000.00 in actual damages,
$1,000.00 in statutory damages, $10,775.51 in attorneys’ fees, and $924.21 in costs.

Hire a Consumer Lawyer

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-716-633-3500
• 1-716-995-5714
• 1-800-349-7998
• 1-888-995-4227

If you see them on your caller ID, be aware that Alternative Collections, LLC is calling. If they discuss your debt with third parties and appear to be trying to stress you into paying, hire a consumer lawyer and file a claim against Alternative Collections, LLC.

When collector misconduct is egregious, the law allows you to receive a significant amount of money in damages, which warns collection agencies that the law is in place for a reason.

Additional Resources

• What Do I Need to File an FDCPA Claim?
• Do I Need a Lawyer To Sue a Collection Agency?

*Case taken from PACER (pacer.gov). File number is Case 0:13-cv-02843-MJD-HB from the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

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