Is Americollect, Inc. Calling You?

Is Americollect, Inc. calling you? Here’s what you need to know

Debt collectors are the the subject of regular complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, second only to identity theft. The FTC even has a list of collection agencies that have been closed down for abusing consumers. If you find yourself dealing with such an agency, it is important to read up on your rights so you know how to respond.

Is AmeriCollect legit?

Yes, AmeriCollect is a legitimate collections company based out of Wisconsin. AmeriCollect is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has received an A- rating. According to the BBB, the collection agency was incorporated in 1964 and has been accredited since 2010.

Zoominfo.com reports that AmeriCollect has a revenue of roughly $5 million, and is managed by Kenlyn T. Gretz, Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, Buzzfile estimates AmeriCollect’s staff size at 50 employees.

According to its website, AmeriCollect “helps patients understand the complexity of healthcare accounts by educating them with trained healthcare collectors on items such as preventative vs. diagnostic treatments or facility vs. physician charges.” ACI states that “No matter where we are collecting from, we are consistently collecting more than other agencies by doing one thing different – being ridiculously nice.”

Who does AmeriCollect collect for?

AmeriCollect collects only for healthcare related debt. AmeriCollect’s collection service consists of two main divisions: collection services and early out services. ACI’s collection services consist of hospital collections, medical collections, and radiology collections. Second, the company’s hospital collection services includes over 70 hospitals, “ranging from 10-bed community hospitals to 15-hospital health systems.” Their medical collections division “works with thousands of doctors ranging in size from 1 to 1,500,” including “dental, ophthalmology, radiology, emergency, anesthesia, cardiology, chiropractic, orthopedic, dermatology, neurology, ENT, mental, primary, and multi-specialty.”

AmeriCollect’s tagline is “ridiculously nice”, which is interesting considering the complaints that have been filed against the collections company. AmeriCollect also notes on their website that “When it comes to medical collections, Americollect’s Ridiculously Nice approach accomplishes more than just recovering the most money. It creates a relationship of trust with the patient.” The company claims that they meet this “ridiculously nice” standard by complying with HIPAA regulations, Not-for-profit regulations, and more.

How many complaints are there against AmeriCollect?

Currently, on the BBB there are 132 complaints posted in the last 3 years regarding AmeriCollect’s practices. 36 of the posted complaints were closed within the last 12 months. The majority of the complaints allege that AmeriCollect uses unlawful collections practices, refusing to validate debt and charging consumers for debt that they do not owe. There are also 19 reviews posted on the BBB regarding AmeriCollect, the majority of which are one star reviews. Additionally, on Google Reviews, AmeriCollect has 192 posted reviews with a 2.3 star average rating. Wallethub.com has 89 additional reviews of AmeriCollect, awarding the company an average 2.4 star review.

AmeriCollect Contact information

Address: 1851 S Alverno Rd Manitowoc, WI 54220-9208
Telephone: (920) 682-0311
Website: http://www.americollect.com

Can AmeriCollect sue me and garnish my wages?

Yes, AmeriCollect can sue you if they have a valid claim against you, but it is illegal for AmeriCollect to threaten to sue you or garnish your wages based on an illegitimate debt. Though this practice is illegal, many collection companies will try to sue you and garnish your wages even if they know you do not owe the alleged debt. Stay safe and contact an attorney to fight off wrongful collections practices.

Can I sue AmeriCollect for harassment?

Yes you can sue AmeriCollect for harassment. There are federal laws that protect you from unethical collections practices. In fact, if you find that you are being harassed by AmeriCollect you should contact an attorney to sue and protect your assets. Ultimately, suing awards consumers the ability to recover money as compensation for wrongful collections practices. Moreover, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers like you, awarding damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs to victims of wrongful collections practices. The FDCPA protects consumers like you and should be utilized by an attorney to help those at risk. Call an attorney today if you are in need.

How often can AmeriCollect Call?

AmeriCollect can only call within federally designated guidelines. In November 2021, the government enacted the Debt Collection Rule, which clarified that a debt collector is presumed to have violated the law if they place a telephone call to you about a particular debt

• More than seven times within a seven-day period, or
• Within seven days after engaging in a telephone conversation with you about the particular debt

Even if the phone calls you are receiving do not fall within these parameters, a collector can also violate federal law by utilizing phone calls to harass, oppress, or abuse consumers.

How to stop AmeriCollect calls?

In order to stop AmeriCollect it is wisest to file a complaint, and obtain assistance from an attorney. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) provides consumers protection from improper collections practices by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. Additionally, consumers receive additional protection under the FCRA and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). You may have a case if…

• You are receiving multiple calls per week from third party collection agencies
• You are receiving early morning or late night calls from debt collectors
• You are receiving calls at work from a debt collection agency
• Debt collectors are calling your family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers
• Collectors are threatening you with violence, lawsuit, or arrest
• A debt collector attempts to collect more than you owe
• You are being threatened with negative credit reporting
• A debt collector attempts to intimidate you
• Criminal accusations are being made towards you
• Use of obscene language during an attempt to collect
• Automated robocalls are being made to your phone in an attempt to collect

Does AmeriCollect hurt my credit score?

AmeriCollect can hurt your credit score if they report your debt, or alleged debt to a credit reporting agency. In order to get ahead of the game, contact an attorney to prevent the debt from being reported all together. Additionally, if the debt has already been reported, contact an attorney to remove the wrongfully reported debt that is harming your credit score.

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