Are You Being Called By Certified Recovery Systems, Inc.?*

Are you being called by Certified Recovery Systems, Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know.

When a debt collector contacts you, they will often demand immediate payment and become hostile if you can’t or won’t pay. There’s nothing illegal about collecting a legitimate debt, but if a collector resorts to verbal abuse and baseless threats, they break federal law.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers from harassment by third-party debt collectors. It is a federal consumer protection law that prohibits actions like the following:

• Using profane or obscene language
• Calling you at work after you’ve already told them that your employer doesn’t let you take personal calls
• Making threats they cannot legally follow up on, such as having you arrested
• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Refusing or failing the validate the debt
• Telling your friends, neighbors, and co-workers that you owe money

Company Profile: Certified Recovery Systems, Inc.

If you are being called by Certified Recovery Systems, Inc., information about the company is below.

Certified Recovery Systems, Inc. is a debt collection company located in Houston, Texas. It was established in 1987, has 10 to 19 employees, and is managed by its owner, Ron Nunley. According to the company website, it has been a member of the American Collectors Association since 1989, and all of its collectors attend ACA schools to become certified collectors. Records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicates that consumers who felt they were being harassed by Certified Recovery Systems, Inc. went to court to defend their rights.

Alleged Violations against Certified Recovery Systems, Inc.

According to PACER, sometime in or around early 2011, a Certified Recovery Systems, Inc. collector who identified himself as ‘Richard’ called a Texas resident A at work concerning a delinquent debt. She later said that he did not identify himself as a debt collector. When she asked for the mailing address for Certified Recovery Systems, Inc., Richard allegedly refused to provide it to her and, while she was on the phone, made a conference call with her co-worker. During the call, Richard allegedly stated that Angela was under investigation for fraud.

Feeling harassed by Certified Recovery Systems, Inc., Ms. Banks hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Contacting her at work and discussing the debt with her co-worker
• Claiming that she had committed a crime
• Failing to identify itself as a debt collector in all communications
• Failing to send a debt validation letter

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this debt collection agency are as follows:

• 1-832-226-7843
• 1-713-464-4449
• 1-713-464-8322

If you see any of them on your caller ID, be aware that you are being called by Certified Recovery Systems, Inc.. If they try to embarrass you in front of your co-workers by implying that you have committed a crime, hire a consumer attorney immediately. If you file a claim against Certified Recovery Systems, Inc. and win your case, you could be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation in addition to court costs and attorney fees. Don’t let yourself be pushed around when fighting back can pay off.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case Case 3:11-cv-00171 from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston 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 Certified Recovery Systems, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.