Are You Being Called By Credit Counsel Inc?*

Collection agencies inspire more complaints to the Federal Trade Commission than any other business. This is because so many of them use aggressive and even illegal methods to collect money from consumers. If you are harassed via phone and mail by unscrupulous debt collectors, you can make it stop.

Is Credit Counsel Inc. Legit?

Yes, Credit Counsel Inc. is a legitimate business. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Credit Counsel Inc. was founded and incorporated in 1996, and established their BBB profile page in 2001. The BBB also notes that “this business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration.” The BBB records show a license number of 7539488 for this business, issued by Miami-Dade Tax Collector. Additionally, Buzzfile notes that Credit Counsel Inc. generates approximately $1,028,780 in annual sales, and has approximately 5 employees.

According to its website, Credit Counsel Inc. is “a professional Debt Recovery organization based in South Florida, serving clients nationally and internationally since 1997.” The company additionally notes that it provides “a combination of quality service, courteous nature, and reasonable rates” as well “services most of [their] competitors cannot provide.”

Who Does Credit Counsel Inc. Collect For?

Credit Counsel Inc. notes that it collects for a variety of different businesses
nationwide. It lists its collection expertise under commercial, medical, international, and occupational health.

Within its commercial sector, CCI employs a “collection process with credit data analysis tools providing factual business intelligence that exposes hidden risks…and comprehensive research options, including asset and liability investigations…and background and financial investigations.”

Additionally, its medical debt collection services include self-pay collections, insurance resolution, and a client web portal, and its international services include “ethical and fair debt collection; domestic debt collection; fast delivery of clear and accurate reports; skip tracing and asset location; accounts receivable management; and cost-effective litigation.”

Lastly, CCI’s occupational health collection services include controverted claims, business claims, and insurance claims.

Credit Counsel Inc. also lists its professional affiliations on its website. The company is in good standing with the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International) and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Additionally, CCI states that it “operates and manages its daily activities based on a strict code of ethics to ensure maximum collection potential while adhering to the highest professional work standards and legal guidelines.” However, this claim may be without any merit, considering the company does not provide resources to website visitors regarding how they have practically met the professional standards imposed upon them.

How Many Complaints Are There Against Credit Counsel Inc?

As of August 2022, there are currently 9 complaints posted in the last 3 years on CCI’s BBB page, 4 of which were posted in the last 12 months. The complaints largely allege that the collections company fraudulently charged complainants with debt they had not acquired, and used unfair and manipulative practices to attempt to collect on the alleged debt. Additionally, there are 167 posted Google reviews regarding Credit Counsel Inc.’s collection practices, as well as 3, 1 star Yelp reviews. Since April 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 19 complaints against CCI, and Justia lists at least 3 cases of civil litigation involving CCI.

Credit Counsel Inc. Contact information

Credit Counsel, Inc.
Address: 8362 Pines Blvd., Suite 316 Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
Telephone:(305) 940-9020
Website: http://www.creditcounselinc.com/

Can Credit Counsel Inc. Sue Me Or Garnish My Wages?

Yes, but only with legitimate reason to do so. Importantly, it is illegal for debt collectors to make empty threats to sue or garnish your wages.Though this practice is illegal, debt collectors are known to take advantage of consumers, summoning them to court and garnishing their wages, even without a legitimate claim to do so. Given the inherent risks involved, the wisest decision as a consumer or alleged debtor would be to acquire legal help to assist with resolving your case.

Can I Sue Credit Counsel Inc. For Harassment?

You can sue Credit Counsel, Inc. for harassment and you should if you wish to enforce your rights and recover money for CCI’s violation. In fact, 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. Take advantage of the federal laws that are meant to protect consumers like you, and contact an attorney if you are at risk.

How Often Can Credit Counsel Inc. Call?

The government has enacted laws that serve to protect consumers from repetitive phone calls from debt collectors. In November 2021, the CFPB’s Debt Collection Rule 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.

How To Stop Credit Counsel Inc. Calls?

You can stop Credit Counsel Inc. from calling by filing a complaint and obtaining assistance from an attorney. Moreover, The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers from improper collections practices, such as using abusive or threatening language, harassment, or false or misleading information to collect a debt. Consumers are also protected 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 Credit Counsel Inc. Hurt My Credit Score?

Yes, but it does not have to. Even if Credit Counsel, Inc. has contacted you about an alleged debt and reported it to a credit bureau, you can still remove it from your credit report. In order to do so you must obtain assistance from an attorney.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was passed in 1977 to protect indebted consumers from abusive debt collection methods. Any collection agency that uses unethical tactics like the following can potentially have their license revoked or be fined thousands of dollars.

• Using profane and obscene language
• Threatening action they cannot legally take or have no intention of taking
• Calling before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Disguising the fact that they are debt collectors trying to collect a debt
• Contacting you after you have formally requested that all communications cease
• Reporting false information to the credit bureaus

Additional Resources

• Have Your FDCPA Rights Been Violated?
• What Are Damages in an FDCPA Claim?

*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 Phoenix Financial Services or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.