Are You Being Called By HCI Healthcare Collections?*

Are You Being Called By HCI Healthcare Collections?* Here’s What You Need to Know

Persistent calls from debt collectors can be stressful and intimidating. But understanding your rights when it comes to dealing with collection agencies can take away some of the fear and make you feel more in control. Don’t be bullied- understand what collection agencies can and cannot do and what your options are if they cross the line.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), is a federal consumer protection law that governs debt collector interactions with consumers. Actions like the following are prohibited and illegal when used to pressure someone into paying a debt.

• Swearing, calling you names, and using profane language
• Contacting you at work after being informed that the employer does not permit such calls
• Refusing to validate the debt and prove that they are authorized to collect it
• Calling at inconvenient times, namely before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m.
• Persisting in trying to collect a disputed debt
• Reporting false information to the credit bureaus

Company Profile: HCI Healthcare Collections

If you are being called by HCI Healthcare Collections, information about the company is below.

HCI Healthcare Collections is a debt collection agency located in Phoenix, Arizona. It was established in 1992, has approximately 40 employees, and is managed by its CEO, Paul Peach. Its website claims that it is one of the biggest healthcare collection agencies in the Southwest. A review of court records at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicate that many consumers who believed they were being harassed by HCI Healthcare Collections stood up for themselves in federal court.

Alleged Violations against HCI Healthcare Collections

According to PACER, in or around April 9th, 2014, HCI Healthcare Collections sent a collection letter to a Georgia consumer. It read, in part:

We regret to inform you that your balance reference above still remains unpaid. Our client has authorized us to list your account with the credit reporting agencies. You are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligations.

The consumer pulled copies of her credit reports but the debt was not reported, leading her to conclude that she was being threatened into paying.

Feeling harassed by HCI Healthcare Collections, she hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA by threatening legal action it had no intention of taking.

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-602-943-3101
• 1-800-219-3101

If you see either number on your caller ID in when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by HCI Healthcare Collections. If they make aggressive statements to pressure you into paying, either verbally or in writing, hire a consumer attorney. If you file a claim against HCI Healthcare Collections and win, you could potentially receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus any other appropriate costs and damages, so never believe that debt collectors can abuse you without consequence.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:15-cv-00947-CC from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta 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 HCI Healthcare Collections, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.