Is Helvey & Associates Inc. Calling You?*

Is Helvey & Associates Inc. calling you?* Here’s what you need to know.

There’s a reason why debt collectors are so persistent. By making you pay, they augment their own paychecks. So they call you at home late at night or early in the morning, threaten to sue you, and embarrass you in front of your friends and co-workers. The good news is that you have the ability under the law to stop the harassment.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) makes it illegal for third-party debt collectors to bully or deceive indebted consumers into paying their debts. Hostile approaches like the following are prohibited and can result in fines or license revocation:

• Calling before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Calling you at work when your employer does not allow such calls
• Using profane or obscene language
• Using an auto dialer to leave a stream of pre-recorded messages
• Threatening legal actions that they have no intention of taking
• Refusing to identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt

Company Profile: Helvey & Associates Inc.

Helvey & Associates Inc. is a debt collection company located in Warsaw, Indiana. It was established in 1955, has 50 to 99 employees, and is managed by owner Jerry Helvey. According to records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website reveal that the agency has been sued in the past for allegedly using debt collection methods that violate the FDCPA.
Alleged Violations against Helvey & Associates Inc.

Joseph Dreibelbis vs. Helvey & Associates Inc.*

According to PACER, an Indiana consumer started receiving collection calls from Helvey & Associates Inc. regarding a number of medical debts he had run up. During one call, he informed a female representative that he was in financial straits and in the process of applying for disability. She allegedly replied that the agency would garnish his disability when he received it if he did not pay the debt. Alarmed, the consumer made a payment and agreed to further payment arrangements.

On or around October 19, 2015, he received a Payment Reminder Notice that was later submitted as an exhibit. It contained a heading, “ACCOUNT IDENTIFICATION”, an account number, and a balance of $5,095.54. The Notice did not identify which specific creditor or creditors Helvey & Associates Inc. was collecting on behalf of or specify the exact nature of the consumer debts.
Concerned, the consumer hired a consumer attorney and sued Helvey & Associates Inc. for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Threatening to garnish his wages
• Attempting to collect a debt without properly identifying the creditors

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Helvey & Associates Inc. are:

• 1-855-804-5704
• 1-574-269-1726
• 1-574-267-7922
• 1-800-299-8842

If any of these numbers appear on your caller ID, be aware that a debt collector is on the line. If they threaten to garnish your wages and mislead you as to the identity of your creditors, contact a consumer attorney. This deliberate bullying and lack of transparency is illegal, and if you decide to sue with your attorney’s help, you could potentially win $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. You have rights, and debt collectors who violate them face consequences.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:16-cv-00018-PPS-CAN from the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, South Bend 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 Helvey & Associates Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.