Are You Being Called By Madison Avenue Associates, Inc.?*

A lot of debt collectors will cross absolutely any line to settle a debt. They will call you several times a day, approach your friends and family, and threaten legal action, all the while hoping that you’ll never realize you have rights as an indebted consumer and that what they are doing is illegal.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

Prior to 1977, abusive debt collectors were causing so many consumers to declare personal bankruptcy that Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA. This consumer protection law, which remains in effect 40 years later, makes it illegal for collection agencies to use tactics like those below to collect a debt.

• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Maliciously reporting inaccurate information to the credit bureaus
• Trying to collect after you have formally disputed a debt
• Using profane and abusive language
• Discussing the debt with anyone but you, your spouse, your attorney, and any debt co-signers (if applicable)
• Demanding an amount that is not supported by law or the original debt agreement

Company Profile: Madison Avenue Associates, Inc.

If you are being called by Madison Avenue Associates, Inc., information about the company is below.

Madison Avenue Associates, Inc. is a collection agency located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was established in 1986, has approximately 10-19 employees, and is managed by its President, Edward Lechner.

Litigation records retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that several consumers who felt they were being harassed by Madison Avenue Associates, Inc. mounted a challenge in court.

Alleged Violations against Madison Avenue Associates, Inc.

Jessica Ford vs. Madison Avenue Associates, Inc.**

According to PACER, prior to November 21, 2013, Madison Avenue Associates, Inc. had reported to Experian credit reporting agency that Indiana resident Jessica Ford owed a debt to it and/or its client. On November 21, her attorney faxed a letter stating that she disputed the debt.

Although the transmission report indicated that the fax was received, when Ms. Ford reviewed a copy of her Experian report on March 20, 2014, there was no mention of the dispute.

Feeling harassed by Madison Avenue Associates, Inc., she hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using harassing and abusive conduct to collect a debt
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Failing to report the debt as disputed

The matter was later resolved.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this collection agency is:

• 1-317-817-9730
• 1-800-626-4710

If either number appears on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Madison Avenue Associates, Inc. If they fail to report a debt as disputed to the credit bureaus after you notify them of the fact, hire a consumer attorney. To help your case, take a look at which materials you should retain for your day in court.

Fear might keep you from wanting to file, but don’t let it. If you file a claim against Madison Avenue Associates, Inc. and win, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. An attorney can help you reassert your rights and sue for the damages you are entitled to.

*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 Madison Avenue Associates, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:14-cv-01031-TWP-MJD from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.