Central Research, Inc. (CRI) is a third-party collection agency based in Arkansas that specializes in collecting delinquent student loans. CRI has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), such as using false or misleading language in an effort to collect a debt and misrepresenting the legal status or amount of any debt. If CRI has contacted you about past due financial obligations, make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Central Research, Inc, is a “premier services provider” offering “specialized services and solutions across multiple disciplines.” CRI states that it “employ core values of integrity, loyalty, and excellence to deliver customized, quality services to clients.”
Central Research accepts accounts from federal and state governments and commercial markets. Their clients include the following federal government agencies: Department of Agriculture; Department of Commerce; Department of Defense; Department of Education; Department of Energy; Department of Health and Human Services; Department of Homeland Security; Department of the Navy; Department of Transportation; Department of the Treasury; Department of Veterans Affairs; General Services Administration; National Guard Bureau; National Science Foundation; Securities and Exchange Commission; State of Maryland; State of Oklahoma; U.S. Small Business Administration; Department of the Army; and Department of the Interior.
CRI offers services in the following areas: professional services; financial services and solutions; records and document management; and information technology. CRI’s call center and debt collection unit is located within the financial services and solutions division. CRI’s debt collection unit provides “successful recovery programs for the United States Department of Education. CRI assists borrowers with the best repayment options based on their current financial situation to resolve their defaulted student loans.” CRI also assists in “collecting the appropriate documentation if the borrower is deceased, disabled, incarcerated, or has a situation resulting in a programmatic cancellation.”CRI’s “resources, …personnel, and… experience deliver… exceptional collection programs.”
CRI’s consumer services help site provides extensive links and references to consumer protection resources, legal resources, and enforcement agencies in the following areas: students, healthcare, government, financial, retail, and telecom.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
As of May 2019, the BBB has closed 12 complaints against Central Research, Inc in the preceding 3 years, with 8 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections, although 3 complaints cited problems with customer service, and another cited problems with advertising or sales. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not posted any complaint data involving CRI. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving CRI.
Central Research, Inc.
122 N. Bloomington, Suite I
Lowell, AR 72745
Telephone:(479) 419-5456
Website: http://www.central-research.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CRI would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here are some Sample Complaints
Complaints against Central Research, Inc cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of billing and collection procedures and allegations of harassment. In October 2018, a complainant stated that CRI had misrepresented themselves and harassed him. According to the complainant, he had acquired student loan debt but was unable to keep his payments current. He contacted CRI after “a garnishment was sent out to his employer for his wages.” He explained to a CRI representative “that he was attempting to get into a rehabilitation for his loans.” The CRI representative “explained that he had to make 9 months of payments, and then his loan would be sold to a lender.” In addition, the CRI representative “indicated that he would receive paperwork to complete and return.” The complainant stated that he had complied with CRI’s instructions “on multiple occasions.” Subsequently, he “received a notice that $232.00 would come out of his checking account on 9/28/2018.” In addition, a “garnishment came into his employer for 15% of his pay, and it was processed on 10/06/2018.” The complainant “called CRI on 10/12 and spoke to someone else who told him that he would be garnished 15% and that $232.00 would come out of his checking account, as well.” However, the complainant stated that “this was the first time he was told” about their intent to extract funds from his bank account. He stated that he “was never sent anything in writing, and that when he asked for that information, he was told no.” He complained that their aggressive collection tactics amounted to taking “over $1,000 a month,” which he “cannot afford.” He asked the supervisor “to pull the tapes of the calls to confirm what he had been told and asked for a letter or something to confirm,” but his request was refused. He stated that “not only is this a hardship, but being blatantly lied to is in violation of the” FDCPA. He requested that CRI send documentation regarding all of their accounting, billing, and collection practices, and that his loans be replaced back into “rehabilitation minus the garnishment.”
In response, Central Research, Inc stated that that they are a “contracted agency for the U.S. Department of Education…and provide assistance to consumers to resolve their federal defaulted student loans.” CRI “reviewed the call recordings and… determined that … a letter was sent to the consumer advising that unless they setup…a voluntary repayment program that their wages would be garnished.” CRI acknowledged that the complainant had called on several occasions requesting clarification, and that they had declined to provide copies of the call transcripts. CRI also stated that they had “advised the complainant that a form was sent that he was required… to complete and return. Once that was returned with the required documentation, an approved payment amount could be calculated and then the loan rehabilitation letter would be sent to the consumer. This letter would contain the program requirements and would require the consumer’s signature.” Ultimately, because the complainant “stated that he could not afford to make the $232.00 payments and did not wish to continue in the program, CRI …terminated the payment arrangement…Unfortunately, as a result of the….delay in responding to the…letter, CRI was unable to terminate the garnishment.” CRI offered to reinstate “the loan rehabilitation program again,” and told the complainant that he “could receive an approved payment amount as low as $5.00 a month.”
Central Credit Services did not post a response to any of these complaints.
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Yes. If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. Federal laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
“The group at Lemberg Law was professional, courteous, and effective. Their grasp of consumer protection laws and guidelines are second to none, and they work extremely difficult to ensure this procedure is client-friendly.”
“After a few months of frustration with a debt collector, I eventually called Lemberg Law. It was among the best financial decisions I have ever made. Jody and her staff were comprehensive, useful, and above all else powerful. I highly recommend their services and thank them for their continual efforts.”
“I just wanted to let you know we received the check from your office on now and I wanted to take some time to inform you that we really appreciate all of your efforts in this matter.”
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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My comment is the same as above. Cri took my refund without any notice. If it was sent at all it had to be going to an old address which should have cause it to be returned to the company through mail system. After finding out who they were I went through the steps they ask ed me to but in 2020 they still took my refund claiming I missed a step. There was alot of paperwork and faxing I had to do to satisfy them with their income request. Finally I called early 2020 to make sure they weren’t going to take my refund and they tell me I haven’t satisfied all requirements. They continued to send me receipts of payments all of the prior year implying everything was going as the wanted and I had planned. They may work for the government as a debt collector but they are not professional and are in some type of way receiving some sort of reward for getting as much money as possible for the students that owe nevermind to doing it correctly.
Central Research also took my tax return without any notice, they started taking my D-Social Security without sending any paperwork, and when I inquired to Dept. of Education, who was taking my money, that’s when they sent paperwork about 30 years old. They technically have no current information on me, just that my name and I am not the only one in California, and across the US. So they used my name on someone else address. So, how can they collect and say the they are collecting for the D of E. when there is no letter from them stating that they asked CRI to collect. It’s easy to say you are collecting for someone, but it hasn’t been verified. They are working illegally in California, if there is not a license. And I have proof that my garnishment has been cancelled, but they don’t.
They took my tax return with no notification also threatened to garnish wages made use give all our information or else they would take my wages also made us sign documents on our income we are at retirement age shortly
Cri called my work today and said they where going to garnish my wages if I didn’t pay my student loan for 30,000 wats weird is her name was kaylee gave me a number 1-844-804-8467 and was from california I’m frakin out
Central research took my tax returned without any notification
I have received a couple of letters from central research inc. for a defaulted student loan. Doesnt give me a chance to verify the loan based on the letter sent and have threatened to sue and garnish. On top of this they have put some extra fees and cost plus the interest to collect the debt.