Viking Client Services or VCS is a third-party collection agency based in Minneapolis, MN. VCS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) such as attempting to collect debts not owed and failing to provide verification of debts. If you have been contacted by VCS regarding past due financial obligations, understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Viking Client Services, Inc. is a billing service, insurance claim processing service, and collection agency. The BBB established a profile page for VCS in 1990. Buzzfile estimates Viking Client Services’ annual revenue at $36.0 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 325 employees.
According to its website, Viking Client Services was founded in 1969 and “offers a full range of recovery solutions for large, regional and community banks, insurance companies, debt buyers and other financial establishments across the United States.” Specifically, VCS has three divisions: payment processing, insurance subrogation, and debt collection and recovery.
VCS’ payment processing division acts as a “protected and affordable online payment-solution provider” offering “data reporting tools…customizable interface…and the highest standards for both security and usability.” Their insurance subrogation division employs “agents specifically dedicated to insurance subrogation…to provide expert management of the entire subrogation process.”
VCS’ collection staff provides “recovery solutions across multiple industries… [to make] sure that the collection process is both effective and empowering.” Their collections division employs a staff of over 150 collectors to service accounts for consumer bankcard accounts; installment loans; automobile deficiencies; insurance subrogation collections; pre-legal collections; and high balance accounts.
Viking Client Services is a client-focused company with a client-facing website. They do not provide online information about their compliance policies or training programs, and there are no links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or agencies.
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.
In the past three years, the BBB has closed 86 complaints against Viking Client Services, with 34 closed in the past 12 months.Most of the complaints allege problems with billing and collection; however, there are also a lot of complaints alleging problems with advertising and sales. Since May 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 25 complaints against VCS. Justia lists at least 10 cases of civil litigation naming VCS as a defendant.
Viking Client Services, LLC
7500 Office Ridge Circle, Ste. 100
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Telephone:(800) 767-7895
Website: http://www.vikingservice.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely VCS 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 Cases filed in Federal Court
In 2017 Viking Client Services, Inc. was the defendant in a proposed class action filed by a New Jersey woman who claimed the company violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The plaintiff alleges the defendant sent consumers collection notices for obligations owed to PNC bank that falsely claimed the Internal Revenue Service requires debt forgiveness of amounts $600 or higher to be reported to the agency.
On more than one occasion, consumers have complained about collection notices from Viking indicating they owe past due amounts for damage to rental cars that had been returned to the car rental companies in undamaged condition. For example, in June 2017, a complainant indicated that he had received a notice from Viking Client Services for a debt resulting from damage to a rental car earlier the same year. The letter did “not reflect any… supporting documentation or proof of damages, however it does request that the complainant remit payment.” The complainant attempted to contact VCS by “telephone; however, they are not open on the weekends.” The complainant looked for an email address, but the “letter…only reflects a telephone number and a mailing address for written correspondence.” After contacting the car rental company, he “was told that all damage claims are sold to VCS for collection and that he would need to speak directly to them. The complainant also documented that “the vehicle was inspected at the time of the rental return and that no damages were noted on the rental receipt, nor did he receive a letter or telephone call” informing him of any damages.
Similarly, in March 2017, a complainant indicated his attorney had sent a letter to a car rental company requesting evidence for their claim that the car had been damaged, which he insisted was not the case. Subsequently, VCS began sending collection letters for the alleged debt. Although the complainant insists that he returned the vehicle “without any issues and …inspected it with the car rental agency employee,” he received in response to his dispute a letter stating, “there was an accident, collision, to the vehicle, and that he is responsible for $1300.00 for said damages.” None of his attempts to contact the car rental company or Viking Client Services were returned.
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…
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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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Viking Client Services contacted my employer without contacting me first that they were going to do that. Meanwhile I was in the process of filling claims for insurance coverage with both my insurance company and the credit card insurance company. I called and asked who gave them permission to contact my employer and one of thier people said AVIS did the supervisor who I talked to said my insurance company did and when I talked to the manager of the collections department supposedly , he told me now one gave them authorization to call my employer but because on my AVIS rental agreement there was my company name for a discount code for the rental he was stating that gave them permission to contact my employer. I want they to pay and pay badly for thier invasion of privacy and harassment
I negotiated a settlement with Viking for a rental car which received hail damage during a rental period. Budget, closed the claim after a couple of months and sent out documentation stating that I was delinquent in payment. They sent it to the wrong address and when I returned there call we engaged in getting the claim emailed to me at which time I questioned their total. They added over $1500 in misc fees. When I requested substantiating documentation they refused to provide it. A couple of days later I heard from Viking! Budget/Sedgwick turned it over to them immediately. I never attempted to try and not pay my deductible but I would never pay additional fees without documentation! When I told Viking the situation they became very snarky, I left a negative client review and then began working my way up the chain off command. I requested the same documentation from the department head (Joseph Boone) – again more disrespect and snarky comments. Done! So the next request was to formally request documentary evidence to be presented at trial – “we can do this the easy way or I can get a subpoena out tonight – you’re choice”. A couple of days later I received a call back from Joseph to let me know that they would be able to receive the deductible amount as payment in full. I said great I’ll pay with 24-48 hours thinking any reputable company would put it writing. Nope nothing. As matter of personal policy I will only pay off invoice so I waited and it turns out that sent it once again to wrong address! Then they began calling and now it was the full amount again. I said no, send me what you sent to the wrong address – the customer service lady said okay, Joseph said no – full amount, no documentation and payment must be made on their website or over the phone with a debit/credit card. I said absolutely not gonna happen. Money order over nighted is the only way I will remit. He said no. I left another negative response and said that I would be taking this to William Chase, Joseph’s top boss. Moments later William Chase called and explained in great detail what had happened. He agreed to the deductible only amount and to the overnight money order. Great! Done I thought… until my soon to be exhusband called and said he had gotten a call from Viking! I called Viking and yep, they called him on 12/21/18. Is that legal? Even the customer service rep Eugen Welch said “that should have never happened, I be sure to make notes not to give out anymore information”!!! My soon to be ex is doing a little due diligence for himself since he just found out he’s in a deep hole from having his assets at our MSA and then having/allowing his attorney to prepare the divorce decree in which the verbiage removed his pension, 401k and much more. Now he’s scrambling around trying scrape up anything possible to divert his own actions and I’ve got Viking giving him confidential information!!! Was that legal? I keep phone logs for everything and you would not believe the dozens of calls I placed to Budget and Sedgwick attempting to amiably resolve this issue. Sedgwick was horrible but then they began to look good after dealing with Viking. I know one thing – I’ll never rent from Budget/ Avis again and I will absolutely tell Costco (that’s who I went thru) and EVERY OTHER PERSON I KNOW who wants to know the truth about how they operate their business! Was Viking breaking the law by contacting my ex? (Please excuse anything misspelled or words omitted…no time to proof!)