American Profit Recovery, Inc. (APR) is a third-party collection agency based in Massachusetts. APR has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), including attempting to collect debts not owed and threatening to take illegal actions. If you have been contacted by APR, make sure you know your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Profit Recovery, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency, founded and incorporated in 2003. The BBB opened its file in 2005. APR is listed as a collection agency, billing service, and bookkeeping service with 60 employees. APR’s profile page on the BBB site describes APR as “a collection agency with offices in Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina. APR specializes in the collection of third-party debt in industries such as medical/dental, banking, trades, lawn care and other professional services.” Buzzfile estimates APR’s annual revenue at $4.7 million.
According to its website, American Profit Recovery “serves the debt collection needs of many industries with specialists that have spent time working in the industries they serve.” APR provides “a strategic approach to each account based on years of knowledge and understanding of each particular industry.” They list the following nine specific industries as their client base: lawn care and landscaping businesses; financial institutions; medical and dental offices; business-to-business and commercial accounts; veterinarians; professional services such as accountants and law firms; fuel and gas distribution companies; schools, including universities; and small businesses.
APR’s “Tier I” collection services, part of an extended business office service, focus on less delinquent accounts to save clients’ staff time. Their “Tier II” division is for “harder to collect accounts…and uses a more proactive approach to debt collections that incorporates phone work, skip tracing, credit reporting and in some cases legal action if feasible and necessary.” Whether Tier I or Tier II, APR cites tact and diplomacy as their most effective collection tools.
APR’s website does not contain a lot of information about its compliance policies or training programs. There is some information on its Frequently Asked Questions page, and they provide a link to the Ask Doctor Debt website for consumers concerned about mounting bills.
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 October 2017, the BBB has not received any reviews or complaints for American Profit Recovery, Inc. The BBB has given them a rating of A+. Since August 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 5 complaints against APR. Justia lists at least 5 cases of civil litigation naming APR as a defendant.
American Profit Recovery, Inc.
33 Boston Post Road West, Ste. 140
Marlborough, MA 01752
Telephone:(877) 634-8900
Website: https://www.americanprofit.net/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely APR 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 is a Sample Complaint:
Many of the complaints against American Profit Recovery, Inc indicate problems with account documentation and verification of debts. In October 2016, a complainant indicated that he had received a collection notice from APR. The complainant wrote letters to the collection agency and to the original creditor disputing the debt. The letters were sent return receipt requested, and APR signed the receipt, but the original creditor did not. In response, the complainant received some vendor invoices that did not provide any validation or verification of the debt.
In December 2015, a complainant had closed a bank account but later received a collection notice about a debt associated with the closed account of which the complainant was unaware. Apparently, some companies had attempted to process payments through the closed accounts, resulting in the accrual of a balance, which was then forwarded for collection to APR. APR representatives allegedly attempted contact with the complainant’s husband and son for a combined amount that did not reflect accurate accounting. Despite sending letters to stop collection efforts, the complaint alleged that APR insisted on continuing “calling and being rude and disrespectful and threatening.”
Finally, in August 2015, a complainant who had purchased a business and who had inherited the business’s landscaping services from the previous owner indicated problems with debt verification for an associated bill. Although they did not have a contract with the landscaping company, they initially let them continue providing service. However, when the landscaping service failed to provide a mosquito treatment the new owner had requested, they cancelled all services. Regardless, the company continued to appear at the business every week before anyone showed up and eventually sent a bill for the unwanted services. After several attempts to dispute the bill with the vendor, they were sent to APR for collection.
In all of these cases, APR responded that they “believed they had acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law.”
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.”
Chances are good that we can help. Call us today and we’ll explain.
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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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