The Stark Agency, Inc. (TSA) is a third-party collection agency based in Wisconsin. TSA has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including making false statements and attempting to collect debts not owed. If you have been contacted by TSA, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), The Stark Agency, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 1948. The BBB established a profile page for TSA in 1996. TSA is listed as a collection agency that uses the alternate business name, Check Recovery Solutions. Buzzfile estimates TSA’s annual revenue at $2.5 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 18 employees.
According to its website, Stark Agency “is a full-service accounts receivable solutions firm that …remains one of the most highly regarded collection firms in the upper Midwest.” TSA has “successfully helped countless organizations strengthen their profitability and improve their cash flow,” with a mission of “delivering successful collection results through partnerships built on respect and integrity.”
TSA’s full range of services includes an early out program “through which…they contact… clients’ non-paying customers via personalized letters or phone calls… to allow for dispute resolution before sending the account to collection.” The letter service program “provides personalized payment delinquency notifications to… non-paying customers.” TSA’s calling campaigns use “sophisticated web-based predictive dialing to…increasee…debtor contacts.” Their asset search and trial process management division “provides complete asset search services to determine whether or not an account is suit-worthy.” In addition, TSA provides skip tracing; credit bureau listings; second placement programs; consulting and training; and free online client access.
The Stark Agency collects delinquent debts for a variety of business and industries, including government agencies; check collection and retail theft recovery; healthcare and private sector telecommunications, financial services, and property management; public sector telecommunication collections; insurance subrogation; and rent and damage claims.
Starks’s Resources page includes extensive links to trade and consumer resources, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International); the federal free annual credit report site; the BBB; and several state and local organizations.
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.
The BBB has closed 19 complaints against The Stark Agency in the preceding 3 years, with 3 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Almost all of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since October 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 6 complaints against TSA. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving TSA.
The Stark Agency, Inc.
6425 Odana Rd., Ste. 22
Madison, WI 53719-1189
Telephone: (608) 274-7764
Website: https://www.hestark.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely TSA 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 Case Complaint:
Complaints against The Stark Agency commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies.
In March 2018, a complainant indicated she had made repeated efforts to contact TSA regarding items that had been reported on her credit report. She alleged that there were 3 items from the same company from 5 years previously, all of them attributable to the same account. She alleged that when she saw the discrepancy, she called and immediately paid all the items. She was assured that the information would be updated, but she claimed that as of the date of the complaint, the inaccurate information was still appearing on her credit report. She contacted the credit reporting agencies to find out when they had received their latest update from TSA, and she alleged that the information she received from TSA conflicted with their response. The complainant stated that she had “been told over and over that TSA will report that the debt is paid in full; … and that they will remove the record from her report.” The complainant “told TSA that the credit bureau said they had not received such a request,” and that she told TSA that “the credit bureau said the balance owed hasn’t even been updated. Finally, … the bureau said they actually had received updates but they were only in relation to… her personal information; … had nothing to do with the fact that…she paid the debt; and that they had not received a request for … the item to be removed from …her report.”
The complainant expressed frustration that the already difficult task of requesting corrections to her credit report was apparently being made unnecessarily more difficult by The Stark Agency. She complained that she had paid the debt in full but was now “having to pull teeth and was being given the run around; …and was spoken to rudely and passed along to the next person.” The complainant stated that TSA is “super report happy when someone DOESN’T pay something. They should be just as quick and diligent to update these items when something IS paid.” In its response, TSA indicated their belief that they had upheld their legal obligations and that they have no control over the conduct of the credit reporting agencies.
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…
“I would recommend your company to anyone. You have the debt collectors off my back, and I will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the entire procedure your employees were courteous and professional. I was blown away by their efficacy also.”
“Thanks to the staff at Lemberg Law, I have peace of mind again. They worked quickly to find the harassing calls were super considerate when I talked with them. I love the hard work”
“I was almost going nuts receiving calls every afternoon from a person using profane language to push me to pay debts I don’t owe. Someone I trust referred me to Lemberg Law, and I don’t regret having contacted them. The attorneys were very kind and always available when I needed them.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
We can absolutely help. Call us today.
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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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Stark Agency repeatedly spamming me with phone calls. Disregarding my requests not to call me. Will not identify the amount or original creditor of the debt they claim I owe. Repeated harassing phone calls.