Apelles, LLC is a third-party collection agency based in Ohio. Apelles has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken and improper contact or sharing of information. If Apelles has contacted you about 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), Apelles, LLC is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 2003. The BBB established a profile page for Apelles in 2004. Apelles has been a BBB-accredited business since 2014. Buzzfile estimates Apelles’ annual revenue at $4.5 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 30 employees.
According to its website, Apelles “is a nationwide provider of debt collection services and specialized customer lifecycle management programs.” Apelles describes itself as a “values-based organization that focuses on process-based strategies to drive top tier results for…clients.” Apelles also states that it uses a “resolution-oriented approach with customers that protects…client…brands and helps support long-term customer loyalty.” Apelles’s mission is to “provide best-in-class customer contact support for…clients by focusing on people, partnership, performance, and profitability.”
Apelles’s collection services include debt recovery, accounts receivable (A/R) outsourcing, customer lifecycle and retention programs, and fraud management. Their debt recovery division utilizes “integrated recovery strategies designed around…customer portfolios to enable… top tier compliance-focused recovery performance.” Their A/R outsourcing division “delivers multi-faceted strategies targeting…delinquent customers to provide…a variety of account resolution options and a positive customer experience.” Apelles’s customer lifecycle and retention program “helps validate and mine customer data, enhance customer loyalty, and identify upsell opportunities,” and their fraud management division “assistsing reducing… customer acquisition costs while enhancing customer perceptions of the client brand.”
The Apelles website does not provide any detailed information about the specific industries or types of businesses for which it collects debts.
Apelles cites their deployment of “multiple tools within its systems to support customer confidentiality…and data security,” including the Ontario Systems FACS customer database, “redundant customer contact platforms”; “embedded call recording technology”; “virtual networks leveraging Dell, Cisco, and Microsoft technology”; and “routine file level and image back-ups to support seamless business continuity.” Apelles also employs a “comprehensive Risk Management Program that includes a strong focus on data security as well as regulatory and service-level compliance.”Although Apelles cites many high-tech data security implementations, their website does not provide links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement 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.
As of January 2019, the BBB has closed 13 complaints against Apelles in the preceding three years, with 1 complaint closed in the previous 12 months. All of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections. Since April 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has recorded 17 complaints about Apelles. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving Apelles.
Apelles, LLC
3700 Corporate Drive, Suite 240
Columbus, OH 43231
Telephone:(614) 899-7322
Website: http://www.apellesnow.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely Apelles 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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Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here are some Sample Complaints
Complaints against Apelles cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts. In May 2018, a complainant alleged that Apelles had “sent a second notice of collection on a debt discharged by a federal bankruptcy court in 2012.” The complainant “provided extensive documentation of the discharge,” and received the “signed… certified mail receipt…indicating they did indeed receive the packet of documents.” Regardless, Apelles’s “second statement essentially reset the clock” on the debt by “stating that the complainant conceded it’s a valid debt if he does not respond within 30 days.” The complainant insisted that “the account number on the earlier statement… is the same as the most recent one…so they are aware the debt is discharged.” In response, Apelles apologized “for any inconvenience the complainant has experienced because of this situation,” and assured the complainant that “Apelles has ceased all collection efforts regarding this account.”
In November 2017, a complainant stated that he had begun receiving collection notices from Apelles for a bill from a home alarm and security company that had never fulfilled the terms of their contract. According to the complainant, the alarm company had sent a salesman to the complainant’s home and sold the complainant an alarm system. The alarm was installed “by replacing the existing alarm control panels with new panels a few weeks later.” The complainant had “signed a 2-year contract for monitoring for a total of $1,100.00 paid monthly.” Eventually, the complainant discovered that the alarm system was not functioning, so the alarm company “sent…an engineer who told him that the sensors in the front door weren’t working” and needed to be rewired. “When the engineer checked the rest of the home, … he said that the whole house needed to be rewired for the alarm to work. The… salesman came to his house again and … said he would need to spend a further $2,200.00 for wiring with front, side, patio, garages doors, and window sensors.” The complainant insisted that “this should have been explained ahead…of signing the contract… so they sent… a 2nd senior sales manager to his home.” The sales manager agreed and offered to lower the cost to $1,700.00. The complainant declined, and the sales manager agreed to cancel the contract. Regardless, the complainant began receiving bills from the alarm company. He tried to contact the sales manager but discovered that he had left the company. Eventually, he received a bill for the entire two-year contract. Despite his efforts to dispute the bill, the alarm company persisted, insisting he had signed a contract. Eventually, the bill was sent to Apelles, who began to contact the complainant 4 years after the initial contact between the alarm company and the complainant had been signed. The complainant stated that the alarm system was still in place and still not operating. Although Apelles was “initially understanding of his position, which he disputed within 30 days of Apelles contacting him,” he ultimately found that Apelles“had registered a debt against him.” The complainant was “extremely frustrated at how companies like these are allowed to treat customers with such lack of care and no mechanism” for resolving 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…
“With your help the nagging collection calls have finally ceased! I was thrilled I was also able to get damages from the collection agency. I am unable to adequately express my joy. I am so thankful I made the call.”
“When I first emailed the office, I was not exactly sure what they could do for me. I had an idea, but they responded back with everything I could expect to take place. I never believed I would be receiving a check, it was definitely a silver lining. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking customer legal services.”
“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.”
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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My wife has been receiving harassing calls from these fools for the past couple of weeks. Based on what I read, it might be ADT home security services. They were billing us for services that were never performed since we moved to another state.
I’m receiving numerous calls from 800-594-7604 (Apelles?) every day. Could you help me with this?