Access Capital Services or ACS is a debt collection agency, which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
Access Capital Services, Inc. (ACS) is a third-party collection agency based in California. ACS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including using false or misleading language in an effort to collect a debt and attempting to collect debts not owed. If ACS has contacted you about delinquent financial obligations, make sure you know your rights before you respond.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to theBetter Business Bureau (BBB), Access Capital Services, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency, founded in 1993 and incorporated in 2001. The BBB established a profile page for ACS in1994. Buzzfile estimates ACS’s annual revenue at $3.3 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 54 employees.
According to its website, ACS “is a leading full-service collection agency with a proven track record of successful debt recoveries.” ACS states that it “leverages state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive collection practices to accomplish this success for its clients.” ACS’s “goal is to serve as a partner by creating a tailored collection approach for…clients” and to “assist in the assessment of current practices, procedures, and outcomes.”
Access Capital Services collects delinquent debts “for a number of industries, including medical, court, governmental, financial, and retail businesses.” ACS’s full range of collection services includes call and letter campaigns; debt negotiation and payment management; skip tracing and asset validation; and legal strategies, including liens and garnishments.
ACS’s collection services page is client-facing. They do not provide information for consumers about their collection practices or payment options. Instead, this page provides information about its business practices in an effort to acquire delinquent accounts from creditors. For example. ACS states that its collection services employ “client-defined success”; goals and objectives that are set by creditors; transparent communication tactics based on an understanding of creditors’ “requirements and preferences”; proactive management designed to address the needs of creditors; and “a client-specific training module…in which each and every employee that will be involved with a client receives training specific to that client.”
ACS states that it “is a proud member of ACA International and incorporates their guidelines for…training, best-practices, and compliance…into…daily operational procedures.” ACS also states that regulatory compliance is a “top priority for…their management team, technology systems, and collection” staff. The ACS site includes a web-based contact form for consumer questions; however, there are no 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 February 2019, the BBB has closed 6 complaints against Access Capital Services in the preceding three years, with 2 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Half of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections; the remaining 3 complaints cited problems with advertising or customer service. Since October 2015,the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)has closed 8 complaints involving ACS. Justia does not list any cases of civil litigation involving ACS.
Access Capital Services, Inc.
1625 E Shaw Ave., Ste. 137
Fresno, CA 93710
Telephone:(559) 627-5221
Website: http://www.acscollectors.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely ACS 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. Here are some Sample Complaints
Complaints against Access Capital Services cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of accounting and reporting practices. In February 2018, a complainant stated that he had “previously sent this company a letter requesting that they provide him with contract or documentation…regarding an account they furnished” to the credit reporting agencies. The complainant stated that all of his requests “have gone ignored and the 30-day time frame for ACS to respond has passed.” The complainant also stated that, “according to the complainant’s proof of delivery slip,” ACS is “in receipt of his request.” In addition, he had “checked with his state and” alleged that ACS ”is not listed as licensed to do business in Maryland.” The complainant repeated his request for debt validation and licensing information. In response, an ACS representative stated that he had mailed a response to the complainant and was “not sure what happened to it.” As for the delinquency reported to the credit reporting agencies, ACS stated that they had “requested that the delinquency …be removed from the credit report due to the age of the account,” and that the error “should be resolved now.” ACS did not provide any licensing information.
In July 2016, a complainant stated that someone claiming to be a representative of ACS had contacted him regarding a medical bill. Initially, the complainant had not been able to verify the identity of either the caller or the company. When he finally made contact, he said they “raised a red flag because they had an account in his name in collections for services done in August of 2015, but they did not give him any other information when he asked who the services were for.” The complainant stated that he has been continually insured with Medi-cal…“so he did not understand why they were reporting that he owed $35. He had also called the…billing department” of the healthcare provider and“told them about the situation,” but the healthcare provider said that he did “not have a balance on his account…and seemed just as confused as” the complainant because he had been continually insured. He called ACS “back again to let them know that he had spoken with” his healthcare provider, and that he did “not owe a balance.” However, ACS “simply said that he needed to pay $35.” The complainant asked for “the name of the patient and the service that was completed on the date that they were billing… for,” but ACS “did not provide…any information.” The complainant requested a statement “showing the date of service and the amount that was owed,” but ACS “never sent any documents.” In response, ACS stated that they had spoken with the complainant and claimed that he had never asked for validation of the debt. They also stated that they had “attempted to contact him 3 additional times to follow up, with no contact made,” and that due to HIPAA, they “are not given the service information at the time the accounts are assigned.” The complainant rejected this attempted resolution, insisting that Access Capital Services had made no attempt to validate the debt. He also stated that ACS claims they “do not report accounts that are $50.00 or less, but they reported this account,” which has negatively affected his credit.
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).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These 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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