Consumer Adjustment Company, Inc. (CACi) is a third-party collection agency based in Missouri. CACi has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as using false or misleading information in an effort to collect a debt and attempting to collect debts not owed. If CACi has contacted you about past due collection items,make sure you understand your rights before you respond.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Consumer Adjustment Company, Inc. was founded and incorporated in 1967. The BBB established a profile page for CACi in 2003, and CACi has been a BBB-accredited business since 2018. The BBB lists CACi as a collection agency that specializes in government loan collection. Consumer Adjustment Company uses the alternate business name, CACi. Buzzfile estimates CACi’s annual revenue at $11.7 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 200 employees, with an estimated 350 employees across all locations.
Consumer Adjustment Company collects delinquent accounts for healthcare service providers; utility service companies; financial services companies, including banks and credit unions; and education lenders. Their healthcare collections division offers self-pay early-out collection; bad debt collection; and workers’ compensation insurance claims lien processing. CACi’s utilities division offers pre-collection; payment monitoring; and third-party collection. CACi’s financial services division also offers early cycle intervention, mid-cycle roll suppression, and late stage charge-off prevention services; and their student loan division provides default aversion services.
Consumer Adjustment Company’s collection services include collection letter series; telephone contact; payment arrangement management; skip tracing; account scoring and segmentation; insurance billing, follow-up, and management; and litigation services, including arbitration, self-pay litigation, and third-party intervention. CACi also hosts client training events and workshops.
CACi states that it recognizes “compliance as… an ongoing, ever-changing function” and has invested “heavily in remaining educated on current requirements and potential changes.” CACi collectors are “educated by ACA International Certified Instructors on collection law; communication skills; collection strategy; consumer psychology; persuasion and negotiation; morale building and goal setting; and time management.” CACi states that it “remains compliant with federal and industry regulations, as well as state and municipality laws, as required.” However, CACi’s Consumer Resources page does not provide any 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 August 2019, the BBB has closed 10 complaints against Consumer Adjustment Company in the preceding three years, with 3 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Almost all of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. As of April 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 19 complaints against CACi. Justia lists at least 6 cases of civil litigation involving CACi.
Consumer Adjustment Company, Inc.
12855 Tesson Ferry Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63128
Telephone:(800) 777-7971
Website: http://cacionline.net/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CACi 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!
Get Free BBB A+ Attorney. Call 475-277-1600 NOW
Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here is a Sample Case Complaint:
In September 2008, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division, a judge issued a Memorandum and Order in a case alleging Consumer Adjustment Company inc had violated certain provisions of the FDCPA. In this case, the plaintiffs were a couple who shared an apartment. CACi was trying to collect a debt from one of the two plaintiffs; the other plaintiff—his girlfriend—received the initial call from the CACi representative. During the call, the girlfriend of the plaintiff responsible for the alleged debt asked the CACi representative who was calling. The CACi representative identified himself by his first name, which was coincidentally the same name as the brother of the plaintiff allegedly responsible for the debt. At this point, she assumed she was talking to her boyfriend’s brother, so she told the CACi representative that he wasn’t there. The CACi representative asked, “Do you have a better number I can reach him atreal quick? It’s kind of important I get a hold of him.” The plaintiff’s girlfriend stated she would have the plaintiff call him back, and the call ended. There were four phone calls that followed. During the first call, the plaintiff’s girlfriend called CAC8, asked to speak to the CAC8 representative who had identified himself by name earlier, and then asked “what facility” she had reached. The CAC8 representative who had answered the phone stated, “This is Consumer Adjustment Company.” When she asked for more information, he told her that CAC8 is a “personal business company.” When the CACi representative learned that the caller was the plaintiff’s girlfriend, he stated he could not provide any additional information without the plaintiff’s permission. The plaintiff’s girlfriend was still under the assumption that her boyfriend’s brother was in some kind of trouble, so she asked whether he was okay, to which the CACi representative replied, “Yeah, it’s fine. He’s fine.” The plaintiff’s girlfriend then called the plaintiff and told him that his brother had called and that it was an emergency. The plaintiff eventually contacted CACi and told them he had been informed that his brother had given him a message to call. At this point, CACi informed the plaintiff that the call was about a $300 outstanding medical bill. The plaintiff subsequently filed a complaint stating that a CACi representative had “called his apartment and told his girlfriend…‘that . . . he was his brother and that there was an emergency and to call.’”The plaintiff “articulated his displeasure with the nature of the call, stating, “‘That definitely isnot a good way to go about business.’” CACi told him they would “look into the matter, and again asked the plaintiff about his debt.”
At the September 2008 trial, the plaintiffs sued Consumer Adjustment Company for violations of the FDCPA. They stated that “because of a prior experience with a call that was an emergency, the plaintiff thought the call was an emergency and panicked,” which violated Section 1692b. In addition, Consumer Adjustment Company’s call involved the use of “‘false statements that constituted false or misleading representations, creating a false sense of urgency’ in violation of Section 1692e, and also constituted, in part, an improper third-party contact under Section 1692c(b).” The plaintiff’s girlfriend “suffered severe emotional distress manifested through physical symptoms, and both plaintiffs ‘suffered statutory damages.’” Attorneys for CACi stated that “none of the communications with the plaintiffs involved any deception, or any false or misleading statements, and that it did not have the intent that is necessary for conduct to be willful, wanton, or malicious. Consumer Adjustment Company also maintained that the plaintiffs suffered no ascertainable loss of money or property, and that they did not justifiably rely on any representation by CAC.” The court stated that according to the FDCPA, “a debt collector may communicate with ‘any person other than the consumer . . . for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer.’” In addition, a debt collector must “identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer.” Finally, “a debt collector may not use any false, deceptive,or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt, “ including “any communication that conveys to the consumer a false sense of urgency.” As a result, the court found that CAC’s defense lacked merit and upheld the plaintiff’s complaint.
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 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.”
“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.
“After speaking to one of the partners, and going over the plan of action, I felt I’d chose the perfect company to go to work for me. He was very accommodating in describing what was going to happen. I would strongly recommend Lemberg Law to anybody being hassled by debt collectors”
“Prior to contacting you, we had tried repeatedly to handle this matter without threatening litigation. In the end, not only were they unapologetic, but they were dismissive – even of an attorney friend who called on our behalf. Sincerest thanks for resolving this matter for us!”
We can absolutely help. Call us today.
Share your story
Have you had a bad experience with this agency’s debt collectors? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
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."
See more posts from Sergei Lemberg
How can debt collectors open up a new account on my credit when if my debt is legit which I’m not sure yet if it is its from 5 to 6 years ago. They just put down it was opened a month ago so now I have to wait even longer before it falls off? This seems highly illegal that they wait til it should be legally off my credit to add it to my credit. The original creditor never was on my credit either. Can you email me and let me know if this is a legal practice. Seems highly unfair. If its legit I would have no issue paying on it come tax season BUT I find it unfair that they put this on my credit without even sending me anything in the mail or calling me.
I want this harrassment stopped. I am not paying for a medical bill that was years ago.
These people will just report on anybody s credit weather they have proof or not and when you try and report fraud or identity theft they act like your lying! They should have to prove the bad reports not the other way around!