Financial Control Solutions , Inc. (FCS) is a third-party collection agency based in Wisconsin that specializes in collecting delinquent medical bills. FCS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as attempting to collect debts not owed and threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken. If FCS 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) Financial Control Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1966 and incorporated in 1974. The BBB established a profile page for FCS in February 1998, and FCS has been a BBB-accredited business since 2018. The BBB lists FCS as a collection agency and medical billing service that uses the alternate business name, Falls Collection Service, Inc. Manta estimates Financial Control Solutions’s annual revenue at $1 to $2.5 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 20-40 employees.
According to its website, FCS is “home to a proactive management team and experienced debt collectors who are dedicated to turning …losses into profits.” FCS utilizes “innovative and effective debt collection services and A/R management techniques that make them the one-stop shop to improving cash flow… for commercial or consumer collections.”
Financial Control Solutions collects delinquent debts for virtually every type of business and industry, including consumer collections for utility service providers; residential property managers; education lenders; financial services companies, including secured and unsecured loans, mortgage notes, and repossessions; NSF checks and other retail debt; and membership clubs. FCS also has a large medical collections division, including service for “multiple layers of insurance, guarantor, probate, and bankruptcy issues that confront any modern medical office, of any size.” Financial Control Solutions also provides collection services for professional offices, such as accounting firms. Finally, FCS provides commercial debt collection services for the trucking, manufacturing, and distribution industries.
FCS’s collection agents “are certified under ACA International guidelines and undergo extensive testing to underscore their emphasis on regulatory control as well as collection performance.” FCS states that it “maintains compliance programs including, Red Flag Rules, HIPAA, PCI, Graham Leach Bliley, and FCRA.” However, the FCS website is client-facing and does not provide links 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 6 complaints against Financial Control Solutions in the preceding three years, with 2 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. All of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections.As of August 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 13 complaints against FCS. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving FCS.
Financial Control Solutions, Inc.
N114 W19225 Clinton Drive
Germantown, WI 53022
Telephone:(800) 769-6155
Website: http://www.fcs2collect.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely FCS 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 Financial Control Solutions cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In February 2018, a complainant stated that he had received an “alert from his credit monitoring provider that” indicated FCS “had submitted a new collection” item using his name and Social Security number. However, the complainant stated that he had no idea who FCS is. Allegedly, he only discovered they were a collection agency from his credit report. He also claimed not to recognize the original creditor, either. He stated that he wanted“the negative report removed from his credit with all of the credit bureaus.” He also requested that FCS cease using his name, Social Security number, “and any identifying demographics they may have gotten.”He demanded that FCS “provide the original account agreement and proof of all transactions and charges, fees, and payments,” as well as “proof of legal ownership and legal right to collect in his state with proof of surety bond and collection license number.” The complainant stated that the FDCPA prohibits harassment, and that deliberately damaging someone’s credit “is just another way to continue to collect a debt.” He also stated that the FCRA requires accurate reporting of credit information to the credit reporting agencies and claimed that FCS had neither provided verification nor updated their reports to the credit reporting agencies with “full and accurate and timely information.” As a result, he stated that FCS is not in compliance with these laws. He also stated that FCS’s actions had“affected…his credit score in a negative way and caused undo stress.” He requested that FCS “remove and delete the collection item…from his credit immediately.” In response, FCS stated that they had“closed the account as it is now past the statute of limitations and the information will be deleted from all 3 credit bureaus.”
In October 2017, a complainant stated that he had “received a letter …from…Financial Control Solutions stating that they were attempting to collect a debt… in the amount of $190.00.” Allegedly, FCS stated the complainant had to “respond within 30 days if he wanted to dispute the debt,” so he sent a certified letter disputing the debt and requesting verification. He stated that the dispute was completed “well within the 30-day time frame,” but he “never received a response.” Subsequently, about 2 weeks later, he“noticed that FCS had reported the collection to all 3 credit bureaus.” He sent another certified letter with a request for “immediate deletion …from all 3 credit bureaus,” but FCS allegedly did not respond to this request, either. He contacted FCS directly and “was able to obtain proof of the amount owed.” He “paid the amount owed… in full,” but FCS allegedly refused to update the information on his credit report.
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!”
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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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