Ad Astra Recovery Services or AARS is a consumer lender and third-party collection agency based in Kansas. AARS has received complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including attempting to collect debts not owed and using false or misleading language in an effort to collect a debt. If you have been contacted by Ad Astra Recovery Services, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the BBB, Ad Astra Recovery Services, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 2007. The BBB established AARS’s profile page in 2008. Ad Astra Recovery Services is listed as a collection agency, check recovery service, debt repayment planner, and payday loan service provider. Buzzfile estimates Ad Astra Recovery Services,’ annual revenue at $920,418 and the size of its headquarters staff at 12 employees.
The website for Ad Astra Recovery Services provides very little information about the company, its business practices or its clients, however, Ad Astra appears to specialize in collecting for the Cash Advance and Payday Loan industry. The home page contains a statement that AARS “combines quality employees with sophisticated technology, ensures productivity and reliability, and offers superb results with superior service, making outsourcing a ‘no-hassle’ exceptional experience.”
The sidebar includes three non-operative links labeled, “Nationwide Coverage,” “Online Access to Your Accounts,” and “Increase Your Bottom Line.” Another link labeled, “Superior Customer Service,” links to the site visitor’s email client and opens an email message template addressed to AARON’s customer service desk. There are also links to the online payment portal; to a page with information about updates to laws regulating the reporting of credit information to the credit reporting agencies; and to a page on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website providing information about identity theft.
There is no information about AARS’s compliance policies; or links or references to state or federal laws that regulate collection agencies; or additional consumer resources.
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 410 complaints against Ad Astra Recovery Services in the preceding three years, with 220 complaints closed in the past 12 months. The majority of those complaints allege problems with billing and collection services.Many consumers have also alleged problems with customer service and advertising and sales. As of March 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 384 complaints against AARS. Justia lists at least 13 cases of civil litigation involving Ad Astra.
Ad Astra Recovery Services, Inc.
7330 W. 33rd Street N., Ste. 118l
Wichita, Kansas 67205
Telephone: (866) 398-2089
Website: http://www.adastrarecoveryservicesinc.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely AdAstra 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 are some Sample Cases in Federal Court
On more than one occasion, Ad Astra Recovery Services has resolved civil complaints at trial by insisting on the enforcement of an arbitration clause included in the contractual agreements of some payday loans. In July 2013, in United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division, a judge issued a Memorandum and Order in a case alleging violations of the FDCPA. In this case, the plaintiff in November 2012 had signed a payday loan with Speedy Cash for a sum of $450.00. The agreement required the plaintiff to repay the loan plus interest at the rate of 608.33%, for a total of $562.50, within two weeks. The plaintiff failed to pay back the loan, and it was placed for collection with AARS. Ad Astra Recovery Services contacted the plaintiff in February 2013 and “‘informed the plaintiff that there would be attempts to remove proceeds from the plaintiff’s bank account if she could not pay the debt right away,’ and made threats of legal action against the plaintiff if she did not pay the balance although Ad Astra Recovery Services never intended to sue the plaintiff… for the alleged debt.” As a result, the plaintiff charged that MARS had violated the FDCPA provisions against using false or misleading language in an effort to collect a debt and threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken or that are not actually intended.
Ad Astra Recovery Services objected to the complaint by insisting that the court “enforce an arbitration provision in the agreement” the plaintiff signed with Speedy Cash. According to page six of the Speedy Cash loan agreement, the plaintiff by signing the agreement agreed to dismiss her right to resolve legal disputes by trial, except for small claims court or associate circuit court, and agreed to waive her right to bring a class action lawsuit against Speedy Cash. The agreement indicated that such disputes will be settled by arbitration. In addition, the loan agreement stated that the agreement applied not only to Speedy Cash, but also to “related parties,” which include “all parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates of ours (including Ad Astra Recovery Services, Inc.) and… their employees, directors, officers, shareholders, governors, managers, and members.” Furthermore, the term “claim” is defined as “any claim, dispute, or controversy between you and us (or our related parties) that arises from or related in any way to this Agreement…and is to be given the broadest possible meaning and includes claims of every kind and nature,…including disputes that seek relief of any type, including damages and/or injunctive, declaratory or other equitable relief.” The arbitration clause was “made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA).” The FAA, in turn, provides that “written agreements to resolve disputes through arbitration are ‘valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract…. and are to be enforced unless a party cans how that it will not be able to vindicate its rights in the arbitral forum.’”
At the July 2013 hearing, the court indicated its jurisdiction to hear the case despite the arbitration agreement because the plaintiff had filed the case in associate circuit court, which moved the case to federal district court due to the alleged FDCPA violation. Attorneys for Ad Astra Recovery Services insisted that the arbitration clause be enforced. The plaintiff expressed her willingness to let the court decide the proper venue to resolve the dispute, and the judge issued an Order indicating charges in the case would be stayed “pending completion of the arbitration to be held in St. Louis, Missouri.”
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).
Consumers have reported this agency harassing them from the following numbers:
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…
“As we discussed on the phone earlier today, this settlement is perfectly okay to me. I need to thank you and all of your cohorts at Lemberg Law to get a project handled so professionally. Please allow Amy, the first person who contacted me from Lemberg, know how much I appreciate her efforts, kindness, and professionalism.”
“My mom and I want to say thanks to the team of Lemberg Law for all the hard work and effort that was taken to take care of the debt collector and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Because of this, the phones do not ring off the hook .”
“We realize that ours is only one little case among many — and a lot more serious — but are heartened by the fact that you accepted it represented us with a professionalism that belied the dollar amount.”
“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.”
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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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They called me in my cell phone number and also my husband’s cell phone, threatening that me, saying they mailed me out a certified letter and I never got anything from them or their company demanding payment. They said if I don’t respond by Friday the 3rd of July they were going to take legal action. I am so tried of being threatened. Also saying they sent out a letter I am home everyday I am on disability so never got anything.
Ad Astra withdrew 1292.00 from our account with no letter, no phone call or if they called and it was a robo call I didn’t answer, they left no message. i have no idea what is was even for because the last time we had a pay day loan was almost ten years ago and was paid off and not even with one of their clients. I don’t know how they got our checking account information and the address used as ours was incorrect. This overdrew our account by 1100.00. I immediately went to my bank and we are supposed to receive a provisional credit while the dispute is going on. This is ridiculous that a company is allowed to do this. I am glad I found the info on this site.
Rapid Cash would not extend payment n full out by 2 weeks to coincide with my 2nd paycheck so I had to stop payment on the check I to leave as collateral for an emergency $300 loan. I was told by an agent of Rapid Cash to just call & explain and they would work with me! I did call 3 days prior and was told no way check would be ran. I had to stop payment to afford my rent. I am now receiving disability and am left with $50 to live on and this company wants half of that! I had another collection co write off a debt for ove 1500.00 due to my financial situation. My student loan is in forbearance. This is horrible,I can’t move because of my credit which is bad because of my injury which resulted in disability.
i do owe then 300$ from the past using speedy cash loan but after researching and reading these comments i dont know where or how i should even pay this off so it can be removed from my credit report….
This company apparently works the system pretty hard. They actually want ME to prove I don’t owe this Speedy Cash loan. A person can NOT possibly PROVE a negative. If They think I owe them something. They should PROVE IT!! Show me a signed document, something. This company needs to be stopped.
I have got a letter in the mail from AD ASTRA saying that I owe 361.19 ! Who would loan me 361.19 dollars with no credit. I’m confused and highly upset because I’m a victim of fraud or this is a mistake. Either way I’m trying to clear my name. I’ve emailed speedy Cash multiple times and no answer. It just gets to me a company say they loaned me something and in this world ain’t nothing free. So stop with the harrassment calls and letters because I have been trying to contact the company to discuss the issue at hand. I do not owe speedy Cash nothing because I received nothing from them nor know the company. I know it’s many people like me thinking who is speedy Cash. I looked it up and it’s a loan company and I never opened a account or even visited the page not once. Please help because I’m not going to pay almost 400$ for a loan I did not receive.
I get letters from AD ASTRA that I am in dept of 1118.05 $, They said some thing about about an Installment loan from AVIO Credit. I dont know this Company and I never took a loan from them. I received this letters after my arrival from Germany, I only visit the USA for Holiday
THE SPEEDY CASH LOAN IS ACCURATE, DATES ARE NOT- THE HARRASSING PHONE CALLS CONTINUE EARLY MORNING LEAVING WITH THREATENING MESSAGES OF BEING ARRESTED – HOW CAN I CLEAR THE INFORMATION FROM MY CREDIT REPORT AND GET THE CALLS TO STOP- THEY WILL NOT WORK WITH ME AS PREVIOUSLY ASKED AND NOW I JUST DON’T ANSWER THE CALLS
Speedy Cash / Ad Astra claim i owe $ 315.00 I have never borrowed money nor do i know who these peopls are. It has been on my credit report since 6 – 8 -14 i have notified the credit reporting companies & asked for it to be removed, but nothing has happened.
I have a debt in the amount of 645.00 from Speedy Cash turn over to Ad Astra. I offered to pay 500.00 to settle the account and have it removed from my credit report. They agreed to amount but refused to give me a letter to the agreement that they would remove it from my credit report. They said I could find it on their website and that’s proof enough. Can you help me get this resolved and removed from my credit report. Thanks
I have a fraudulent unpaid loan from Speedy Cash being reported by Ad Astra. How can I get this account removed as I have never done business with Speedy Cash?
Ad Astra claims I owe them over a thousand dollars because of an unpaid Speedy Cash loan. But that loan was fraudulent, and the appropriate documents were sent to Speedy Cash. I heard nothing more from them. Suddenly these large bills started coming. I sent the same documentation to Ad Astra. They aren’t willing to declare it fraudulent and continue to bill me for more each month. They have now reported this to the credit agencies. I want this cleared up and off of my credit report.
Hi
Ad Astra Claims I owe them $315 but will not substantiate the debt or tell me who turned the debt over to them. I have disputed this with Experian etc…I want this off my credit report