Alternative Recovery Management Inc or ARM 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.
Alternative Recovery Management, Inc. (ARM) is a third-party collection agency based in California. ARM has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including failure to verify debts and taking actions that cannot legally be taken. If ARM has contacted you about past due financial obligations, make sure you know your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Alternative Recovery Management, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 1990. The BBB established a profile page for ARM in 1994. ARM has been a BBB-accredited business since 1995. ARM is listed as a collection agency that uses that alternate business name, Kubler Corp. Buzzfile estimates ARM’s annual revenue at $1 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 14 employees.
According to its website, ARM has “been providing debt collection services in San Diego for over 25 years” and employs “a highly trained, dedicated staff of seasoned professionals…who are qualified to successfully resolve any collection accounts.” ARM states that it “understands the challenges that change a consumer’s financial position… and strives to find a solution that benefits both the consumer and the client, while resolving the delinquent account.”
ARM’s website occupies only one page, so it does not provide a lot of detailed information about its collection practices or the industries it serves. ARM collects delinquent debts for real estate management companies that provide time share, resort, and camp ground memberships. They also collect consumer debts, including installment loans, auto loans, credit cards, and “attorney accounts.” In addition, their medical division collects delinquencies for hospitals;medical practices; dental practices, including cosmetic and pediatric dentistry; and “works in conjunction with medical billers.” ARM also accepts commercial debts for collection.
The ARM website states that its “team members are compliant with all state and federal laws”; however, they do not provide any detailed information about their regulatory compliance policies. The home page provides a mailing address and phone number and a link to an online payment portal for debit and credit card payments. There is also a web-based contact form, but 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 9 complaints against ARM in the preceding three years, with 4 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections, with several additional complaints citing problems with customer service. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not posted any complaint data about ARM. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving ARM.
Alternative Recovery Management, Inc.
7373 University Ave., Ste. #209
La Mesa, CA 91942
Telephone:(800) 525-2433
Website: https://alternativerecoverymgmt.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely ARM 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 Alternative Recovery Management cite problem resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of billing and accounting practices. In March 2018, a complainant stated that he had been contacted by phone by an ARM representative who attempted to verify his identity and give him a demand for payment. The complainant stated that they had the wrong person and requested that ARM “cease this action or actions related to” him. However, the complainant stated that the ARM representative “would not stop” making payment demands, so he “advised them the call was over, and he hung up the phone.” Subsequently, the complainant received a letter from ARM “advising him of a collection notice… for” a company with whom he had “never entered into an agreement with…nor …had any communication…that he had an account with.” The complainant stated that he did not “want to contact them as this is fraudulent and he does not wish to pursue continuing communication with either firm.” The complainant stated that he believes he has “been a victim of fraud and someone is either using his name and address or it is just pure scam.” He stated that he“wants this collection effort stopped and does not wish further contact with this business.” In response, ARM stated that they had been contacted by their client and were “advised they had placed the account for collection in error.” ARM stated that they had “sent a letter to the complainant advising him of the same on the same day,” and that they “trust this will conclude the matter.” The complainant rejected the response, stating that he not received any letter from either ARM or the original client.
In May 2017, a complainant stated that he had been making monthly payments on a delinquent account assigned to Alternative Recovery Management for collections. He stated that he knew he “was getting towards paying the balance off, but every time he asked about the balance, the balance was a higher and different amount.” He also stated that ARM had “reported this account to all 3 credit bureaus at different amounts, and… the reported balance had gone up over $500 in 1 month.” The complainant stated that he had called the original creditor, and they had reported an entirely different balance due. When he asked ARM about the balance difference, they allegedly stated that it was due to “interest that the original creditor is charging, but when he asked the original creditor … they told him that they are not charging any interest or fees.” The complainant requested “a statement of his account and… the letter stating that the account will be removed from the credit bureaus once it is paid off like they have promised him every time he has made a payment.” He stated that he had sent two letters but still had not received a response. He also stated that ARM must correct the delinquent amount they are reporting to the credit reporting agencies, and that he “still does not know if this is the correct amount to pay, or whether they are going to honor their promises.” In response, ARM stated that they had “provided to the consumer their payment history, as well as confirmed in writing that they have changed their account representative.” They advised the complainant that “if he has not received his letter via USPS, he should be receiving it any day.” ARM concluded by stating that they “confirmed that the credit reporting that they sent to the credit bureaus was accurate.”
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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I received many voicemails from Alternative Recovery Management and in every single one, no mention of the company or that it was an attempt to collect a debt. I also sent a letter to validate the debt and in that letter also stated that I request all communication must be done through mail but they still called about 6 times after they received the letter.