American Adjustment Bureau , Inc. (AAB) is a third-party collection agency based in Connecticut that specializes in collecting delinquent medical bills. AAB has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as failing to verify debts and attempting to collect debts not owed. If AAB has contacted you about past due collection items, make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Adjustment Bureau, Inc. was founded and incorporated in 1981. The BBB established a profile page for AAB in 2001, and AAB has been a BBB-accredited business since 2017. The BBB lists AAB as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates American Adjustment Bureau’s annual revenue at $1.2 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 7 employees.
According to its website, American Adjustment Bureau has “solid experience in the medical collections business.” AAB states that they “know firsthand the most important aspects of providing quality results, customer service, and fostering patient goodwill.” AAB offers collection services in four areas: delinquent accounts; self-pay/co-pay and deductible; workers’ compensation; and second placement.
AAB’s delinquent accounts division utilizes “a dependable recovery process… and reliable, large-scale collection performance…to accommodate the sensitivity and confidentiality associated with direct patient contact.” Their self-pay/co-pay deductible division is “designed specifically… to increase…cash flow and foster patient goodwill…to ensure… accounts are resolved and converted into an operational cash flow.” AAB’s workers’ compensation division provides “claim billing and recovery… with a historical recovery rate of 90% or better, within 60 days of bill submission.” AAB’s second placement division “offers a low-cost, highly customized, second placement program…for… accounts that have been returned… after initially being listed with a primary collection service.”
The AAB website provides extensive information about its collection technology, including CR Software’s Mercury Dialer predictive dialing system. Their website does not have a consumer resources page, but the home page includes a Compliance button that leads to a window with links to the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act; Connecticut State Laws regarding bankruptcy, garnishments, and lien attachments; and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). AAB also cites membership in the American Collector Association.
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 21 complaints against American Adjustment Bureau in the past three years, with 3 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections.As of July 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 30 complaints against AAB. Justia lists at least 5 cases of civil litigation involving AAB.
American Adjustment Bureau, Inc.
PO Box 2758
Waterbury, CT 06723
Telephone:(866) 843-9729
Website: http://www.americanadjustmentbureau.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely AAB 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 American Adjustment Bureau cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to credit reporting agencies. In February 2019, a complainant stated that he had recently checked his credit score “and found that he owed AAB … money.” Allegedly, his report stated that the original charge “occurred back in 2014, but he …never received any bill or any contact from” AAB. He also stated that the delinquency on his credit report has “dramatically decreased his credit score since being on the report.” In addition, the item allegedly “appeared out of nowhere, considering his credit score was considered excellent up until a few months” prior to the complaint. He said he had tried to “contact AAB multiple times” but was “unable to get in contact with them.” He requested that they remove the item from his credit report. In response, AAB stated there had been “a billing issue, and they are addressing it” through the complainant’s workers’ compensation insurance provider. They also stated that they “removed the item from the complainant’s credit file and sent him a letter stating that fact.”
In April 2018, a complainant stated that American Adjustment Bureau had been “trying to collect …three medical bills,” but when she “asked for validation that it was her debt, they sent …three bills that listed very descriptive, personal medical information, including testing, names of the tests, what services were performed, and why the testing was done.” She said that she was “very upset…and sent a letter asking them to provide… proof of the debt, as well as verification that they were not violating HIPAA laws.” She said she had given “them the required 30 days to respond,” but AAB allegedly “did not provide …any of the requested information.” She said she knew they had “received all three of her letters because she sent them certified mail.” She also said she “was very upset that some stranger at a third-party collection office had such personal information about her, and she wanted to be sure this was not a violation of her rights under HIPAA.” In response, AAB stated that “all requested information was supplied to the consumer in accordance with FCRA and HIPAA rules and regulations.”
In January 2018, a complainant stated that American Adjustment Bureau had never replied to his request for verification. He stated that he had notified AAB “within 30 days after… first receiving this notice that he disputed the validity of the debt,” so AAB “must not assume that this debt is valid.” He also insisted that he has “the right to make a written demand that telephone calls regarding the debt not be made to him at his place of employment.” In his complaint, he “demanded confirmation that his request was received.” In response, AAB stated that the complainant’s “phone number was removed, and a bill copy was mailed to his home address.” They also stated that they had “confirmed the balance of $40.00 as being an insurance copay.”
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…
“I have to admit, I was not sure of y’all initially but you proved me wrong. You not only got the calls to stop but you have the company to dismiss the accounts once and for all! It had been more than I anticipated.”
“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!”
“Lemberg Law has saved me from the endless calls, and harassing voicemails. They really do go to bat for you. I didn’t know that debt collection agencies can end up paying your legal bill. What a surprise, to receive free legal help. I’m very grateful for all the hard work they did to finally give me my life back.”
“Thank you and your team at Lemberg Law for the exceptional work you did on my behalf. I have never experienced the level of care, professionalism, timeliness in follow-through, and monetary compensation obtained through your firm.”
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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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