Arbor Professional Solutions (APS) is a third-party collection agency based in Michigan. APS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as failing to verify debts and using false or misleading information in an effort to collect a debt. If you have been contacted by APS, make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. The Better Business Bureau (BBB), established a profile page for Arbor Professional Solutions in 2013. APS has not officially claimed or authorized this profile page. The BBB lists APS as a law firm. Buzzfile hosts two listings for APS. One listing is under APS’s former business name, Ann Arbor Credit Bureau, Inc. (AACB); the other listing is under the Collections Division of AACB. Both of these listings provide a non-operative web address for APS at www.a2cb.com. Together, Buzzfile estimates APS’s annual revenue at $7 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 76 employees.
According to its website, APS was formerly known as Ann Arbor Credit Bureau and has recently “changed its name to Arbor Professional Solutions to better represent their services… and their way of doing business.” APS “provides a full range of debt recovery options and services” and employs “expert, professional staff…with an innovative, relationship-based method of working with clients and their customers to maximize recovery, ensure compliance, and achieve the best results for all parties.”
Arbor Professional Solutions accepts delinquent accounts from any type of business or industry. However, they specialize in collecting debts for medical and healthcare service providers; dental practices; ambulance companies; municipal and other government agencies; rental property management companies; and education lenders.
APS’s collection services include pre-collection and early intervention letter series and telephone campaigns. They also offer full-service contingency collections for consumers who “ignore two billings or more”; “fail to return phone calls”; “have their mail returned”; “stall or delay payments”; “refuse to pay”; or “do not pay for 90 days” without establishing a payment plan. APS offers litigation services using a “conduit to an experienced attorney in the appropriate area to represent” their clients. APS also provides debt purchasing and consulting.
APS states that they “pride themselves on maintaining the highest standard of ethics and providing truly extraordinary customer care.” They have posted several white papers on topics including the role of debt collection; the cost of delinquent accounts; using a positive approach; building on accounts receivable; and professional assistance. However, 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.
The BBB has closed 3 complaints against Arbor Professional Solutions in the past three years, with 1 complaint closed in the past 12 months. Two of those complaints cited problems with billing and collection; the other cited problems with customer service As of October 2016,the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 16 complaints against APS. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving APS
Arbor Professional Solutions
2090 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Telephone: (734) 665-6173
Website: http://arborps.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely APS 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 Cases
Complaints against Arbor Professional Solutions cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In August 2018, a complainant stated that APS had failed to verify a debt and then filed a lawsuit against him to collect the unverified debt. According to the complainant, he had been contacted by “three companies regarding the same debt: the original creditor, the collection agency hired to collect the debt, and the law firm hired to take him to court.” The complainant originally became aware of the debt approximately a year-and-a-half previously when he “saw an account on his credit report …under a collection agency called” APS. He said he had called APS “to inquire about the debt, and they advised him that it was for a towing company… in…Michigan. He updated his location information with the agency and requested validation of the debt… because they could only tell him the debt was for a tow but … could not tell him for what vehicle.” Allegedly, APS could only tell him that he “owed a debt and demanded payment in full over the phone within the debt validation period.” The complainant also called the original creditor “directly for more details, but …they said he was listed with a collection agency and to call them and hung up on him. So, the collection agency never validated the debt and the original creditor refused to answer any questions.” As a result, the debt remained unpaid. Subsequently, the complainant “received notification that he was being sued.” He “contacted the firm and told them why the debt was never paid.” He also told them that debt validation was never provided. However, the complainant stated that the law firm representative did not care. “Despite reciting the mini Miranda to him, they then said that they are a law firm and don’t deal with disputes or FDCPA practices, which is false and misleading.”
The complainant summarized his complaint by stating that he “originally requested validation of the debt and…would have paid this…after receiving validation of debt.” However, he stated that “no one seems to care about or comply with the FDCPA,” and that “these companies think it’s a joke and remain unchecked. Had Arbor Professional Solutions sent the debt validation when he requested it over a year previously, this all would have been avoided.” He also stated that he does not “feel protected as a consumer.” He “paid this debt, which still remains unvalidated, along with legal fees in order to avoid having a judgement on his credit report.” However, “as a consumer, his credit has been held hostage with the threat of having a judgement against him and wages garnished without the…debt being validated.” The FDCPA prohibits a collector from demanding payment or taking legal action within the debt validation period, and the debt was never validated; therefore, the complainant concluded that the debt validation period is still in effect. In addition, he had“never received a first notice,” and had responded instead to the line item on his credit report.
In response, APS stated that they believed that had “acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law.”
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…
“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.”
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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