AscensionPoint Recovery Services, LLC or APRS is a third-party collection agency based in Minnesota that specializes in collecting delinquent accounts from the estates of deceased individuals. APRS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), including making false or misleading statements in an effort to collect a debt and using abusive, obscene, or profane language in an effort to collect a debt. If APRS has contacted you about past due collection items, make sure you know your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), AscensionPoint Recovery Services, LLC was founded and incorporated in 2007. The BBB established a profile page for APRS in 2008. AscensionPoint is listed as a collection agency and debt consolidation service. Buzzfile estimates APRS’s annual revenue at $7.7 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 77 employees.
AscensionPoint Recovery Services focuses on recovering debts from deceased person’s estates. According to its website, APRS “is a nationally licensed decedent debt vendor located near Minneapolis, Minnesota whose core competency is managing decedent debt recovery for credit grantors and service providers. APRS prides itself on its unwavering commitment to provide the best possible decedent debt solutions to its clients.”
The home page of the APRS website has links to the payment portal, the consumer resources page, and the careers and employment page. Their About Us page provides some background about the company’s founders and states that they have become “a leader in the decedent debt recovery industry…with proven performance that has increased client profitability and dramatically improved recovery rates while staying true to…core values.”
Most of the information about APRS’s services can be found on the consumer resources page, which states that APRS “is committed to providing as much information about the decedent debt recovery process allowed by law in order to assist the consumer in making informed decisions about available options.” In addition, APRS has included “some Frequently Asked Questions to help consumers navigate through the decedent debt recovery process.” They also include links to grief counseling websites and a self-help site with information about the probate process.
The security page states that “data security and compliance are APRS’s highest priorities.” This page provides extensive information about their compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard and the ISO 27002 Framework for Best Practices. In addition, their consumer resources page provides contact information for site visitors who want to submit complaints. However, their website does not provide links or references to consumer protection 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 18 complaints against APRS in the past 3 years, with 7 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. The majority of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections, although several complaints also alleged problems with customer service. APRS has also received 18 negative reviews. Since April 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 15 complaints against APRS. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving APRS.
AscensionPoint Recovery Services, LLC
200 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Ste. 200
Coon Rapids, MN 55433-5867
Telephone: (763) 235-3710
Website: http://www.ascensionpoint.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely APRS 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 Complaint:
Complaints against APRS frequently cite problems resulting from efforts to collect from the estates of the wrong people. In July 2017, a complainant stated that she had “received a letter from AscensionPoint LLC, addressed to her own estate.” She stated that she was shocked to learn that she had died and asked APRS when she had died and how it had happened, since she was not clear on the details. She said it was “confounding as to how they thought she was dead.” She had conducted a “Google search, and there have been no others with her name, and in her town, who have died recently.” She questioned whether APRS “shotguns these things out to addresses in a general area, based solely on a name on an obituary, hoping one of them will respond.” In response, APRS issued “an apology for any inconvenience or confusion their communication may have caused.” They stated they are “a collection agency specializing in deceased accounts and were attempting to locate an executor or otherwise authorized representative for an estate. In so doing, they take consumers’ concerns about unwanted contacts very seriously the moment they are made aware. In this instance, it appears they may have received incorrect information.” They stated that they had updated their records, notified the client, and returned the file to them. They invited the complainant to contact them with any further questions.
In December 2015, a complainant stated that APRS had “falsely reported him dead and were trying to collect debts from his estate.” The complainant alleged that APRS had “contacted …his bank and falsely reported him dead, causing two credit cards…to be cancelled with balances due. APRS then contacted his family the following… week attempting to collect unpaid debts.” The complainant insisted that he is not dead, “owes no overdue balances to anyone and now does not know what damage has been done to his good name.” He stated that he is “sincerely upset and has received no information from APRS as to why they reported him dead or what they hope to gain from doing so.” He assumed they “are running some kind of scam and should be investigated and stopped from damaging people’s credit and reputations.” In response, APRS stated that they handle “accounts for… clients where their customer recently passed away. APRS did not report the complainant’s death… prior to his accounts being placed with their office; rather, their role is to attempt to locate executors or other authorized estate representatives for estate or probate information in furtherance of account resolution.” The also stated that the complainant’s accounts appear to have been erroneously placed in their office by their client… That same day, …APRS mailed a letter to the complainant at the last known address their client had on file in furtherance of their goal to identify the authorized individual who could assist with resolving the accounts from estate assets.”
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…
“Thank you and your staff for the exceptional work you did on my behalf in dealing with a debt collector. I’ve not experienced the level of professionalism, care, timeliness in follow-through, and financial compensation obtained through your firm.”
“I won’t be afraid to contact you or recommend your services to others for debt collection difficulties. Please keep up the outstanding work you do, and again, thank you for helping me through this challenging time. I am most grateful.”
“I did not realize I’d be getting any money from this wretched affair. I’m taken aback by what you have achieved in my behalf.”
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 have received multiple letters from ascension point stating that I was dead, They have damaged my credit, unfortunately I do not know where they received this information.
I am assuming it is somehow related to my son
Charles but that’s is just an assumption, he had agreed to pay some bills and instead of paying them he told them I was dead.
Regardless I have contacted them and demanded an apology and for them to be removed from my credit. I am thoroughly disappointed that there are not better laws in place to prevent companies benefiting off the assumed and actual deaths of individuals.
my husband died and he had 3 cars in his name, according to Maryland law of oct 2018, I had to probate the cars since it was in name. one car debt is still owed. he has many creditors and creditors has file against the probate and ascension a debt collection has file against for the 3 creditors. I am left in debt with the mortgage and credit card debt.
I just got a letter in the mail from these people. My mother passed in Sept. and I thought I paid all her bills. She had really good insurance why should I be concerned? Who would be ”our client” stated on the letter? Hospitals ? Someone who was owed a large amount of money? I am really concerned now. Please I need more information. Thank you very much.