BARR Credit Services , Inc. (BARR) is a third-party collection agency based in Arizona. BARR has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including failure to verify debts and attempting to collect debts not owed. If you have been contacted by this debt collector, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), BARR Credit Services, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 1998. The BBB established a profile page for BARR in 1999. BARR is listed as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates BARR’s annual revenue at $8.6 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 19 employees.
According to its website, BARR“is a results-oriented and customer-focused commercial and credit collections company…that works with both domestic and international companies.” BARR “is dedicated to providing comprehensive, cost-effective commercial debt collections that meet the needs of client companies regardless of their size or industry, while fostering lasting relationships with clients and employees.”
Although the BARR website does not provide detailed information about its client base, they do offer a fairly comprehensive overview of their collection services. BARR’s first-party collection services are “designed to streamline clients’ internal efforts,…resulting in better collections and improved customer satisfaction.” Their third-party collection services include extensive database searches, targeted cyber investigations, international collections, attorney forwarding service, private investigators who use face-to-face contact, and demand letters that allow for pre-collection payment. BARR’s international collection services help resolve problems arising from time zone differences; local laws; statutes of limitation; exchange rates; taxes; local customs and accepted business practices; and language barriers. BARR also provides consultation and training to strengthen credit and collection practices; access to credit reports; pre- and post-litigation investigations; and additional training and education.
BARR cites extensive quality and compliance certification, including certification with the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA); a collection staff certified by the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (IACC); and compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. However, BARR’s website is client-facing and does not include a page with links and 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 BARR Credit Services in the preceding 3 years, with 1 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Two Of Those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections; the other complaint alleged problems with customer service.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not posted any consumer complaint information about BARR. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving BARR.
BARR Credit Services, Inc.
5151 E Broadway Blvd., Ste. 800
Tucson, AZ 85711-3775
Telephone:(877) 654-1234
Website: http://barrcredit.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely BARR 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 BARR Credit Services commonly cite problems resulting from allegations of harassment and attempts to collect invalid debts. In October 2016, a complainant who was a school administrator indicated that he had been receiving calls from “a compliance officer from BARR,” who “keeps calling this school, harassing us for a payment that was already made.” The complainant stated that according to a “settlement… our school paid vendor African American Publications for a book they mailed us… in October 2015” with a check for $250.00. regardless, the complainant indicated he had been “continually receiving harassing calls from BARR… requesting payment,” and that BARR representatives are “verbally aggressive and call… us every two months.” The complainant requested that BARR “stop calling our school, threatening us, and harassing us for a payment that was made one year ago.” In response, BARR indicated that the “account was placed with them after it had been placed with another collection agency.” BARR calls this type of account “a second placement and, when disclosed to us, BARR does not take these accounts. Since this was the case, BARR stated that the account was closed in their system.”
In April 2018, a complainant indicated he had been receiving harassing “phone calls for a company he is not associated with.” He alleged that BARR “illegally obtained his cell records and have called him repeatedly.” The complainant stated that BARR Credit Services threatened him, “saying a family member’s business owes them money,” and that he needs “to get that family member to call them since their cell phone is under his own personal account.” He stated that BARR “illegally obtained his cell number and have harassed him without merit.” In response, BARR stated that they “are unable to locate an account for” the complainant. After searching “by name and zip code,” they could not find “any file with him as a contact.” BARR asked the complainant to “provide a file number or anything that will help them identify the complainant in their system,” so they can “conduct a thorough investigation into their staff and reply with a better answer to his complaint.” BARR asked the complainant to “please let them know as soon as possible” because they “would like to resolve the problem, should there be one.”
In December 2015, a complainant indicated that BARR “has repeatedly contacted him after he had asked them to stop reaching out.” BARR was allegedly “trying to collect a debt that is not owed.” The complainant stated that he will be making a complaint against “the company they are representing…because they are a company that sells fictitious insurance leads.” BARR responded by indicating that the complainant was unhappy with a service he had purchased, and that because the account was a commercial account, the FDCPA requirement that they comply with his request to cease and desist did not apply to them.
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…
“After a few months of frustration with a debt collector, I eventually called Lemberg Law. It was among the best financial decisions I have ever made. Jody and her staff were comprehensive, useful, and above all else powerful. I highly recommend their services and thank them for their continual efforts.”
“When my husband got sick and lost his job, I understood that paying all of the medical bills was going to be an issue. What I didn’t understand was that we’d be bombed with telephone calls day and night. I found your site and was contacted the same day that I submitted my advice. You did not charge me, you got cash from the collector, and we finally have silent phones. Thank you for what you did for us!”
“We were so impressed with how the attorney listened to us and understood the position we were in. Thank you for stopping the calls. The check was a nice bonus, but mostly we’re glad we’re not being hounded anymore.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
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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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Barr has tried to contact me and I blocked them. If they or others like call me I will contact you for sure!