Berks Credit & Collections, Inc. (BCC) is a third-party collection agency based in Pennsylvania that specializes in collecting delinquent debts for healthcare providers. BBC has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including making false statements, misrepresentation, and improper communication tactics.If you have been contacted by BCC,understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Berks Credit & Collections, Inc. was started in 1989. The BBB established its profile page in 1996. BCC is listed as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates BCC’s annual revenue at $4.23 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 40 employees.
According to its website, Berks Credit & Collections is part of the holding company, AR Logix, Inc. AR Logix, Inc. also owns and operates two additional companies—OutReach, LLC and Collector University. AR Logix, Inc.’s mission is “to build a winning culture that allows…employees to develop both professionally and personally so they can service…. clients to their fullest potential.”
Berks Credit & Collections is a medical collections agency staffed by “highly trained personnel who are consistently kept up-to-date on changes in the medical industry.” BCC has “provided medical collection services to more than 5,500 medical providers, billing companies, and hospitals across more than 20 states.” BCC states that its mission is “to continually strive to assist hospitals and physicians with revenue cycle solutions that add value to their organization by improving the patient experience, increasing cash flow, and creating efficiencies in the business and billing offices.”
Berks Credit & Collections offers services in three areas: early patient follow-up;education and training; and medical debt collections.Early patient follow-up is provided by OutReach, LLC. OutReach, LLC is “a business process outsourcing company that helps alleviate providers’ struggles with decreases in revenue and resources” by acting “as a transparent extension to clients’ business offices…using fully customizable solutions to… manage…. healthcare organizations’ in-office responsibilities.” Job training for the staff of “healthcare organizations” is provided by Collector University.
Berks Credit & Collections advertises medical debt collection services with liquidation rates that are 100% higher than industry standard; contingency-based pricing; credit reporting services; call monitoring; and a staff trained in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting act (FCRA). BCC’s Resources page provides links and references to information about debt collection laws, but it is intended for collection agencies, not consumers.
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 December 2017, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given BCC a rating of F. The BBB has closed 54 complaints against Berks Credit & Collections in the preceding 3 years, with 28 complaints closed in the past 12 months.Most of the complaints allege problems with billing and collections. As of May 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 15 complaints referencing BCC; however, all of them are assigned to a company called Receivables Management Partners, LLC. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving Berks Credit & Collections.
Absolutely. Here are some Sample Cases against Berks Credit & Collections Inc
Complaints against Berks Credit & Collections cite problems resulting from inaccurate information reported to the credit reporting agencies and hostile or abusive telephone representatives. In May 2017, a complainant indicated he had just discovered a collection item that had been placed with BCC two years prior to the complaint. The complainant indicated he had never been notified of the delinquency by phone or by mail. He also indicated he had to conduct research to find contact information for BCC to find someone to speak with about the collection item. Allegedly, the item in question had been reported to the credit reporting agencies (CRAs) twice, and when he asked the Berks Credit & Collections representative to remove the item, she “refused and told the complainant to take it up with the credit agency.” The complainant indicated that the CRAs said that the error resulted from BCC’s reporting activity, and that BCC would have to request the removal. He also indicated he would pay the small-balance delinquency that day but would like assurance that Berks Credit & Collections would then remove the item. The BCC representative allegedly “refused that as well… and did not give a reason…why they would not remove the collection” item even if it were paid and“after the complainant had reached out to them.” The complainant indicated he contacted BCC again, and spoke with a different representative “who was equally rude and condescending…and ended the call when the complainant tried to question the company practice of paid in full reporting versus removing the debt collection item from his report.”
In response, Berks Credit & Collections acknowledged the duplicated reporting error, corrected the reported item as disputed, and indicated they would send validation of the debt to the complainant as soon as they received information from their client. The complainant rejected the attempted resolution, indicating that BCC “addressed one issue of an error made that…caused two hits to his credit, but they have not addressed the fact that he was not given proper notice of this collection before it was placed on his credit report.” Allegedly, Berks Credit & Collections said they had mailed a letter in 2015 that was not returned to them, but the complainant insisted that he had never received it. He also indicated that his objections were met with “rude, condescending and disrespectful conduct on the call, and that the BCC representative threatened to end the call when the complainant told her that she needed to watch her tone and attitude when speaking to a customer/client.” Berks Credit & Collections did not offer any further response.
Berks Credit & Collections, Inc.
PO Box 329
Temple, PA 19560
Telephone:(855) 275-6449
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…
“We realize that ours is just one small case among many – and many more serious – but are heartened by the fact that you accepted it and represented us with a professionalism that belied the small dollar amount.”
“If you are unsure about this company…DONT BE!!! They are for real when they say they are here to help you. It only takes a few short minutes of your time to talk to a rep. I was a skeptic, but you did everything you said you would! I can’t say thank you enough!”
”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.”
“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.”
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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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