Credit Adjustments Inc or CAI is a third-party collection agency based in Ohio. CAI has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), including making false statements and using illegal communication tactics. If this debt collector has contacted you about past due collection items, make sure you know your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Credit Adjustments, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded in 1967 and incorporated in 1971. The B established a profile page for CAI in 1990. Credit Adjustments is listed as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates Credit Adjustments, Inc’s annual revenue at $11.1 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 53 employees, with an estimated 83 employees across all locations.
According to its website, CAI “offers a full-range of contact management solutions utilizing…human talent and automated solutions.” CAI’s tagline, “‘Delivering respect. Collecting results,’ embodies who they are as a company while symbolizing their commitment to provide nothing less than exceptional service.” CAI states that it has “quickly become one of the leading agencies in overall performance.”
Credit Adjustments Inc’s collection services are comprised of two main divisions—healthcare and education. CAI’s healthcare collections division “provides complete strategic accounts receivable management solutions for clients, delivered with professionalism and compliance.” Services include an early-out program; third-party collections; second placement collections; medical debt purchasing; training and accounts receivable consultation; and special projects.
CAI’s education division “includes training on all regulatory and industry mandates, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, protecting both lenders and borrowers in accordance with federal, state and local laws.” Collection services include third-party collections; student account resolution; letter strategies; courtesy calls; payment arrangements; consolidation loans; tailored implementation plans; rehabilitation; a cohort reduction program; consultations and seminars; and a nationwide litigation management service.
CAI also offers “a wide-variety of call center options.” CAI’s call center staff is trained to make “outgoing calls to clients or receive incoming calls from customers.” CAI cites membership in several professional organizations, including the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, but their website does not include an easily accessible page with links and references to consumer protection resources, laws, and 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 6 complaints against Credit Adjustments in the past 3 years, with 4 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since July 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 3 complaints against CAI. Justia lists at least 5 cases of civil litigation involving CAI.
Credit Adjustments, Inc.
435 Ford Rd., Ste. 1025
Saint Louis Park, MN 55426
Telephone: (763) 533-8484
Website: http://www.credit-adjustments.com
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CAI 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 are some Sample Cases Filed in Federal Court
In March 2011, in United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, a judge issued a decision in a case alleging Credit Adjustments had violated several provisions of the FDCPA. In this case, the plaintiff stated that a representative of CAI had contacted her in its attempt to collect a debt. She stated that they had left “thirteen messages on her residential voicemail over a seventy-eight-day period.” All of the messages had minor variations, but were essentially the same and stated, “‘Give us a return call at 866-XXX-XXXX between the hours of 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM Eastern time Mondays and Thursdays or between the hours of 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM Eastern time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time’” on Fridays. As a result, the plaintiff alleged “violations of the…FDCPA,” Sections 1692e(11), 1692d(6), and1692d(5) and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Sections 559.72(7) and 559.72(9).”
Attorneys for CAI argued that the calls were not intended for the plaintiff; they were intended for her husband. As a result, the plaintiff “cannot state a claim on which relief may be granted because she is not a ‘consumer’ or ‘debtor’ who ‘was ever the intended called party, much less the person who was obligated or alleged to be obligated to owe the amount CAI was allegedly calling about.’” In addition, because “there also is no evidence that the alleged ‘debt’ at issue was a ‘consumer debt,’ much less an obligation owed or alleged to be owed by the plaintiff, …she has no standing to assert claims under the FDCPA or FCCPA based upon calls made to her husband at the same phone number.” Finally, CAI argued that they are “entitled to summary judgment as to the FCCPA Counts IV and V because there is no evidence of their willfulness or knowledge to support such FCCPA claims.”
The court granted CAI’s request for summary judgement regarding the FCCPA claims. The plaintiff dismissed Count III of her FDCPA claim (Section 1692d(5)). However, the court disagreed with CAI’s argument that they had not violated the other sections of the FDCPA.
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…
“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.”
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 been getting my wages garnished for over a year now and I would like to start a payment plan that is much less than the 400+ they are taking away from me monthly- possibly even stopping the payments – is there anything your law firm can do- any help would be greatly appreciated
Well in the summer of 2018 I reached out to U.S. Department of Education and spoke with a rep to see if I would qualify for Forgiveness on my loan since the school I went to for one semester was closed. The representative then told me that she would put in a request. I received confirmation that it was removed from my credit report stating that it was no longer active. I moved shortly after, and apparently received mail to my old address stating that the request was denied in the fall of 2018. I was not notified until February 2019 by my employer. I reached out to U.S. Department of Education and to the Credit Adjustment which is currently taking $213 biweekly from my pay and no one would assist me. They stated that I could possibly qualify for a hardship however every time I would send the documentation they would say they did not receive all of the information or that some of it was missing. I sent over documentation well over 50 pages multiple times. They would not contact me and tell me what was missing or what I could do I would call them and hear that. I attempted to negotiate a settlement offer. They told me I could pay $2100 lower than the $2500 that I owe at this date. Now currently on the myeddebt.ed.gov it states that I owe around $2100 and that is before the $213 that they took last week. Which would be around $1900. Then I spoke with an alleged supervisor that stated I could pay the $1900 within 90 days. Meaning my wages would be garnished still but I would have to come up with the remaining balance. It is total BS because they are offering me what I technically owe. I don’t know if it is anyone that can help me or not. But I just wanted to share this information. I know it does not sound like a lot but with four children and being a single parent with numerous other bills loosing almost $500 a month is a lot.
Credit adjustment has been taking money out of my bank account with out my knowing I had never heard of them before I seen them on my bank statement. I want ALL the money they have taken from me sent to me in a check. I need it asap. I am 71 years old and live on Social Security I can not afford to lose money like this. Thank You
CAI will not respond to my query regarding an error showing that a school loan is in default when it fact it is current.
As a result my federal refund has been taken as part of the federal offset program and attempting to contact CAI to seek a resolution has been futile. No response to emails and no pick up on numerous phone calls to them.