Emergent Business Group , Inc. (EBG) is a third-party collection agency based in Pennsylvania. EBG has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as using false or misleading information in an effort to collect a debt. If EBG has contacted you about delinquent financial obligations, be sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Emergent Business Group, Inc.was founded in 2015 and incorporated in 2017. The BBB established a profile page for EBG in 2018, and EBG has been a BBB-accredited business since then.The BBB lists EBG as a collection agency that uses the alternate business names, Emergent Portfolio Services and Emergent Servicing. Buzzfile estimates EBG’s annual revenue at $1.7 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 150 employees.
According to its website, EBG “is a team of industry executives with over 100 years of collective experience in all aspects of the credit and collection industry.” EBG states that “by optimizing internal performance through effective and compliant business process management and workflow tools,” they have become “a best-in-class organization, partner, and industry leader.”
Emergent Business Group collects delinquent bills for credit card lenders; consumer retail lenders; automotive lenders; active and dormant judgements and legal portfolios; delinquent private student loans; and “discontinued products and legacy assets.” They also accept commercial business-to-business accounts and requests for asset investigation.
EBG’s collection services include both first-party and third-party efforts. EBG’s first-party collection services include hourly based projects; short- and long-term projects; bonded technology environments; and “Champion Challenger Opportunities.” Their third-party collections division offers a contingency-based fee structure; and operational efficiency.
Emergent Business Group also offers “master servicing” and asset investigation, including legal network management; “in-depth, detailed financial investigation”; and performance-based pricing. EBG also purchases delinquent debts.
EBG states that its collectors “communicate with consumers in the manner of their choosing and in compliance with CFPB and FDCPA standards.” Their website includes an “Important Rights” page that provides state-specific, legally mandated disclosures of consumer rights laws.
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 July 2019, the BBB has closed 2 complaints against EBG, in September 2018. The complaint alleged problems with billing and collections. Neither the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) nor Justia has posted any complaint information about EBG.
Emergent Business Group, Inc.
PO Box 1655
Horsham, PA 19044
Telephone:(877) 218-7006
Website: http://www.emergentbg.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely EBG 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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Absolutely. Here are some Sample Complaints
In May 2018, in United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, a plaintiff filed a class action complaint demanding a jury trial in a case alleging Emergent Business Group had violated the FDCPA. In this case, the plaintiff had incurred several thousand dollars in consumer credit card debt and became unable to continue making payments. The debt was eventually assigned to EBG for collection, and EBG sent the plaintiff a collection letter demanding payment. The collection letter that EBG sent to the plaintiff “stated in part: ‘Unless you, within thirty days after receipt of this notice, dispute the validity of this debt, or any portion thereof, we will assume this debt is valid.’” In her complaint, the plaintiff stated that according to the FDCPA Section 1692g(a)(3), a debt collector must “within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt . . . send the consumer a written notice containing a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector.” According to the complaint, the “dispute of a debt, to be effective, must be inwriting.” The plaintiff asserted further that “a debt collector has the obligation not just to convey the…Section 1692g(a)(3) notice, but also to convey such clearly.” She stated that the collection letter “fails to properly inform the recipient that to effectively dispute the alleged debt, such a dispute must be in writing.” In addition, the law requires that collection agencies communicate using language that an average person would not consider vague or confusing; as a result, she also alleged that the letter violated Section 1692e(10) of the FDCPA, which states that collection agencies are prohibited from the “use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt.”
The plaintiff also requested that Emergent Business Group be held liable for violations of all consumers who received a letter with similar language. Her complaint stated that more than 35 people had received such a letter and that all of their interests would be fairly represented by her claim. She requested a trial by jury to determine whether the letter had violated the two provisions of the FDCPA cited in her complaint, and—if so—the amount of statutory damages and attorney’s fees that should be awarded.
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…
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“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.”
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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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