Empire Verification Services, Inc. (EVS) is a third-party collection agency based in California. EVS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as failing to identify themselves as a debt collector and harassment. If EVS has contacted you about delinquent financial obligations, make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) established a profile page for Empire Verification Services, Inc. in 2017, but it does not provide a lot detailed information about EVS’s founding date or other business details. The BBB lists Empire Verification Services as a collection agency. Neither Buzzfile nor Manta hosts a listing for EVS.
EVS does not host a publicly accessible website. There is very little information about EVS available using a general internet search. The Yellow Pages website hosts a business profile page for this company, which indicates they are a collection agency with a website located at www.empireverification.com. However, the page at that URL has only recently been registered and currently shows only a placeholder page.
The LinkedIn social media network does not host a profile page for EVS specifically. However, EVS’s founder has posted a LinkedIn profile, which indicates that EVS was founded in 2015. The Vice President and an Administrative Assistant at EVS have also posted profiles on LinkedIn, but neither of them provides any detailed information about EVS’s business practices.
The New York Department of State indicates that EVS was originally registered as We Find Everyone, Inc. in 2005 and changed its name to Empire Verification Services in 2015. None of these records provide any information about EVS’s regulatory compliance policies, nor is there any association with 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.
As of October 2019, the BBB has closed 4 complaints against Empire Verification Services in the preceding three years, all of them in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints alleged problems with customer service, with 1 complaint citing problems with billing and collections. Neither the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) nor Justia has posted any complaint data about EVS.
Empire Verification Services, Inc.
2390 N Forest Rd.
Getzville, NY 14068
Telephone:(716) 256-1084
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely EVS 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 Case Complaint:
Complaints against Empire Verification Services cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and failure to identify themselves as a debt collector. In May 2019, a complainant stated that EVS had “called to verify his employment and would not tell him what it was regarding.” According to the complainant, he had noted the number that appeared on his caller ID, but the EVS representative “would not tell him anything and gave him a phone number that was different from the one they had called from.” He said he felt as if EVS had “violated his right to privacy.” In response, EVS stated that they “do not attempt to collect debts nor harass consumers.” They stated that they are not required to give “a reason for why the verification is needed but simply try to verify that the person they are calling about is a current and an active employee.” EVS also stated that they use “several phone numbers” and were “not sure” why they were identified as the company that the complainant had mentioned. EVS insisted that all of their phone numbers originate with “the phone company…and that the phone number” provided for call backs is “dependent on the employee that calls for the employment verification.”
In August 2019, another complainant stated that Empire Verification Services had “called his place of employment to verify employment but would not tell” him who had hired them or why they were calling. In response, EVS again stated that they “do not attempt to collect debts nor harass consumers” and that EVS only verifies employment. They also stated that they are “not given any information as to who or why they want the employment verified.”
In October 2018, a third complainant also stated that Empire Verification Services had “called to verify his employment” without providing any information about who wanted the verification or why. This complainant also stated that he believed EVS had “violated his right to privacy.” In response to this complaint, EVS said they had been hired as “a 3rd party to just verify employment” without asking “for wages, hours, etc.” They also stated that when they “make the verification call,” they state that they are calling “on a recorded line and follow a script, rules, and guidelines.” They said that they “do not have access as to who or why the employment is needing verification.”
In April 2017, a complainant stated that EVS representatives are “very rude and unprofessional” and that EVS “makes its money by collecting on old debts outside of statutes of limitations.”
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…
“When I first contacted Lemberg Law, I was at my wits end, not knowing what to do or how to protect myself against the collection agencies. I felt like I was sinking. After sending in my case evaluation, Lemberg Law quickly threw me a lifeline and turned the tide.”
“I used to get up to 15 calls a week from several collection agencies. It got so bad I felt like I should just get a new phone number to make it quit. Happily, I discovered Lemberg Law. They immediately put an end to the calls. Now, when my phone rings I do not dread it.”
“Thanks to the staff at Lemberg Law, I have peace of mind again. They worked quickly to find the harassing calls ended and were super considerate when I spoke together. I love the hard work!”
“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!”
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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