Financial Recovery Services or FRS is a third-party collection agency based in Minnesota. Consumer complaints against FRS allege violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) such as using false, deceptive, or misleading information to collect a debt. If you have been contacted by FRS about delinquent debts, understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Financial Recovery Services, Inc. was founded in 1996 and incorporated a month later. The BBB opened its file on FRS in 1998. FRS may use the alternate business name, Financial Recovery Services of Minnesota, Inc. Buzzfile confirms the founding date of 1996, estimates FRS’ annual revenue at $8.2 million, and estimates the size of its headquarters staff at 80 people.
Throughout its website, FRS indicates its belief that its employees are its strength; its commitment to being the best in the industry; and its expectation of performance and maintenance of high standards of professionalism and integrity. FRS advertises professional affiliations with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA); and DBA International.
Financial Recovery Services provides third-party collection services for bank card, retail, installment loan, service contract, and utility companies at early-out, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and warehouse levels. Their website includes a statement of compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including a link to the website for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The “Consumer Path” link appears on many pages throughout the site and leads to a page with FRS’ consumer terms and conditions and a link to the payment portal; however, there no additional consumer resources, and the consumer contact form does not inform consumers of their rights under the FDCPA or similar 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.
The BBB has closed 17 complaints against Financial Recovery Services in the past three years, with 7 closed in the past twelve months. Complaints are fairly evenly split between problems with billing and collections and problems with advertising and sales. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has logged 50 consumer complaints against FRS since March 2015, including allegations of misrepresentation or threatening to take illegal actions. Justia lists at least 11 cases of civil litigation naming FRS as a defendant.
Financial Recovery Services, Inc.
4510 W 77th St., Ste. 200
Edina, MN 55435-5505
Telephone: (952) 831-4800
Website: http://www.fin-rec.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely FRS 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 Complaints
In March 2011 in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, a judge issued an Opinion and Order regarding a class action brought against Financial Recovery Services for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA). The plaintiff in this case submitted as evidence a debt collection letter from FRS that states a balance due of $567.30 alongside the following language:
“INTEREST, LATE CHARGES, AND OTHER CHARGES MAYOR MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THIS ACCOUNT. IF SOME OR ALL OF THESE ARE APPLICABLE TO YOUR ACCOUNT, THEY MAY VARY FROM DAY TO DAY AND THUS THE AMOUNT DUE ON THE DAY YOU PAY MAY BE GREATER. HENCE, IF YOU PAY THE AMOUNT SHOWN ABOVE, AN ADJUSTMENT MAY BE NECESSARY AFTER WE RECEIVE YOUR CHECK IN WHICH EVENT WE WILL INFORM YOU BEFORE DEPOSITING THE CHECK FOR COLLECTION.”
The plaintiff alleges that this language is “false, deceptive and misleading because FRS does not add any interest, late charges, or any other charges to the amount of debt it seeks to collect from any consumer.” Because Financial Recovery Services does not add interest, late charges or additional fees; never collects additional amounts after the initially demanded amount has been paid; and does not extend any financial benefit to debtors who pay immediately, the statement violates the FDCPA provision against “false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.” Despite FRS’ motion to dismiss the claim, the court upheld the plaintiff’s complaint and scheduled the matter for a conference.
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…
“I would recommend your firm to anyone. You got the debt collectors off my back, and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the whole process your staff were professional and courteous. I was blown away by their efficiency as well. Thank you guys so much!”
“I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you! Being in debt is hard enough without being harassed by collection agencies, but thanks to you I no longer have to be a victim. I did not know what to expect when I emailed your company, but from the beginning you guys were on the ball.”
“I would like to thank you and your staff for all the help you’ve provided to me. Honestly, you have a wonderful staff that has dealt professionally and been very empathetic at a time in my life when I hit a speed bump.”
Chances are good that we can help. Call us today and we’ll explain.
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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 JUST RECEIVED A SECOND LETTER FROM Financial recovery Services inc contact . AND STATED THAT. I CAN GET THIS ACCOUNT OF 2354.37. WITH THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS: 1. PAY THE BALNCE TODAY, WHICH I can’t because I am on S.S.I DISABLE. OPTION 2 STATED THIS” RESOLVED IT FOR LESS THAN THE TOTAL BALANCE DUE. MAKE US A REASONABLE OFFER TO RESOLVE FOR LESS. OPTION3 STATED SET UP MONTHLY PAYMENTS AS LOW AS $25.00. “? ALSO IT READS THE FOLLOWING ” ANY OFFERS OF RESOLUTION THAT ARE PROVIDED TO YOU ARE MERELY OFFERS TO RESOLVE YOUR ACCOUNT FOR LESS THAN THE BALANCE DUE. RESOLUTION OF YOUR ACCOUNT FOR LESS THAN THE FULL BALANCE MAY HAVE TAX CONSEQUENCES. ?” IS THIS TRUE? I AM THINKING OF CHOOSING THE THIRD OPTION. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? SINCE I AM DISABLE. Which option is fair and real?
Financial recovery Services inc contact me by mail stating owe $591.00 Says Current creditor LVNV Funding LLC and orginal Creditor was Windstream Communications. Actions. These 2 are not even same company. This first one shows its payday company or a debt collections on a Credit card the 2nd company is a company that provides phone and cable services. So confused how they are saying one company is currwnt and other was orginal when not even same company. Is this a scam?
Thanks