Firstsource Advantage , LLC is a third-party collection agency based in New York. Firstsource has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) such as attempting to collect debts not owed and failing to provide verification of debts. If you have been contacted by Firstsource, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Firstsource Advantage, LLC was founded in New York in 1995 and incorporated in 2008. The BBB established its profile page in 2003. Buzzfile estimates Firstsource Advantage’s annual revenue at $50.6 million and a staff size of 1,000 people at its headquarters location in Amherst.
According to its website, Firstsource is a “leading global collections service provider and has been delivering results in the collections arena.” They cite proven expertise, “deep industry knowledge,” and a 1,000-strong workforce as strengths. Firstsource is “registered to provide collection services in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.”
Firstsource Advantage acts as a third-party debt collector for credit card issuers, student loan providers, and financial institutions, most of them members of the Fortune 500 group of corporations. Together, Firstsource manages $4 billion in charged-off debt using “on-shore and off-shore staffing models” and a “scalable, flexible global delivery platform” to “adapt to client requirements.”
Firstsource’s compliance priorities appear to place more importance on data security than on adherence to the provisions of financial or consumer protection laws. Their Data Security and Certifications page provides detailed information about internal business continuity, physical security, and logical security safeguards. On the other hand, their compliance program is supported only “by rigorous training…and self-audit mechanisms.” Their compliance and quality page shows a table entitled, “Culture of Compliance Framework,” that describes their policies of compliance management, quality assurance, and complaint processing with statements like, “dedicated quality assurance team [provides] continuous monitoring and feedback.” Furthermore, consumer information is located under a tab labeled “customers,” and consists only of a statement of Firstsource’s “Hardship and Free Debt Advice” policy. However, the Pay My Bill page does contain a clearly stated and conspicuous disclaimer of consumer rights.
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 19 complaints against Firstsource Advantage in the past three years, with 3 of them closed in the past twelve months. All but 2 of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since March 2015, the CFPB has closed 94 complaints against Firstsource alleging FDCPA violations such as attempting to collect debts not owed; failure to provide verification of debts; misrepresentation; and illegal communication tactics. Justia lists at least 21 cases of civil litigation naming Firstsource as a defendant.
Firstsource Advantage, LLC
205 Bryant Woods S
Amherst, NY 14228-3609
Telephone: (716) 564-4400
Website: https://www.firstsource.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely Firstsource 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
In 2018, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed against Firstsource Advantage, LLC claiming the debt collector unlawfully refused to accept a consumer’s debt dispute.
In August 2011, in United States District Court, Western District of New York, a judge issued a Decision and Order in a case alleging Firstsource violated provisions of the FDCPA and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). In this case, the plaintiff’s complaint contained charges that Firstsource representatives repeatedly called his cellular telephone with the “intent to annoy, abuse, and harass” him and used an automated dialing system and prerecorded messages to call and leave messages on his cellular phone. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from “causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.” Whether the plaintiff’s charge that Firstsource violated the FDCPA was determined by considering the number of calls made by Firstsource; whether the plaintiff’s verbal request that Firstsource cease phone calls to the plaintiff was sufficient to have constituted a violation; and whether the calls were intended to harass. Firstsource argued that 30 calls in a six-month period was not excessive; that the plaintiff did not provide written notification of his request that Firstsource cease telephone calls; and that the plaintiff did not offer proof of intent to harass. The judge cited case law supporting both sides of the argument and left the matter to be decided at trial. As for violations of the TCPA, there was not enough evidence for the judge to make a determination about whether the plaintiff had provided consent for Firstsource to contact him at that number. Thus, Firstsource was granted its motion for summary judgment regarding a charge that they had called at inappropriate times and places; but charges that Firstsource had violated the TCPA and Section 1692d of the FDCPA survived and were scheduled for 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…
“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.”
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’ve been paying off a debt for the courts through first time advantage. Today I was off a few cents so the charge was declined. When I called there office I asked them if I can make the payment since I was attempting to make sure it was taken care of and they told me they don’t collect for the court and they hung up on me.
If this isn’t for the court what am I paying for ? And why did they say it was for two tickets from the court ?
Firstsource advantage collection have called me few times and they keep asking me for someone elses name and I keep telling them its a wrong number that they are calling.
I have asked them to not call me again and delete my number and they keep calling me asking me more questions and harassing me who I am and so on…
Can your firm help me?