FMS, Inc. is a third-party collection agency based in Oklahoma that has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including making false statements and attempting to collect debts not owed. If you have been contacted by this debt collector, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), FMS, Inc is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 1993. The BBB established a profile page for FMS in 1996. They have an estimated 200 employees.
According to its website, FMS serves “clients across the nation from multiple call centers, consistently delivering industry leading collection results and customer support.” FMS states that its mission is “to be a dominant full-service collection company…by offering a high level of opportunity to…employees and by maintaining an unparalleled level of integrity, professionalism, productivity, and profitability in… business relationships.”
FMS offers a full range of collection services, including first-party early stage collections; first- and third-party collection programs; third-party contingency recovery programs; early out pre-charge off programs; early and late stage recovery programs; a state-of-the-art automated skip tracing process; collection letter series; delinquent consumer and commercial collection programs; post default collections for educational and governmental agencies; and delinquent consumer or commercial calls for financial services providers.
FMS collects debts for a wide variety of businesses and industries, including medical and healthcare providers; financial services providers; bank credit cards; retail credit cards; utility companies; telecommunications companies; educational and governmental agencies; check recovery services; and commercial creditors.
FMS Customers page displays state-mandated legal disclosures. Their Professional Affiliations page lists memberships with several trade associations, including The International Association for Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International). They also provide information about their auditing and compliance policies.
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 32 complaints against FMS Inc in the preceding 3 years, with 5 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Most of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections, although many of those complaints also alleged problems with customer service. Since June 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 5 complaints against. Justia lists at least 5 cases of civil litigation involving FMS.
FMS, Inc.
PO Box 707600
Tulsa, OK 74170-7600
Telephone: (918) 747-4884
Website: http://fms-collect.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely FMS 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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Complaints against FMS commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts or communication tactics. In January 2018, a complainant indicated he had submitted a complaint on behalf of his mother, who had been receiving calls from FMS “commencing a little after 8:00 a.m., CST and up until 9:00 p.m.” She had been receiving 2 to 3 calls per day. The complainant indicated his mother had no outstanding bills or past due or delinquent accounts. In addition, the complainant had sent a Cease and Desist letter to FMA in December 2017, but the calls continued. The complainant stated that FMS “has ignored the reasonable request and Cease and Desist Telephone Contact, which is a direct violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,” and that “unless FMS, Inc. has verifiable proof …of delinquent accounts, their telephone calls are in violation of federal and state laws.” In response, FMS indicated that the “telephone number provided has been blocked in …their system,” and that the complainant should direct any further questions to their customer service office. The complainant accepted the resolution, but indicated that if, “from January 9, 2018 and beyond…he discovers there are any further calls from this third party collection agency, …then legal action will commence.”
In March 2017, a complainant indicated that FMS sent collection notices to him in an effort to collect a debt from 2003 that had been discharged in bankruptcy in 2014. The complainant indicated he had “sent…bankruptcy papers, attorney information and a letter by certified mail as requested.” He had also “called multiple times with no response.” The complainant stated that as a direct result of FMS actions, he is “unable to return items at Walmart because… he is blocked in the Walmart system… because of a 2003 debt” FMS says he owes. The complainant charged that FMS is in violation of bankruptcy laws and “have caused a great inconvenience when trying to return items at Walmart.” In response, FMS stated that they had spoken with the complainant about the debt, and he had told them he had filed a bankruptcy. FMS had allegedly requested verification. They also stated that they had received verification of the bankruptcy and had closed and returned the file to Walmart. The complainant rejected the attempted resolution, stating he had requested a letter indicating the account had been closed and that there would be no further collection activity. In their reply, FMS indicated that they had mailed the letter as requested.
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.
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“I was almost going nuts receiving calls every afternoon from a person using profane language to push me to pay debts I don’t owe. Someone I trust referred me to Lemberg Law, and I don’t regret having contacted them. The attorneys were very kind and always available when I needed them.”
“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.”
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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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My 93 yr old Mother , received a bill from FMS that she does not owe ! I control all of her finances and I have never heard of this company . I believe this is just another scam .
Fms told me I can work out a agreement plan for a student loan that goes by income. They said they would send me the paperwork and never did. They harassed me for over a month with phone calls three times a day saying That I was lying and I should fill out the paperwork. When I finally received it, it was dated for that week. Then they refused to make the agreement because I would not give my husband’s Social Security number to them. The debt was made before we were married. They claimed they needed his social # to prove income in the house. It was my loan not his. They had already had the loan over half paid this year and are getting 5.00 a month. I still receive phone calls everyday from them and letters. They threaten me for wage garnishment when I don’t have a job and to take my next years income tax. They also told me to go behind my husbands back and get his social and give it to them by taking it from our tax refund papers.
Fms. has sent letter saying posted amount of $$$$$ and settlement of $$$$$. they have called many time however i have them under scam call. I do not answer it.
the bill is for a Hospital in Idaho. I tried to call one time to ask about the debt they say is 70% reduced in amount. they wanted me to verify my account number, address, phone number ss # etc. i said your the agency you if got the said bill to collect on have all that information . was told her have to verify all information to be sure is you,, I said well who else would call you about a debt if not myself calling. you have the information. what is the pay off amount on this account ####### she said it varies … i said varies??? yes on how old it is and how much the persona makes etc. so i hung up got no where with them sad
FMS entered into a voluntary repayment arrangement with me so that i could again return to school. The representative did not explain to me that the garnishment would continue also. I was made to understand that the agreement would be only that. I was told the following day that i would have to file to have the garnishment taken off and that i would be paying both and then there was no guarantee that i could go back to school. At no time where their concerns for me understanding exactly what was transpiring, they just took my money. This is no way to treat a veteran, let alone an american.