General Business Recoveries , Inc. (GBR) is a third-party collection agency based in Arizona. GBR has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as using prohibited communication tactics and attempting to collect debts not owed. If GBR has contacted you about delinquent financial obligations, make sure you know your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), General Business Recoveries, Inc. was founded in 1981. The BBB established a profile page for GBR in 1985. The BBB lists GBR as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates GBR’s annual revenue at $1.6 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 20 employees.
According to its website, GBR’s “mission is to maximize recovery of …delinquent accounts…by providing… clients with the highest level of service…to increase productivity and potential collectability.” GBR’s “goal is to meet or exceed… expectations with excellence in quality programs and customer service.” GBR “strives to become an extension of… clients’ business offices by implementing programs and services in a seamless manner and by maintaining their reputation in the community.” GBR “takes pride in their ethical collection procedures that have allowed them to continue to serve their community successfully.”
General Business Recoveries, focuses its debt collection efforts on medical and healthcare providers and residential property management companies. GBR also collects delinquent debts for consumer retailers. The GBR website does not offer a lot of detailed information about its business practices except to say that they “offer a variety of reporting and payment options to help the recovery process, such as payments via the internet, over the phone, and payments by mail, which allows for a fast payment processing method to ensure…clients get the money in their office quickly and effortlessly.”
GBR cites “membership… in the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International) and the Arizona Collectors Association, which “allows them to stay informed of changes in the field and remain… up to date on rules and regulations.” Their “agents… are required to be well-informed about… industry standards and to… comply strictly with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and all regulations outlined with the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions.” However, their website does not provide any links or references to 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 6 complaints against General Business Recoveries in the preceding 3 years, with 4 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints alleged problems with advertising and sales; two complaints cited problems with billing, collections, or customer service. As of January 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 21 complaints involving GBR. Justia does not list any cases of civil litigation involving GBR.
General Business Recoveries, Inc.
2033 E Speedway Blvd., Ste. 103
Tucson, AZ 85719
Telephone: (520) 622-4441
Website: http://gbr-abs.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely GBR 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 General Business Recoveries cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts, the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies, and allegations of rude and abusive collection staff. In June 2019, a complainant who had been contacted by GBR regarding a delinquent medical bill stated that they have “poor customer service practices, and they also come across as a potential scam.” According to the complainant, she “received a voicemail from GBR…that sounded very fishy.” As a result, she hesitated to return the call. When she finally called back, she spoke to a GBR representative but was still unsure if they were a legitimate company, so she “was not willing to provide personal information.” However, she “did provide the account number from the message.” Allegedly, the GBR representative “became rude” as a result of the complainant’s concerns and eventually hung up on her. The complainant “immediately called back and explained” her situation to the representative who answered. The conversation initially went better, and the complaint was able to establish that GBR was trying to collect a medical bill from 2 years earlier. The complainant said she had “sent in a payment to the address given…Apparently GBR did not receive it,” and the complainant “hadn’t heard from them since.” The complainant “mentioned poor customer service,” and the GBR representative “became rude …and told the complainant that they are a debt collector and customer service went out the window long ago.” The complainant stated that “just because you are a debt collector gives you no right to treat another human being poorly.”
In response, General Business Recoveries stated that they only consider their clients for whom they collect bills their customers, so customer service does not apply to consumers. They also stated that they had identified themselves repeatedly to the complainant, so there was no reason for her to wonder whether they were a legitimate company; because of their earlier contact with the consumer, there should not have been any confusion. GBR stated that they frequently receive comments about poor customer service, but this is because the people that they “are contacting have been rude… or abusive, and GBR simply will not tolerate that.” GBR accused the complainant of trying “to blast them for not calling her or mailing her.” They also stated that they had “tried to review the account with her, outlining… attempts at contact several years ago and a conversation wherein she promised payment,” but “no payment was received, and several additional calls and messages were sent with no response.” The complainant responded by stating she had sent GBR a payment 2 years previously, but the check was never cashed. She insisted that she had never tried to avoid payment, but that GBR’s efforts to communicate were ineffective. She also restated her complaint that hanging up on her was rude and professional, and that if GBR was receiving so many complaints about their customer service, that there might be something to them.
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…
“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.”
“I would recommend your company to anyone. You have the debt collectors off my back, and I will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the entire procedure your employees were courteous and professional. I was blown away by their efficacy also.
“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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