Gragil Associates Inc or GAI is a debt collection agency, which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
Gragil Associates, Inc. (GAI) is a third-party collection agency based in Massachusetts that specializes in collecting delinquent healthcare bills. GAI has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including failure to verify debts and improper communication tactics. If GAI has contacted you about past due 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), Gragil Associates, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency, founded and incorporated in 1968. The BBB established a profile page for GAI in 2005. GAI is listed as a collection agency and billing service with an estimated 85 employees. Buzzfile estimates GAI’s annual revenue at $8.4 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 83 employees.
According to its website, GAI provides healthcare “business offices with solutions in all stages of the revenue cycle.” GAI states that it “brings the highest levels of commitment possible to…client…challenges; …understands the unique nature of healthcare receivables; and brings…vast experience and resources to achieve the common goal of reduced receivables, patient satisfaction, and… innovative solutions for improving workflows.”
Gragil Associates’ main focus is on first-party collection and billing services, but GAI also provides third-party collection services for healthcare providers. Their full range of services also includes pre-collection services; bad debt collections; skip tracing; credit bureau reporting; staffing assistance and training; and “patient-friendly statement” services.
The GAI website does not offer any detailed information about their collection practices or regulatory compliance policies. GAI cites its affiliation with several professional associations, including the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA); the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International); the New England Collectors Association (NECA); the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM); and the Massachusetts Association of Patient Account Management (MAPAM).
The GAI website is essentially client-facing. The home page includes a Client Site tab that allows healthcare providers to access information about patient billing and collection activity. Their website provides an online payment portal for patients and a Forms tab with links to downloadable forms for authorizing the release of healthcare information and for authorizing financial activity. However, there are no links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies anywhere on the site.
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 January 2019, the BBB has closed 4 complaints against GAI in the preceding three years, with 1 complaint closed in the previous 12 months. Almost all of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections. Since May 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 9 complaints against GAI. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving GAI.
Gragil Associates, Inc.
9 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
Telephone:(800) 336-0299
Website: http://www.gragil.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely GAI 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 Gragil Associates, Inc cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of billing and accounting practices. In June 2017, a complainant stated that he had been receiving “many calls and letters from GAI regarding a $232.75 bill…they are attempting to collect.” According to the complainant, the bill was disputed, and the “case is still in litigation and shouldn’t be in collections.” In addition, the complainant stated that GAI had not verified the debt, and that he is not liable for paying it. The complainant said that after disputing the debt, the best GAI was willing to offer was “a pay to delete, since the case was still in litigation.” However, the complainant insisted that the bill had been “paid in full, but GAI has not removed this negative collection…item from any of the three credit reporting agencies.” In response, GAI acknowledged that the bill had been paid in full and stated that they had “deleted this item from the credit bureau…. and sent the complainant a paid in full letter… stating that …this item has been deleted from the credit bureau.”
In May 2016, a complainant stated that he had had a heart attack in 2013. Because he was “unable to meet the healthcare provider’s minimum payment request,” the bill was sent to Gragil Associates for collection. The complainant stated he was “retired and on a fixed income with other bills due as well,” but that a “payment was agreed upon with GAI in the amount of $20 per month, which he has faithfully tried to adhere to.” The complainant stated that he lives “in subsidized housing and requested GAI to provide him with documentation for the amount of money he paid each of the last three years …so he could meet his subsidized housing recertification requirements.” GAI stated that it was “not their policy and refused,” so the complainant “had to go to his bank to get copies of all his canceled checks… for his housing re-certification process,” which is “a very time consuming and arduous ordeal.” Allegedly, GAI also stated that it is not their policy “to send out any form of monthly billing or statement.” The complainant stated that these policies represent “a completely unfair business practice, unethical, simply not right and is unconscionable and untenable.” The complainant “gets monthly bills from every other creditor he owes money to advising him of his status and what is due for the current month.” In response, GAI stated that the complainant “wanted proof of all his payments made, but it … is not their policy to send receipts on payments he hasmade on account.” GAI stated that they had offered “to give him dates of payments and amounts so he can get his proof of payments for his Re-Certification for Housing from his bank, but he didn’twant that.” As for monthly billing statements, GAI stated that they are a collection agency, and the balance in full is always due. “If debtors cannot afford to do that, they must remember to send payments each month.” However, GAI “did send a current statement of what he still owes.”
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…
“With your help the nagging collection calls have finally ceased! I was thrilled I was also able to get damages from the collection agency. I am unable to adequately express my joy. I am so thankful I made the call.”
“When I first emailed the office, I was not exactly sure what they could do for me. I had an idea, but they responded back with everything I could expect to take place. I never believed I would be receiving a check, it was definitely a silver lining. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking customer legal services.”
“I just wanted to let you know we received the check from your office on now and I wanted to take some time to inform you that we really appreciate all of your efforts in this matter.”
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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