Ideal Collection Services , Inc. (ICS) is a third-party collection agency based in Florida that specializes in collecting delinquent debts for property management companies. ICS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including improper communication tactics and attempting to collect debts not owed. If you have been contacted by ICS, understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Ideal Collection Services, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 1992. The BBB established ICS’ profile page 2 months after its founding, in July 1992. ICS is listed as a collection and credit reporting agency that uses the alternate business name, Ideal Recovery Services, Inc. Buzzfile estimates ICS’ annual revenue at $1.2 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 14 employees.
According to its website, Ideal Collection Services specializes “in the collection of leases and the fees associated with them.” ICS cites as its strength a “professional, friendly, and knowledgeable” staff that works to “exceed…expectations… about collection companies.”
ICS’ clientele is comprised exclusively of apartment complex property managers. The ICS website does not provide a lot of detailed information about its business practices. ICS finds and implements solutions by designing collection plans to fit the needs of individual clients. Benefits include contingency programs, global reach, automated account servicing, and specialized focus.
Ideal Collection Services is affiliated with several professional associations, including the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International), the National Apartment Association (NAA), and the three major credit reporting agencies. However, their site does not include any links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies. Their payment portal does not include a disclaimer identifying Ideal Collection Services as a debt collector.
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 December 2017, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has closed 9 complaints against Ideal Collection Services in the preceding 3 years, with 3 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Almost all of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since August 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 25 complaints about ICS. Justia lists at least 8 cases of civil litigation involving ICS.
Ideal Collection Services, Inc.
P. O. Box 272407
Tampa, FL 33688
Telephone: (813) 920-0141
Website: https://idealcollections.com/contact.html
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely ICS 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. Here are some Sample Cases
Complaints against Ideal Collection Services frequently cite disputes about the accuracy of the accounting of delinquent rent bills, as well as hostile and rude customer service.
In October 2017, a complainant indicated collection notices from Ideal Collection Services requested a payment amount far in excess of what he owed. The complainant had been living in an apartment with his family until he lost his job. He had continued to pay his bills until his money was depleted, but ultimately he was forced to find a new employer and terminate his lease. His lease was due to expire in February 2015, but he gave his landlord verbal notice that he would have to move out prior to the lease expiration. He understood he would be liable for a fee for breaking the lease early and had intended to pay all delinquencies when he was moved in and back to work. Unfortunately, the collection notice he received was not for the $2,380.00 he had expected to pay, but instead for $5,585.00. When he contacted ICS to discuss the billing details, the collection agent was allegedly “nasty to the complainant while trying to discuss this issue… The Ideal Collection Services representative used profanity… belittled the complainant … was very unprofessional…and placed him on a 27-minute hold” despite his efforts to voluntarily resolve a delinquent debt he had not tried to avoid.
The complainant alleged that the apartment lease indicated that early termination would result in a fee of $2,610.00, but the Ideal Collection Services representative presented a bill asking for two additional months’ rent; 2 late fees; and 5 separate utility bills, for a total of $5,585.61. The complainant was concerned that despite his diligence and honest efforts, he had been subjected to verbal abuse, harassment, and believed he was being held liable for charges that were not his responsibility.
In response, ICS indicated they had “attached…the copy of the notice to impose claim, the early termination addendum, the signed lease, and… the complete breakdown that was discussed.” In addition, Ideal Collection Services indicated they were “willing to give… an extension in good faith…to pay the settlement amount,” although the terms of that arrangement remained vague.
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.
Your debt harassment checklist:
“Thank you and your staff for the exceptional work you did on my behalf in dealing with a debt collector. I’ve not experienced the level of professionalism, care, timeliness in follow-through, and financial compensation obtained through your firm.”
“I won’t be afraid to contact you or recommend your services to others for debt collection difficulties. Please keep up the outstanding work you do, and again, thank you for helping me through this challenging time. I am most grateful.”
“I did not realize I’d be getting any money from this wretched affair. I’m taken aback by what you have achieved in my behalf.”
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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I was contacted by this Ideal resolution services concerning an old bill they left a message, I have trying to take care of some old bills so I called them back to set something up as far as a payment plan, the first guy wasn’t to bad but my phone dropped a call but I called right back, the next guy was beyond rude, almost belligerent they basically called me a liar because I said I didn’t have the money that day and they would see me in court and I would pay more since I didn’t want to pay now. So I hung up it was beyond upsetting. I was only trying set up a payment. After I hung up, I realized the first guy had called me back and left a message accusing me of rudely hanging up on him, which I did not. It was the terrible conversation I had with people who were supposed to be lawyers or whatever. So I have not received any paperwork yet.