Merchants Association Collection Division , Inc. (MACD) is a third-party collection agency based in Florida that specializes in collecting delinquent healthcare and utility bills. MACD has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including failure to verify debts and using false or misleading information in an effort to collect a debt. If MACD has contacted you about delinquent financial obligations,make sure you understand your rights before you respond.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc.was founded and incorporated in 1958. The BBB established a profile page for MACD in 1988.The BBB lists MACD as a collection agency that uses the alternate business names, Hospital & Professional Service Bureau; Sherloq Revenue Solutions, Inc.; MAF Collection Services; and Sherloq Financial. Buzzfile hosts three separate listings for MACD. Two listings fall under Sherloq Group, Inc.; a third listing falls under Sherloq Banner Solutions, Inc. Altogether, Buzzfile estimates MACD’s annual revenue at $16.4 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 75 employees, with an estimated 100 total employees across all locations.
According to its website, MACD was “established in 1916… to facilitate the sharing of credit information, promote… equitable principles in trade, and give back to the community.” Today, MACD provides “extended business office and debt collection needs.”
MACD serves the needs of “hospitals, healthcare systems, physician practices, and utilities nationwide.” MACD is comprised of two major service divisions: extended business office services and collection services. The extended business office division “optimizes cash flow and improves patient satisfaction” by providing “early-out, denials management, insurance billing and follow-up, and customer service that achieves outstanding results.”
Merchants Association’s collections division offers a “propensity to pay scoring model” with account scrubbing; skip tracing; insurance verification and billing; trained and certified collectors; credit bureau reporting and dispute tracking; recorded phone calls; auto-dialer technology; customized reporting; document imaging; and managed patient correspondence.
MACD also supports a banner program “open to non-profit organizations and organizers of special community events” that allows for communication of messages “on more than 600 light poles in high visibility areas” throughout the Tampa, FL region.
MACD is PPMS-certified. “PPMS™ is a management system for agencies based on developing, implementing, and adhering to a set of industry-specific professional practices and policies.” PPMS certification “is the core of the ACA International Agency Certification program.” MACD cites affiliations with the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM), the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA), and the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International). The home page includes a link to the Ask Dr. Debt website.
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 June 2019, the BBB has closed 20 complaints against Merchants Association Collection Division in the preceding 3 years,with 6 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Almost all of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections. Since June 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 19 complaints involving MACD. Justia does not list any cases of civil litigation involving MACD.
Merchants Association Collection Division, Inc.
134 S. Tampa St.
Tampa, FL 33602-5354
Telephone: (800) 226-7757
Website: http://www.sherloqsolutions.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely MACD 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:
The BBB has included the following “Additional Complaints Information” posting on Merchants Association Collection Division’s complaint page:
“BBB files indicate that this business has a pattern of complaints concerning: Failure to send consumers validation of debt after consumers request, and delay in closing accounts consumers have paid. On December 11, 2014, the BBB sent a request to the business to address this pattern and what actions the business has taken to help eliminate the causes of complaints.
“A response from the business has been received and is being reviewed.”
Complaints against Merchants Association Collection Division support these allegations. In February 2019, a complainant stated that MACD had provided her with misleading information about medical billing and credit reporting. According to the complainant, she had been hospitalized in a Florida hospital and had received a bill for services in 2018. However, because she was a disabled veteran, all her medical expenses were covered by the Veterans’ Administration. Regardless, in mid 2018, she “received a $279 collection notice from” MACD. She “called them and said all bills were to go to the VA and that she had never heard of the doctor making the claim” directly to the patient.Allegedly, MACD representatives told her it would be no problem,and that she should “tear up the bill,” which she did. Subsequently, the complainant checked her credit rating, and it had dropped “from 823 down to 770,” as a result of a claim placed on her report by MACD. In response, MACD stated that “there does not appear to have been any error on” the part of MACD. According to their records, MACD had “not spoken to the complainant about her account, and… do not collect for the facilities mentioned in her complaint. Nonetheless,” they expressed understanding of the complaint and stated that they “would like to do what they can to resolve it.” As a result, Merchants Association Collection Division agreed to delete the items from her credit reports. MACD asked for the complainant’s patience, because “it can take 14 days or more for the account to drop from all three credit bureaus.”
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…
“With your help the nagging collection calls have 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.”
“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.
“After speaking to one of the partners, and going over the plan of action, I felt I’d chose the perfect company to go to work for me. He was very accommodating in describing what was going to happen. I would strongly recommend Lemberg Law to anybody being hassled by debt collectors”
“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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