Northstar Location Services was started in 2001 by the former owners of the Great Lakes Collection Bureau. They are also known as The Northstar Companies and are based in Cheektowaga, New York. Northstar Location Services takes great pride in their ability to use technology to locate consumers and enforce collections.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Northstar Location Services, LLC was founded in 2005. The BBB established a profile page for Northstar in 2005. The BBB lists Northstar Location Services as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates Northstar Location Services’ annual revenue at $66 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 743.
Northstar Location Services performs pre charge off and post charge off collections, inbound and outbound call services, and skip tracing services. They collect on behalf of the automotive, utility, insurance, communications, travel, financial, education, mortgage, and retail industries. They boast that their executives have an average of 30 years of experience in the debt collection industry.
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 Decemebr 2020, the Better Business Bureau reported 37 closed Northstar Location Services complaints within the previous three years, including 14 closed complaints within the previous 12 months. The BBB gives Northstar Location Services a B+ rating and has recently been put on alert by the BBB. In addition, Justia lists 28 complaints filed in federal court in the past year alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Furthermore, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) lists 54 closed complaints for 2016.
Northstar Location Services, LLC
4285 Genesee Street
Cheektowaga, NY 14225
Phone Number: 877-630-6700
Website: http://www.thenorthstarcompanies.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely Northstar Collections 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 Filed in Federal Court
In 2016, a judge in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, denied Northstar Location Services’ motion to dismiss Langley vs. Northstar Location Services for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. According to the judge’s decision, the consumer alleged that Northstar Location Services sent her a letter indicating that she had agreed to make a $10 payment on a time-barred debt. While the letter acknowledged that the debt was past the statute of limitations, it did not mention that any payment would restart the clock and the debt would once again be considered current. Moreover, the consumer claimed that she had never agreed to make a payment. The suit alleged violations of the FDCPA for falsely stating that she had agreed to make a payment, and by using deceptive or misleading means to collect a debt. The court said it was not persuaded that an unsophisticated consumer – the standard used by the FDCPA – would understand the consequences of making a payment. Therefore, the court denied Northstar’s motion to dismiss and allowed the case to move forward.
Press Releases of Lawsuits Brought On By Lemberg Law
May 2, 2017. On behalf of our client, Lemberg Law recently filed a complaint in U.S. District Court, District of Maryland. The case, against Northstar Location Services, charges the debt collection agency with violating state and federal law and asks for $1,000 in statutory damages under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, allowable damages under the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act, plus other relief.
The FDCPA only allows debt collection agencies to call friends, family members, and acquaintances of a consumer in order to ascertain a consumer’s location information. The law definitely does not allow a debt collection agency to tell a third party about the consumer’s debt. Our client says that Northstar called his sister, parents-in-law, and sisters-in-law, and left voicemail messages about the debt. The voicemail messages allegedly indicated that Northstar was trying to contact our client and his wife to collect a debt. Our client tells us that the debt was incurred years before he married his wife. Later, Northstar was informed that our client was represented by an attorney and that all calls to collect the debt should stop. Nevertheless, Northstar continued to place calls to our client and his family members in an attempt to collect the debt. On three other occasions, Northstar was reminded that our client was represented by an attorney and that they needed to stop calling his relatives about the debt. Nevertheless, they persisted.
This lawsuit charges that Northstar Location Services violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by contacting third parties for purposes other than to confirm or correct location information; by contacting third parties without being asked to do so; by contacting our client knowing that he was represented by an attorney; by engaging in harassing behavior; by using false, deceptive, or misleading representation in connection with the collection of a debt; by using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt; and by communicating with a third party about an alleged debt. The lawsuit also charges that Northstar Location Services violated the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act by disclosing or threatening to disclose information to a third party that affected our clients reputation, with the knowledge that the third party had no business need for such information.
March 30, 2017. On behalf of our client, Lemberg Law recently filed a complaint in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. The case, against Northstar Location Services, charges the debt collection agency with violating state and federal law and asks for $1,000 in statutory damages under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, all available damages under the Illinois Collection Agency Act, plus other relief.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was enacted to protect consumers from abusive and harassing debt collection tactics. One of the most embarrassing debt collection tactics is for a collector to tell other people about your debt. Our client says that Northstar contacted his father and told his father that Northstar was calling about our client’s debt. They also asked his father to give our client a message. Needless to say, this caused our client a great deal of stress and embarrassment.
This lawsuit charges that Northstar Location Services violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by engaging in harassing behavior; by contacting third parties for purposes other than to obtain location information; and by using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt. The lawsuit also charges that Northstar Location Services violated the Illinois Collection Agency Act by disclosing information about a debt to another person, and by engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.
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).
Consumers have reported this agency harassing them from the following numbers:
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…
“When I first contacted Lemberg Law, I was at my wit’s end, not knowing what to do or how to protect myself against the collection agencies. I felt like I was sinking. After sending in my case evaluation, Lemberg Law quickly threw me a lifeline and turned the tide.”
“I want to commend you and your firm for your invaluable service to people like myself, who have difficulties they need help with when faced with collection issues.”
“I received my settlement check yesterday. Thank you all for helping me with my debt issue. The last year has been a very tough one and this check will really help. So impressed with Lemberg Law.”
The short answer is yes. We can 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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This company is a joke and I have no clue how they are still allowed to collect anything from anyone. I had serious issues with Ally and a lemon.. broken, unfixable car I co-signed for one of my daughters. Long story short, Northstar was one of many debt collectors calling and sending letters. Northstar was by far the most unprofessional group. The debt sold and bought by someone else every few months. Finally August of 2021 Ally decided to settle and cancelled this debt erasing it basically.. I was credited the deficiency amount, was removed from my credit reports and I received a 1099 C. In September of 2021 I got a letter from 1 debt collector, I informed of the settlement.. got a letter in January I replied again, in February I got a letter from a different debt collector and here it is April and I just received a letter from Northstar yet again and a call the last 2 days. As I have told the company whenever they picked the debt up again not to call me and only contact me through USPS this round they haven’t left any voicemails yet. I’ve left a complaint with the FTC and I’m trying to locate notes etc because they need to be barred from being able to act as a collection agency with flagrant disregard for the rules and regulations they need to follow
Today, my insurance company contacted me to try and resolve a complaint made regarding a total loss vehicle. After speaking with the rep from my insurance company he called Northstar as Ally sold the account to them. While on the phone with the 2nd lady (the first lady/call was disconnected due to lack of reception?) the rep asked the lady on the phone about my account and asked her if she could provide a statement showing the balance due and what not. The lady told him she could not do that due to it being a collection agency and then asked me (we were on 3 way) how was I going to pay? I responded “hopefully Ally” (As I have been trying for 3 years to get answers as to why I owe so much and if their delays processing my claim had anything to do with the high balance?). I had also paid half of the balance back in December 2020 because I want to move on with life, but I still want to know why/how I owe (having full coverage and GAP)? After saying “hopefully Ally” the Northstar rep proceeds to tell me “No they’re not going to pay , you are.” I responded “lady I have been dealing with this for 3 years and you have no idea what you are talking about.” She then says “well you are going to pay” and she is saying all this while the rep from my insurance company is on the phone. The gentleman from my insurance tried to end the call with Northstar and the lady from Northstar continues to say “oh you are still going to pay” (rudely). I tried calling them back to speak to a supervisor and he was equally as rude and continued to tell me that he deals with this all the time and that I am responsible for the balance. I tried to tell him that is not why I requested to speak with him. I tried telling him I asked to speak with him because of his rep/co-worker was extremely rude. He had no interests in hearing me and assumed I called to complain about my balance which was not the case and then proceeded to tell me how much I owe and how long it’s been (I am fully aware of everything) after him talking to me like a dog or a nobody, I got frustrated and hung up the phone. They are the rudest people I have ever dealt with and I would still like to go through the proper channels to file a complaint against the supervisor/director and the rude lady on the phone. They would not give me their names.
If anyone knows who to contact to file a complaint, please let me know. Thank you. (the 1 star is for Northstar)
NorthStar Location Service on June 1, 2020 accessed my Bank of America checking account and withdrew $517.04 without authorization. Maybe you can help me with this intrusion.
Northstar location services calls every day. They do not identify themselves as a debt collector and they have not sent any verification of any debt can you help me
I keep getting calls from Northstar Location services. They ask for an Amanda…, I don’t know any one by the name they request. I’ve tried everything i could think of to get them to stop calling me, waiting for a rep. Pressing different numbers. Following their prompts. They call me every day. They don’t even say anything when I wait they just hang up. Please let me know if you can help. Thank you