Pan Am Collections , Inc. (PAC) is a third-party collection agency based in Illinois. PAC has received consumer complaints alleging violationsof the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as using prohibited communication tactics and attempting to collect debts not owed. If PAC has contacted you about delinquent financial obligations,make sure you know your rights before you respond.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Pan Am Collections, Inc. was founded and incorporated in 2011. The BBB established a profile page for PAC in 2012. The BBB lists PAC as a collection agency.
According to its website, PAC “is… devoted to increasing the liquidation rates of their clients’ debt portfolios. To accomplish that goal, PAC offers an array of collection products and services designed for the individual client.”
The PAC website does not provide any detailed information about the types of businesses and industries for whom they collect debts. PAC offers “multiple avenues to recover …money as fast and as cost effectively as possible.” PAC’s flat-rate collections division sends “a series of four demands on each claim directing the debtor to pay the client monies owed or to make contact with the client for payment arrangements.” Stage II collections are handled by PAC’s contingency collections division, which provides traditional, ongoing collection efforts. PAC also offers litigation support and consulting services.
Pan Am Collections states that its collectors “are highly trained professionals in the ARM industry…and fully comply with the FDCPA, TCPA, FCRA, and HIPPA…as well as several state and local regulations.” However, their website does not include any information about their regulatory compliance policies, and there are no links or references to consumer protection resources 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 September 2019, the BBB has closed 2 complaints against Pan Am Collections in the preceding three years, with 1 complaint closed in the previous 12 months. Both of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections.As of June 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 11 complaints involving PAC. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving PAC.
Pan Am Collections, Inc.
Franklin Park Commons
707 N. East St., Suite 1
Bloomington IL 61701
Website: http://www.panamcollects.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely PAC 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 Pan Am Collections cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and allegations of abusive collection practices. In October 2018, a complainant stated he had signed up for a gym membership “after being misinformed by the sales representative.” Subsequently, “after reading through the contract in great detail, he decided to exercise the 3-day cancellation option. He mailed in the information to the address specified on the contract” and assumed the matter had been resolved. However, after some time had passed, he discovered that they gym had “sent his account to a collection agency for funds that were never due to them and for services that he cancelled and never used.” He contacted PAC to dispute the bill, but when he spoke to a PAC representative, “the agent proceeded to raise his voice, speak in a hostile manner, and then slam the phone down,” hanging up on him “without providing ..any details about their claim.” PAC’s response was antagonistic and failed to accept any responsibility. PAC stated that they had “reviewed the complaint; …determined it was… not a complaint against PAC”; and that all interested parties should “mark their files accordingly.” According to PAC, “the accusation regarding the PAC collector is silly at best and… makes no sense.” Pan Am Collections stated that “collectors don’t raise their voices or speak in a strong voice… or hang up for no reason.” PAC acknowledged that “the notes do indicate they hung up, but who knows why?” PAC also questioned how the complainant knew “why they were calling if they didn’t give any details?” PAC stated that they had “marked the account as disputed,” but also said that the BBB was “not the proper format to request a ceasing of calls.” They also said that the complainant “needs to pay his debt.” The complainant rejected the attempted resolution, stating that “there is no resolution to the complaint”; and PAC responded to the complainant’s rebuttal by also stating that “there is no resolution to the complaint.”
In June 2016, a complainant disputed Pan Am Collections efforts to collect a debt from a gym membership. According to the complainant, at the time he had “signed up for a gym…membership,”he had “told the representative that he might not be able to continue coming to the gym if he got a job.” Allegedly, the gym representative told him he could cancel anytime if something like that happened. The complainant“went to the health club for about a month before he got a full-time job and could no longer go. He continued paying the fees for about five months, but after that he just could not see any purpose in continuing because he… could not utilize the club.” When he called to cancel the membership, he “was informed that he would have to pay off the balance.” He disputed their demand because that was not what he had been told at the time he had joined the gym. Although he had made every effort to resolve the dispute, the gym allegedly refused to cooperate. He said the dispute had occurred five years previous to the complaint, and now he was receiving calls from PAC attempting to collect the disputed item. In response, PAC stated the “complaint was caused principally by actions of a third party outside the control or direction of” PAC.
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!”
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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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