PDS Mediation Services of Ohio (PDS) is a third-party collection agency and mediation service based in Ohio. PDS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including harassment and failure to verify debts. If you have been contacted by PDS, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), PDS Mediation Services of Ohio is a legitimate collection agency founded in May 2015. The BBB established a profile page for PDS in August 2015. PDS is listed as a collection agency and mediation service.
According to its website, PDS “is recognized as an alternative dispute resolution center…[that] offer[s] a range of mediation services, all designed to provide an agreeable alternative solution.” PDS states that its “services are available a la carte to provide numerous options to render a resolution including installment options as well as hardship scenarios if qualified.”
PDS offers mediation services in a number of areas. PDS mediates breach of contract disputes “[w]hen one side to a business contract alleges that the other has not adhered to the terms.” PDS also mediates consumer-merchant disputes “whether relating to payment for services or goods purchased,” especially with regard to “vehicle sales and other large-ticket purchases.” In addition, their debtor-creditor mediation services are intended for “medical billing or credit card debt.” Finally, PDS offers mediation services prior to small claims complaints.
The PDS website does not provide any detailed information about its client base or compliance policies. There are no links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, 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.
The BBB has closed 29 complaints against PDS Mediation Services of Ohio in the preceding 3 years, with 13 complaints closed in the past 12 months. The majority of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections, with the remainder fairly evenly split between complaints alleging problems with advertising and sales or customer service. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not posted any complaint information about PDS. Justia does not list any cases of civil litigation involving PDS.
PDS Mediation Services of Ohio
536 E. Highland Rd.
Macedonia, OH 44056
Telephone: (330) 403-4066
Website: http://www.pdsmediationservices.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely PDS 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 Complaints
Complaints against PDS Mediation Services of Ohio commonly cite claims of harassment, fraud, and attempts to collect non-existent debts. In February 2018, a complainant indicated that she had been contacted by phone by a PDS representative who stated that she was “in breach of contract with National Service Corp.” The complainant asked the PDS representative for information about the dispute, and the PDS representative allegedly stated that the complainant “had entered into a contract with National Service Corp for magazine… subscriptions.” PDS provided an address to which the magazines had been mailed, but the complainant stated that she had not lived at that address for at least 7 or 8 years. The PDS representative allegedly offered a “one-time payment of $374.40 to settle the matter, and that if …she chose to not make that payment …she would be taken to court for the… full amount of the contract in addition to attorney fees.” The complainant stated that she did not recall entering into any contractual agreement with the magazine company and requested that PDS send verification of the debt “including the contract terms and conditions.” The complainant allegedly told PDS that if she determined the debt was valid, she would pay in full. Subsequently, she received on “January 12, 2018 a one-page statement with no details on the contract…that only stated that …she had agreed to pay in full and gave that January 12th as the payment due date.”
She left a voice mail with the PDS Mediation Services of Ohio representative stating that she works “12-hour day shifts and could not speak on the phone during PDS’s limited business hours and requested once again that…PDS provide documentation of the debt by mail and not contact the complainant by phone during daytime hours.” The complainant stated that she did not receive any further notifications in the mail but did receive two calls from unidentified numbers. The voice mails were from PDS representatives, which were “very terse…and stated that since…she had not resolved the issue…she would be taken to court.” The complainant stated that she contacted PDS by phone again and left a message stating she “had not received any information regarding this debt as…she had requested.” Despite having requested that all correspondence be conducted in writing, the next morning the complainant “again received a call during working hours… to which she simply stated, “‘Contact me by mail only,’ and hung up.” She “received another call one minute later which…she ignored.” The complainant concluded by stating that “PDS Mediation Services has not provided any proof of their claims. If this business is a legitimate business, it is representing the interests of its client National Services Corporation quite poorly.”
In response, PDS Mediation Services of Ohio apologized for the “negative experience,” and gave assurance that they had spoken with the representative. PDS maintained their position that the debt was valid, but stated that they will “discontinue all contact, and remove… the complainant’s information from …their database.”
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 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.”
“Thanks to the staff at Lemberg Law, I have peace of mind again. They worked quickly to find the harassing calls were super considerate when I talked with them. I love the hard work”
“I was almost going nuts receiving calls every afternoon from a person using profane language to push me to pay debts I don’t owe. Someone I trust referred me to Lemberg Law, and I don’t regret having contacted them. The attorneys were very kind and always available when I needed them.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
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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