Peerless Credit Services, Inc. (PCS) is a third-party collection agency based in Pennsylvania. PCS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), such as attempting to collect debts not owed and threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken. If PCS has contacted you about past due 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), Peerless Credit Services, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded in 1982. The BBB established a profile page for PCS in 1997.The BBB lists PCS as a collection agency, skip tracing, and litigation support corporation. Buzzfile estimates PCS’s annual revenue at$1.1 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 9 employees.
According to its website, PCS “was built on a foundation of trust, integrity, experience, and a commitment that enables them to provide… clients with premier debt recovery and accounts receivable management services and results, with the ultimate goal of significantly improving every client’s bottom line.” PCS states that it employs “best practices and processes, advanced technology, and a highly trained, skilled, knowledgeable collection team, all… dedicated to spending the time needed to establish an effective collaborative relationship with each client.”
PCS provides “full-service debt recovery and financial services” for retail lenders, healthcare service providers, and commercial business-to-business accounts. Their collection services include use of a “state-of-the-art collection software system… to customize…solutions, closely track accounts, and provide detailed reporting.” They also offer “customized collection plans”; “customized pre-collect programs”; “flexible billing options”; an in-house attorney “dedicated to handling…legal collections for PCS clients”; a “network of attorneys…available…anywhere in the country”; skiptracing and asset searches using “the largest consumer information database”; and “competitive fees that allow for an effective full-service collection effort that will maximize…netback.”
PCS also provides clients with pre-collection services that include “customized demand letters designed to prompt consumer payment;…automatic addition of a consumer collection penalty to prompt payment;…automatic rollover to contingency collections; and…analysis reports provided to show the effectiveness of the pre-collect service.”
PCS states that it is a member of the American Collectors Association; the Keystone Chapter of AAHAM; the Philadelphia Chapter of AAHAM; the Practice Office Managers Association of York; and the PA Collectors Association. They also state that they “do not practice or condone some of the questionable tactics used by other agencies” and comply “with all state and federal collection laws.” However, the PCS website does not provide any 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.
As of March 2018, the BBB has closed 7 complaints against Peerless Credit Services in the past 3 years, with 3 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Complaints are fairly evenly split between those alleging problems with billing and collections and those alleging problems with customer service.As of March 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 8 complaints against PCS. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving PCS.
Peerless Credit Services, Inc.
449 Eisenhower Blvd., Ste. 120
Harrisburg PA 17111
Telephone: (717) 702-2000
Website: https://www.peerlesscredit.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely PCS 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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Absolutely. Here are some Sample Cases
Complaints against Peerless Credit Services cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts, as well as allegations of harassment. In November 2017, a complainant stated that he had been contacted by PCS regarding a delinquent debt. According to the complainant, PCS “repeatedly harassed him in regard… to a medical bill which he was already paying monthly to the hospital.” The complainant stated that PCS“engaged in multiple practices which are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including repeated phone calls from different numbers after he had told them he was paying the original source of the debt, and not to contact him again.” The complainant also alleged that PCS representatives “claimed to be lawyers who would sue him over the debt…and refused to identify themselves when he asked who they were.” In addition, he accused PCS representatives of using “foul language and being rude on most encounters.” In response, PCS confirmed that the complainant had told them he was paying the original creditor; however, they disputed“the remainder of the complaint,” stating that they “record all calls, and it is clear… that they did not engage in the behavior described.” The complainant rejected the attempted resolution, restating his claim that PCS “calls from multiple numbers not associated with the business.” He stated that although they may “record some conversations, which paint them in a favorable light,” he believed they do not record “others from unregistered numbers that are used for harassment.” PCS responded by verifying that the account had been paid in full to the original creditor.
Also in November 2017, a complainant stated that Peerless Credit Services had called her “repeatedly, harassing her for a bill.” She stated that the first time she spoke with a PCS representative, he had made statements that violated the FDCPA. When “he called again, she …questioned him,… and he proceeded… to become irate and told her,‘How dare she question him and how he does his job.’” She also alleged that the PCS representative accused her of being rude and told her that as a result of her conduct she had “10 days to pay the balance in full or they were going to sue her for the balance.” In addition, the complainant accused PCS of calling her husband’s “place of employment numerous times after being asked… not to do that because of the company policy.” PCS allegedly spoke “to the secretary,…stating who they were and that they needed to speak to her husband about a debt, which is private information.” The complainant said she had requested again that PCS not contact her husband’s place of employment, but they continued to do so. The complainant asked, “Why is this business and this person not being reprimanded for their actions?… Why is there no consequence for this harassment?” The complainant said she had “worked out payment arrangements with them,so …there is no reason at all to continue this harassment.” In response, PCS stated that they “make every effort to reach consumers at home before attempting to reach them at work.” They acknowledged the calls to the employer, but stated that they had “no notes that they are not to call at work.” They denied having threatened to sue the complainant, and told her to contact them with any additional questions.
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…
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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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