Rickart Collection Systems Inc or RCS is a third-party collection agency based in New Jersey. RCS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken and failure to verify debts. If you have been contacted by RCS, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Rickart Collection Systems, Inc. was founded in 1970 and incorporated in 1972. The BBB established a profile page for RCS in 1994. RCS is listed as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates RCS’s annual revenue at $2.4 million, and the size of its headquarters staff at 30 employees.
According to its website, RCS “has met the challenge of creating new collection programs to fit many different situations” with a mission of “converting non-performing assets into operating capital, by creating a customized collection program for each client.”
RCS utilizes the Ontario Systems Flexible Automated Collection System (FACS). As a full-service collection agency, RCS offers telephone interaction; step demand letters; skip tracing; multiple payment options, including payments by phone, credit card, ACH, and US mail; credit reporting; and customized collection letters. In addition, their litigation team manages client-authorized suit filing and a network of elite worldwide attorneys specializing in credit and collection.
RCS collects delinquent debts for banks; cellular telephone companies; communications providers; contractors; credit unions; dental service providers; education lenders; financial services providers; healthcare providers; insurance companies; leasing agents; media companies; publications; utility service providers; and veterinarians.
RCS states that “compliance with local, state, and federal regulations is a top priority, e.g., the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).” They also cite membership with several professional associations. However, their website does not include an easily accessible page with links and references to consumer protection resources, laws, and 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 7 complaints against Rickart Collection Systems in the preceding 3 years, with 3 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Almost all of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since October 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 6 complaints against RCS. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving RCS.
Rickart Collection Systems, Inc.
575 Milltown Rd.
N. Brunswick, NJ 08902-3321
Telephone: (800) 742-5278
Website: http://www.rickart.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely RCS 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 Complaints
Complaints against Rickart Collection Systems commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In October 2016, a complainant indicated he had been contacted by RCS regarding a delinquent debt, but RCS had provided confusing and misleading information. The complainant stated that RCS “sent me bills that show at least two different amounts,” and that the “difference in these bills was almost $200.” The complainant also stated that he had been paying RCS $20 per month and had written and contacted them several times requesting information to clarify the billing discrepancy. In addition, the complainant indicated that “as far as he knows, there is no interest that is added to a collection account and he was very suspicious that their not contacting him back is showing shady business operations.” The complainant was “concerned whether they are crediting his account.” After another attempt at contacting them, the complainant indicated that RCS had “the nerve to send him… last week…RUDE correspondence indicating he was refusing to pay his bill.” The complainant alleged that RCS was “refusing to contact him to tell him why they are trying to overbill” him, and that he did not feel obligated to pay anything further “until they respond to his legitimate question.” He concluded by stating that he could not understand why RCS said he was not paying his account when he had been in continual contact with them; nor why they were not crediting his account for the payments he had already made.
In response, Rickart Collection Systems stated that they had been applying payments as they were received. They posted an accounting of payments received and posted. They also posted a current balance and stated that they had answered all of his correspondence. They indicated that they would “send directly to the consumer validation of these accounts showing the amount due.” Although they did not directly answer any of the complainant’s concerns, they advised him that if he needed additional information, he should contact them with 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…
“After a few months of frustration with a debt collector, I eventually called Lemberg Law. It was among the best financial decisions I have ever made. Jody and her staff were comprehensive, useful, and above all else powerful. I highly recommend their services and thank them for their continual efforts.”
“When my husband got sick and lost his job, I understood that paying all of the medical bills was going to be an issue. What I didn’t understand was that we’d be bombed with telephone calls day and night. I found your site and was contacted the same day that I submitted my advice. You did not charge me, you got cash from the collector, and we finally have silent phones. Thank you for what you did for us!”
“We were so impressed with how the attorney listened to us and understood the position we were in. Thank you for stopping the calls. The check was a nice bonus, but mostly we’re glad we’re not being hounded anymore.”
“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.”
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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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