Total Account Specialty Collections or TASC is a debt collection agency, which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
Total Account Specialty Collections or TASC is a third-party collection agency based in Texas. TASC 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 failing to verify debts. If you have been contacted by Total Account Specialty Collections, 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), Total Account Specialty Collections was started in 2002 and founded in its current location in 2015. The BBB established a profile page for TASC in 2008. TASC is listed as a sole proprietorship collection agency that offers account recovery and credit reporting. The BBB Overview includes a description that states that “TASC is an account recovery agency that is not the typical collection agency. TASC prides themselves in working with compassion and respect to our customers while collecting for our clients. Their TASC is to make a difference for…clients and customers.”
According to its website, Total Account Specialty Collections “strives to work with the customer to develop a solution that fits their needs while at the same time achieve maximum return for… clients.” TASC employs a “highly dedicated and motivated staff who strive to recover accounts with compassion and care.”
TASC offers two basic service categories. Their account recovery division “removes the worry of…past due accounts with…a culture of ‘compassionate collections.’” Their credit reports division provides credit reports for rental properties. TASC Clients page states that they are “dedicated to…all their clients’ different recovery needs… and serve a variety of clients in Texarkana and the surrounding area.” They “understand not all customers are in a position to make full payment…. and will set the customer up on a payment plan and work the account to get regular payments.” TASC cites as their strengths local ownership and operation; HIPAA compliance; contingency-based pricing; personalized service; monthly statements; a dedicated professional staff; flexible payment methods; electronic file transfer; and credit reporting to Experian and Equifax.
TASC Customer page promises to “tailor a payment plan to consumers’ needs.” They also cite as strengths a “friendly, courteous staff; personal service; and online bill pay.” TASC states that “once a bill is paid in full, TASC will remove it from the Credit Bureau.” Their Clients page states that their “agents are trained in HIPAA and FDCPA compliance,” but they do not provide any information about their compliance policies. In addition, 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 9 complaints against Total Account Specialty Collections in the preceding 3 years, with 4 complaints closed in the past 12 months. All of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. A search for TASC or Total Account Specialty Collections in the consumer complaint database of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) does not produce any results. Similarly, a basic search of the Justia Database does not reveal any cases of civil litigation involving Total Account Specialty Collections.
Total Account Specialty Collections
PO Box 6362
Texarkana, TX 75505-6362
Telephone: (903) 794-2024
Website: http://www.ourtasc.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikelyTASC 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 Cases
Complaints against Total Account Specialty Collections cite allegations of illegal conduct, including harassment, failing to verify debts, and making unauthorized debits for the payment of delinquent bills. One complaint has been posted several times to TASC BBB profile—twice in October 2017, once in September 2017, and once in April 2016. The complainant stated that TASC had violated federal and state laws. Specifically, the complainant indicated that TASC had failed to notify him by providing him with his “mini-Miranda” statement of his right to request validation and dispute the debt prior to reporting a delinquency on his credit report. He stated that TASC failure to notify him “no later than 30 days after furnishing the negative information to the credit bureau reports, in writing…is a violation of the FCRA and FDCPA,” and that their failure to provide him with a “‘mini-Miranda’ five days prior to placing this derogatory item on all of his credit reports” entitled him to “$1,000 per violation.” In addition, he claimed that “the state of Texas allows treble damages.” He also charged that TASC should be “held liable…for defamation.”
Although all four complaints appear on their face to be essentially the same, Total Account Specialty Collections responses to each of these complaints varies significantly. Their response in April 2016 claims that the collection items was assigned “with an immediate notification letter being forwarded…to the address provided” by the client. In addition, TASC “attempted phone calls followed with no response from the complainant, which resulted in the account being placed on his credit report.” Total Account Specialty Collections indicated that the complainant “then accepted responsibility…for the debt by paying the account in full,” and that the complainant now has “a zero balance in their database, so they have requested that …the line item” be deleted from his report, “a courtesy provided to anyone who requests upon obtaining a zero balance.” TASC blamed the complainant for not contacting their “office prior to the filing of this complaint.” The September 2017 response acknowledges the complaint, then indicates TASC never received any prior communication from the complainant because “they were being sent to …a former Business Manager …who is no longer employed” at TASC. The October 2017 responses denied wrongdoing, stating there were inaccuracies with regard to the timing of the accusations and that contact attempts by TASC representatives were unsuccessful. TASC also posted several sections of the Finance Code to support their claims that their actions with regard to reporting delinquencies to the credit reporting agencies were not violations of Texas state law.
Additional complaints alleged that Total Account Specialty Collections debited the bank accounts of consumers without their authorization; made an excessive number of phone calls; called a consumer at their place of employment after being informed not to contact them at work; and attempted to collect debts that were not owed. In all cases, Total Account Specialty Collections denied all allegations.
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.
Your debt harassment checklist:
“We realize that ours is just one small case among many – and many more serious – but are heartened by the fact that you accepted it and represented us with a professionalism that belied the small dollar amount.”
“If you are unsure about this company…DONT BE!!! They are for real when they say they are here to help you. It only takes a few short minutes of your time to talk to a rep. I was a skeptic, but you did everything you said you would! I can’t say thank you enough!”
”Lemberg Law has saved me from the endless calls, and harassing voicemails. They really do go to bat for you. I didn’t know that debt collection agencies can end up paying your legal bill. What a surprise, to receive free legal help. I’m very grateful for all the hard work they did to finally give me my life back.”
“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.
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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