Trustmark Recovery Services, Inc. (TRS) is a third-party collection agency based in Indiana that specializes in collecting delinquent medical bills. TRS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), such as attempting to collect debts not owed and failing to verify debts. If TRS 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), Trustmark Recovery Services, Inc. was founded in 1936 and incorporated in 2005. The BBB established a profile page for TRS in 2003. The BBB lists TRS as a collection agency that uses the alternate business name, Lake County Business Bureau. Buzzfile hosts a listing for TRS under the page for Medical Business Office, Inc (MBO). Buzzfile estimates TRS/MBO’s annual revenue at $14.5 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 150 employees.
The BBB indicates the web address for TRS is www.mbo-trs.com; however, the page at that web address leads to an error message stating that the server for this website is not currently operating. According to Bloomberg, MBO and TRS operate “as a regional billing and collection agency…offering practice and accounts receivable management, as well as original billing, early follow-up and pre-collection, bad debt collection, compliance training, special project, and quality assurance services for hospitals and physician groups.” Bloomberg provides a web address for MBO at www.medbusoffice.com.
According to its website, MBO “is a comprehensive practice management and revenue cycle management agency.” MBO has “maintained a solid growth pattern and has consistently been a pioneer on the forefront of change to provide robust yet simple solutions to the many healthcare industry challenges.” MBO “provides cost-effective and ethical solutions and services to the healthcare provider.” The MBO site does not include any specific, detailed information about its third-party collection practices.
MBO’s first-party physician billing services include data entry, coding, claims management, payment posting, denial management, underpayment recovery, reporting, customer service, and credentialing. Facility billing services employ “highly educated and certified coders to… assist…in identifying the use of supplies or hardware that are commonly reimbursed…to reduce the risk of encountering growing penalties for improperly billing claims.” Software solutions include clinically specific mobile document review, customizable chart templates, and support for patient communication portals. Additional services include off-hours virtual receptionist, temporary staffing resources, IT services, “AR work-downs,” provider education, pay or contracting, and consulting.
The MBO site is entirely client-facing. There is no information about regulatory compliance policies, and 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.
As of May 2019, the BBB has closed a total of 4 complaints against Trustmark Recovery Services in the previous 3 years, with 2 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Half of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections; the other half alleged problems with advertising and sales.Since May 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not posted any complaint information about either TRS or MBO. Justia lists at least 4 cases of civil litigation involving TRS.
Trustmark Recovery Services, Inc.
541 Otis Bowen Dr.
Munster, IN 46321-4158
Telephone:(219) 934-5300
Website: N/A
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely TRS 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 Trustmark Recovery Services cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts,the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies, and allegations of harassment. In June 2018, a complainant stated that TRS had “reported a collection account against him… in the amount of $361.00 with the… credit reporting agencies.” The complainant stated that he had “requested verification of the debt and account”; however, TRS allegedly “failed to provide adequate proof.” The complainant stated that because TRS is not the original creditor and did not “provide…adequate proof” of the debt, he is “not obligated to pay for the alleged debt.” In response, TRS “attached the itemized statement regarding the balance… against the consumer.” TRS also stated that the “account was placed with them… for an unpaid balance… for service… in…Indiana,” with the “service location…. attached on the itemized statement.” TRS advised the complainant that if he wished to dispute the balance, he “needs to contact the provider directly, …as they handle… their own disputes and will notify TRS of any updates needed on the specified account.” The complainant disputed this attempted resolution.
In July 2017, a complainant stated that she had made several requests of Trustmark Recovery Services to provide debt verification, but they failed to respond.The complainant alleged that TRS was “harassing her constantly, if not by phone calls and hang-up calls, then by letters.” She also stated that there had “been family members called, and there are also negative reports on her credit.” She stated that when she “called the numbers” on the collection letters, she “got a busy signal or a message that it is not a working number.” She also “emailed them and mailed them a letter requesting the information they have on file…and the account information required to legally possess, collect, and report an account in her name.” In addition, she “requested the surety bond and collection license number for TRS to report them to the state licensing board and FTC for inappropriate behavior and breaking collection and credit laws.” However, she claimed that she had “not received any such documents.” In response, TRS stated that they had “reached out to the consumer via email and asked that” she contact TRS. The TRS representative also stated that the “phone number listed is invalid, and in their system there is no phone number listed for” the complainant, either. The TRS representative stated that he had sent another email, with a copy to his boss, and promised to “follow up with this consumer” to the “best of his ability.”
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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