MRS Associates Inc-Are consumers satisfied with their service?
MRS Associates Inc. is a collection agency headquartered in New Jersey. The agency claims to settle delinquent accounts in quick time using efficient recovery specialists and collection methods. However, most consumers are not satisfied with the agency's services and have a lot of complaints against them.
What are some of the common MRS Associates complaints?
- Unnecessary harassment: One of the major accusations against the agency is that they harass consumers unnecessarily. A consumer complains that the agency keeps calling him time and again, even though he is not the same person they're looking for. He just happens to share the first and the last name with the actual debtor!
In some cases, the agency harasses the consumers even though they've been making payments to pay off the old account. One such customer says MRS Associates collection agency has been calling him repeatedly, although he has been paying $60 each month for almost 3 years!
The collection agency even calls customers for debts which they have never taken. One consumer complains that the agency called his wife on credit card accounts which she never had. - Rude and abusive behavior: The representatives who call the customers are very rude and often use abusive language to threaten them. One customer claims that an MRS representative screamed even at his 3 year old daughter! The customer was so upset that he filed a police report against the agency.
- Refuse to validate debts: One of the complaints against MRS Associates collection agency is, they refuse to validate debts. A customer said MRS asked him to pay off a Capital One bill which he says he never had. When he asked them to validate, they simply refused to do so.
- Unauthorized withdrawal from accounts: The collection agency is accused of running unauthorized withdrawals from their customers' accounts. A customer says the collection agency (CA) withdrew his entire social security disability income directly from his account, without informing him. Another customer complains that MRS Associates Inc. kept withdrawing money from his accounts even after he had made payment arrangements with them. They made several unauthorized withdrawals from his account and he's still awaiting a refund from them.
How to deal with MRS Associates Inc.
If the collection agency harasses you to collect a delinquent account, you should take the following measures:
- Send a validation letter: You should first send MRS Associates collections a debt validation letter through certified mail with a return receipt request. Under the FDCPA, the agency is required to validate the debt before continuing with their collection activity. You should also ask for a copy of the original agreement signed between the original creditor and the agency. If they cannot validate the account, you are not legally bound to pay it off.
- Send a cease and desist letter: As per the FDCPA, the agency will have to stop harassing you if you send them a Cease and Desist letter. They cannot make phone calls to your work of place and cannot use abusive language while talking to you. If they still harass you, you can file a formal complaint with the FTC or the State Attorney General's Office.
- Check the SOL: You also need to check if the account has crossed the Statute of Limitations (SOL) in your state. If the account is past the SOL, MRS Associates Inc. does not have the right to collect it.
- Settle or pay off the account in full: In case the agency validates the account and it is not past the SOL, you will have to pay it off. You can enter into a payment agreement or do a settlement with the CA to pay off the account.
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#1
10-08-2005, 02:45 PM
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MRS Associates Inc-Are consumers satisfied with their service?
I'm seeking advice on how to deal with MRS associates collections when threats have been made. Here my situation.
I divorced 1.5 years ago from my husband and was contacted via email from him with the question if I know of an account opened linked to one of my previous addresses because payments have been made from there (how do you proof something like this?) but opened with his SSN. He also asked me to contact MRS associates collection, since an amount of about $1,700 was very delinquent. So I did - and was immediately accused of identity theft and fraud. The representative accused me or my former room-mate of stealing my ex-husbands SSN and either I did it, or I'm covering for another person. I have stated that this is absurd and asked for an acct #, asked when the account was opened, closed, what charges were made and tried to find out if this is maybe one of the accounts he had opened and I am on there as the other card-holder. No information was given to me, just the advice to respond by monday and give them information of who did it, otherwise they'll order the records (shouldn't they do this before they asked to be contacted, also - aren't they supposed to send a letter first?) and someone will go to jail, and they also said it'll be me. I'm confused and am trying to find out what is going on. They replied that this has nothing to do with anything we have once shared or opened together and I should come forward. Then they quickly said that they don't want to waste their time any longer and hung up on me. Any advise? This is absurd - I've emailed w/ my ex-husband and he stated that he has no idea of what's going on, he's as bummed as I am but doesn't want his credit to be ruined. I would appreciate any feedback, since I fear that the nightmare has only begun. thanks, H. 
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#2
10-08-2005, 03:11 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,127
Credits: 51,483
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Hi Novellie30
Welcome to the forums. Your situations is made complex by MRS Associates as it should not be like this. To see the link between the payments made from the previous address and the account, you should contact your creditors and get the details of the form when either of you applied for credit. Legally speaking, you should get the complete details of your accounts from MRS, the collection agency (CA) that is trying to recover the debt from you. This is known as the debt validation process as per the FDCPA and through this, you can force them to provide you the following details:
Do ensure that you send this debt validation letter through certified mail with return receipt requested. This will help you to record the date on which they received your letter and your effort to know the details of your past debt. You can also inform in the letter that as per the fdcpa, you don't want to be called at your place of work or at home and all the necessary communications should be done via email. Not validating the debt and still continuing to recover the debt is a violation of the FDCPA law under Section 809 ( 8 ). If they break the law, you can consult your attorney. Regards Roxette __________________
Debtconsolidationcare offers free counseling and help, please avail the services before taking any major decisions.
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#3
10-08-2005, 03:22 PM
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Thanks for helping me to tackle MRS Associates
..for answering my posting. The thing is, all accounts that we had together were either split or closed out as I know off, I only made payments towards dell and a officer's club membership, as those were 2 accounts I have used. My ex-husband says he knows of nothing, and so they accuse me of identity theft and said I must have opened this with his SSN because nobody but me or someone affiliated with me could have made payments from one of my previous addresses - I have never received any statements, nor was I contacted via phone. I don't know anything about the agency, only the person's first name, and I have a phone # an partial account #, I also have this person's email address. I pulled up my credit report online last night and the score is good, nothing was reported late from any previous accounts, nothing seemed to be wrong - the agency which inquired the report was called "MRS Associates", as it was displayed on my credit report. I'm planning on getting an attorney to handle this for me first thing Monday, but am afraid that the threats are for real. How do I find out about an address to where I can send a letter to? I haven't been given ANYTHING. Thx, h.
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#4
10-08-2005, 03:26 PM
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Also...
..they never asked me to PAY anything. It's not about how much I owe, it's about identity theft or covering up for someone, in short they accused me right away of committing fraud. I am also from a foreign country and everything always was obtained through my ex-husband. I just recently (June) was able to apply for my own credit card w/ a $500 limit. Again, thanks for your reply, this was a huge help. Heike
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#5
10-08-2005, 03:47 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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MRS Associates debt collection address
Heike
For instance, if the company feels that you have stolen your ex's identity, then your husband should have the details of the credit in his statement. If it is not appearing in his report, and he is not aware of it also, how can it be termed as an ID theft? Put that straight to the agency and ask them to validate the debt. You will not pay anything or will not feel convicted until it comes out proven. MRS Associates debt collection address MRS ASSOCIATES, INC. 2222 W. Rose Garden Lane #100 Phoenix, AZ 85027 Phone Number: 623-266-3526 MRS Associates Fax Number: 623-266-3518 This company is not a BBB member MRS Associates Collections 3 Executive Campus, Suite 400 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 (877) 774-7994 This company is also not a member of the BBB and has unsatisfactory business record with the bureau. MRS Associates 6530 W. Campus Oval Suite 300 New Albany, OH 43054 Telephone: (614) 289-5086 BBB contact this company requesting for basic information and they have not responded so far. They are also not their member. This makes me feel that you should be very tactful and alert while dealing with them. Keep everything documented so that you can track it later. Send your correspondence through certified mail with return receipt requested. This is very important as the CMRRR serial number will prove that you made your effort to contact them and request information. Regards Roxette __________________
Debtconsolidationcare offers free counseling and help, please avail the services before taking any major decisions.
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#6
10-10-2005, 06:13 AM
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fdcpa laws applicable for mrs associates
A collection agency cannot have you arrested. If there were any possibilty of being arrested, it would have to be persued by your ex-husband. (after all, it is apparently his ID that was stolen) and he would have to be able to prove you did it.
In order for the Original Creditor (again, not the agency) to be able to have you arested for fraud, they would need to be able to prove you did it, ans had intent to defraud when you opened the accounts. Either way the CA cannot have you arrested in onnection with this account. Call the FTC and your State Attorney General. They are violating the fdcpa. It sounds to me like someone got a hold of his information and was able to connect him to you. Then using your credit report or other personal history information began opeing accounts. I would watch your credit report very carefully as you may start seeing your information is also being used. ALso look for collections for accounts you have no knowledge. For anyone who has Allstate insurance, they now have and ID Theft policy that rides on your homeowenrs policy. Costs about $30 a year and covers your expences to clear up the id theft up to $25,000. they also refer you to a service which will assist you in getting things cleared up. __________________
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
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#7
10-13-2005, 11:00 AM
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sear credit card bill
I moved and did not leave a forwarding address as I did not have any bills. ( Or so I thought.......... obviously @ some point I had been assessed a late fee that I was unaware of..........) To make a long story short, I was contacted by MRS Associates, Inc. in February and told to pay "x" amount, which I paid in full. Last week I was contacted by another agengy who purchased my account from, I assume, MRS Associates. When I told them that this account had already been settled they denied it. I paid them their amount,(as I had no "proof" of having paid MRS )again for late fees and interest. Then after researching to see WHOM I had paid the first time I came up with my cancelled check from MRS. Can you help?
Sincerely, Josh Pyle
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#8
10-13-2005, 12:36 PM
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Contact the agency you paid last week, and explain you have already paid the debt to MRS Associates, and you have the canceled check to prove it. State you demand a full refund . If they decline it contact the Attorney General of your state seeking for them to intervine. However, once you produce proof the debt was paid they should issue you a refund with out much further hassle. You may have to consider further legal measure to recover the overpayment from the new agency.
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Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
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#9
10-15-2005, 08:03 AM
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mrs associates scam?
I was also contacted my MRS Collection Agency with a threatening phone call. The Company did not identify themselves when they left a message on my personal phone. When called back to identify who they were, I was rushed to answer specific questions. I read the advice Roxette gave Novellie30 and wrote this letter in which I am going to send it certified mail with returned receipt requested. Did I do the right thing?
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#10
10-15-2005, 08:08 AM
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October 15, 2005
Dear MRS Associates Collections I have been advised that I need get the complete details of my accounts from MRS. This is known as the debt validation process as per the FDCPA. I was also advised that I need you to provide me with the following details: • The details of the account. • All the calculation should be shown of the amount that is owed. • Any copies of the papers to be furnished that shows the payment agreement. • Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable • The original creditor needs to be identified. • The Statute of Limitation needs to be proven for collecting the debt. • The license of the CA applicable in the state is to be furnished along with the license numbers and Registered Agent • Proof of the agreement that the debt collector has purchased the debt or has been hired by the creditor to collect the debt from the debtor as this is the basic contract law. • Complete payment history showing the details of the creditors, payment history, amount of the debt, break up of fees/interest should be provided in paper. • A copy of the original signed loan agreement between the debtor and the original creditor establishing the debt between both the parties also has to be produced. I was advised that before I start making payment arrangements, MRS Associates, the collection agency, is bound to serve the following details of your debt. I was advised that if it is not given to me, I don't have to bother paying it. I just can't start paying on something that is not proven. I am making sure that I send this validation letter through certified mail with return receipt requested. I was advised that this will help me to record the date on which MRS Associates, you, received my letter and my effort to know the details of my past debt. Per the fdcpa, I don't want to be called at my place of work or at home and all the necessary communications should be done via email. Finally, I was advised that not validating the debt and still continuing to recover the debt is a violation of the FDCPA law under Section 809 ( 8 ). If MRS break the law, I can consult my attorney. Regards Aaron
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#11
10-15-2005, 10:38 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,127
Credits: 51,483
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Please keep the certified mail's receipt of your DV to MRS A
Yes Aaron
I read your letter and it was put in true legal shape as per the fdcpa law. Please keep the receipt of the CMRRR serial number in safe place as this is a very important proof of your letter sent to them. The date specified on it will help you to know that they have received your letter and they have to submit the required details properly. Regards Roxette __________________
Debtconsolidationcare offers free counseling and help, please avail the services before taking any major decisions.
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#12
10-15-2005, 02:51 PM
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Just out of curiosity, if a collection agency refuses to sign for a letter that is sent CMRRR, is that then considered the same as them beingunable to validate the debt, or refusing to validate the debt?
__________________
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
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#13
10-15-2005, 03:00 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,127
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how to fight with MRS Associates in the court
Hi Clay
If the matter reaches to the court, you will be able to prove that you asked for validation of the debt, but it was not done by the said collection agency. It will put them under pressure. If you are trying to repair your bad credit and the collection agency is not validating it, you have the federal rights to get the negative remarks removed from your credit file with the help of your lawyer. In any case, the CMRRR serial number is the most important factor that proves your part of the story. Regards Roxette __________________
Debtconsolidationcare offers free counseling and help, please avail the services before taking any major decisions.
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#14
05-17-2006, 06:01 PM
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MRS Associates
Just a comment on general form, mainly for those that mention asking about registered agent, etc. My style is to look at the online records with the Secretary of State and find the agent, then send a demand letter. No asking. If they ignore it copies go to the attorney general and if they ignore that they get investigated. Ask Sentry Credit in Washington. I have an A+ credit rating and when one of these low lifes calls for a previous owner of the phone number, I send a very nice letter saying, basically, "no such person here". Then, if they continue, they get the full treatment. MRS Collection Agency is next up.
I urge all of you with problems wiht them to contact the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. They actually gave a jobs creation grant to these scumbags for their Phoneix office. They often call from Ohio. They are based in Cherry Hill NJ, like the mafia Gambinos. OK, I shouldn't make insinuations. Saul and Jeff Freedman, you are criminals and bottom feeders. Please do not breed.
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#15
06-08-2006, 06:21 AM
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mrs associates scam?
MRS Collection Agency has been steadily calling me for months. I have already proven that I am not the same person the are seeking, even though I share the same first and last name. I have checked my credit report to ensure that they are not reporting false info to it. They are not, but continue to call. According to local law enforcement, I can block their phone #, but that is about it. Do you have any suggestions? Who does MRS associates collect for? JKV
The MRS Associates address mentioned on their website is MRS Associates, Inc. 1930 Olney Ave. Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. The telephone number mentioned in their website is (88  334-5677.
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#16
09-28-2006, 04:59 PM
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Repeat phone calls- MRS ASSOCIATES
JK Vahle,
First, register on the National Do Not Call Registry, it elevates your complaint to federal status. Next, send a registered letter to MRS with the address listed above requesting they stop electronically contacting you for any reason; also send a courtesy copy of the letter to the Federal Communications Commision complaint department. FCC.com has a complaint form for you to fill out and send with the copy of the letter, it is printer friendly. By federal law, they must stop calling you or the FCC can pull their license and they will be subject to fines and damages. You MUST send the letter and you MUST have definitive proof you sent it. I am not a lawyer, I am just a guy that had a collection agency shut down.
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