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Collection agency cannot misrepresent their identity. That is not lawful. You can file complaint against them if they do so. But, collection agencies can charge collection costs if you agreed to pay it in the agreement with original creditor.

Jedi Mistress Ari posted that collectors can use easy to understand names. It appears that one person should use one alias consistently while calling and this name should connect the particular employee within that agency.

never spoke with a unhelpful group like this! Looking for a relative, Very hard to get a word in edgewise. I wish someone would tell their potential clients how mean these people are!


glad I didnt do business with them!

Academy Collections Services doesn't understand the words,don't call again,but they keep calling back.

Academy Collection Service,Inc I feel so sorry because i didnt find this forum before.because of you i have to go the court for make you disappear with your lawyers and chase bank wrong debits.

These people called me at 8:30 AM while I was on my way to work. Fortunately, my answering service says that if you call me before 10 o????????clock in the morning I will hunt you down and kill you???????.They haven????????t called back

They called my mother she has an unlisted number. I know I owe money and they offered a settlement for about 1/2 of what I owe if I could collect the amount from other sources. I thought that was a good deal so I asked for a couple of days to get the money. Now I think they are a scam and I feel stupid for giving them my information over the phone. Should I put a stop payment on the transaction with my bank? Tell my bank I think I am being scammed? Cause even if they authority to collect my Citi debt and they say it will clear my dept I don't have any of that in writing who is to say they won't start calling again saying that I didn't pay the debt? Does anyone know. This thread seems to not be currently very active but I hope someone is out there.

Great forum folks. Having been down this road, may I offer some advice?

First, know your rights, and exercise them.

Don't be afraid of these people, they will howl and scream and lecture you, but they cannot do anything outside the law. If they do, hire a young hungry attorney and sue them.

Remember, you have the power. They are trying to get you to do something - if you decide to do it, do it on your own terms, not theirs. (Of course, know the legal repurcussions of your decision.)

Good luck, and don't be intimidated.

Does anyone know what name ACS uses when processing an electronic debt. Is it ACS, ACHS, Academy Collection Service or Citibank? After reading this forum I am very concerned that my agreed payment has been misrepresented as a payment to clear my dept and I and my family will be harrassed for more and more money.

Hi joybaby

Explain the situation to your bank and put a stop payment on Academy Collections. You should contact Academy collections and ask them to send you the details of the debt account they have. This will help you understand if they are asking payment for a legitimate account. Written communication with the company is very important here. You need to get the details of the debt before you make any sort of payment to them.

you should NEVER give any collector electronic access to your bank account. NEVER. do you understand NEVER.
If you do pay, do so with a money order. NEVER give them access to your account of even let them know where you bank NEVER. One way to tell if a collector is lying.... you see thier lips moving.. or you can hear them , while on the phone.

hey acs , read the above

Will an original creditor help me set up a payment plan if a collection agency(ACS) has it? I don't want the collector to receive a commission because they have been harrassing my elderly mother.

Imperial Collection Services has contaced me RE debt with Bank of America (credit card) for $7476.77. I disputed the debt within the 30 days allowed by certified mail with return signature. In the letter, I specifically stated that they cannot add interest or fees to the amount of the debt. Today, I received a letter from them stating that I have failed to respond to their previous notice and the balance is now $7,621.42. HELP. How should I proceed next? Should I write them back and let them know that I disputed the debt within the 30 days? These people are really aggressive. Thank you for any help. I reside in CA.

Bob,I would send them a copy of your first letter and also a copy of where it was signed for. Then Ask them to take that extra interest off. Could their letter possibly have crossed in the mail with yours,or did it come a long time after your letter? Best of luck...Karen :)

debt collectors and agencies are just a bunch of people blowing hot air, they are powerless, just look at the law, they want to scare you into paying, it is thier only hope that you are scared, as soon as you hang up, they make jokes about you. They don't give a s--t about you or your problems.they are told to take any action possible, lie , stretch the law, or face penalties at a.c.s.. Sincerely a former acs collector

I did manage to put the stop-payment in and I closed that account out. I finally received a varification from them in writing. I was only a three of months behind before my debt was sent to ACS not 6 months. Do I need to get a set settlement from them in writing from which I should send them certified payments?

Hi joybaby

Yes, you should have the settlement offer in writing. If the company is having your info, the settlement offer should also be made in a legitimate way and in writing.

Based on this info, you can send payments further and the account will updated in your file after they have been paid. No other company can pursue collections for the same account in the future.

These people are a bunch of jerks. I was turned over to them by my Sears Credit Card. I called them yesterday to make a payment arrangement change to the dollar amount. They flew off the handle. They told me they were not asking for blood, they wanted their money. Then he said don't you have any family? Can't they give you money? I was like, huh? Then after he kept yelling at me he said okay I will destroy the last arrangment that you set up. I asked for a letter of confirmation, he said I'm a man of my word, if I say it was going to be destroyed it will be. I tried to argue but then he hung up on me. Not even 2 minutes later they called me back. Another person, he said he was the floor manager and he monitored that call and he was trying to make different payment arrangements for me. He said he also repremanded the employee for treating the situation the way he did. What a bunch of crap. I also told them that I was going to seek consolidation help to help make those payments and that's when they started yelling at me that I couldn't do that. That nobody would help me. That all interest would be added back onto the account. I can't make my payment of $300 this month, what should I do????

If you are going to get consolidation help ask Sears if they will take back the account and tell them how Academy treated you. I had a GE Consumer account that was turned over the Academy that I added to my consolidation stuff and GE Consumer took the account back from Academy. I don't know if these creditors know or if they don't care how unprofessional and rude Academy is. Don't make arrangements with Academy if you can get into consolidation and work with the original creditor - Academy should be shut down.

Stop payment was viewed by them as a bad check and they charged my other citicard for the bad check charge. Iam not up to my credit limit on that card and haven't used it I have been paying it down. The settelement they want to give me is the difference in my credit limit and the amount they want in cash. I suspect they will just charge the left over balance onto my other card so that I am on the hook for the full amount. Even though I dispute the extra charges on the first card as being excessive and why I refused to pay in the first place. Will they spell that out in the settlement?

:oops: , This company is ridiculous. they call my father and told him that he owe citibank $4000. I called them back. I talk to this guy name Thomas and ask him about the dispute amount. He couldn't tell me what purchase did my father made, just simply told me that my father owe that amount over the year. I ask him to double check if they call right person, and he tell me the address ( which is wrong), so i told him we have always live in a different place. Then, he ask for my father last four number of social security number, I gave it to him. He told me everything seem match and that there is two address listed. This whole thing seem very fishy to me, I later call them again, this time a lady pick up, She ask for for phone number and Social of my father, but then abruptly hang up with "Thank You" after i gave her his last four ss number and phone number . This whole business leave me wondering if i had accidently provide too much information to them? For all i know, they could be anyone outthere fishing for naive people information and take advantage. What do you guys think?

ACS didn't post as ACS or Academy Services they posted as Citibank this caused a bounced check charge on my account which caused my payment to bounce. Citibank my monthly payment was presented to my bank 3 times racking up NSF charges. I called my bank and closed out the account for good. I never authorized the first withdrawal, yes I stupidly gave them my bank information for electronic withdrawal in goodfaith that I would attempt to have the amount they needed and I would call them with an authorization. I didn't collect the money so I didn't call in the authorization but they tried to withdrawal anyway. Which caused the check I had budgeted out for citibank to bounce and cause nsf charges by both citibank and my bank. Most banks require a 24 hour stop payment notification so a stop payment wouldn't have worked anyway. I am glad that I worked to close out the account.

REPEAT ACS posts as Citibank when collecting for Citibank if you should need to place a stop payment.

I now have an appointment with a credit counselor in the morning. I want to get this all fixed in such a way that I can pay back a reasonable amount in a reasonable time. Once I get out from Citibank I will no longer ever do business with them ever again.

Does this company only collect or credit card debt or other things like hospital bills, etc. They called for a distant relative (same last name) but wouldn't tel me what the debt was just that they got my name from a report.

I'm 20 years old and I don't make that much but they insist that I send basically my whole check. They call my grandmother's house as soon as the clock strikes 8am and they harass her too. I want to pay my bill but only what I can afford.

LaShaunda

Don't let ACS ruin your legal rights under the federal laws. Start recording the phone calls and give it to your attorney for filing charges on ACS.

It is a must for ACS to give you the details of the debt in writing. Have they given you any such info? The company must identify that they are making legitimate collections with all your details. If they have not sent you anything in writing, send a debt validation letter and stop them from calling you further until the account is put in writing.

They are in the buisness of trying to prey on people who are down for one reason or another! They called me twice and I didi the talkinh not Rick wilson! I basicaly told him to f**k himself! havent heard from him since! HA HA hA

Is it possible to include limitations in a "Cease and Desist" notice? What I mean is; I do actually want to pay off the debt because I know it is my responsibility, but I don't want to just ignore the debt.

But I have informed ACS that I am not permitted to receive these types of calls at work, and they have continued to do so 5 times since then. They have called my mother's house on more than one occasion looking for a contact number; she told them the first time that she would take a message but would not pass on any information as she doesn't know who they are. I want to stop ALL calls from them; however, I am open to written correspondence.

I have had a TERRIBLE experience "working" with them for the past month. Everyone I've spoken to (Grant Hill, Tom Ryan, Rick Archer, and one more who's name I don't have in front of me at the moment) has been rude without any antagonization on my end. In fact, the first guy I spoke to brought me to tears!!!

Oh...I have another question. I just spoke with Mr. Ryan this morning. He said he NEEDED lump payment today and ONLY by electronic check. I proceeded to tell him that the last person I spoke with informed that I could setup a payment plan, but Mr. Ryan insisted that ACS doesn't do that. He said that he was writing me up for "refusal to pay"...even though I insisted that I am NOT refusing, however, I would call him back this afternoon to make the payment. He insisted that I was only refusing to pay and that he closed my account and that my wages would now be garnished and a 2nd lien put against my car. I live in CA and I know that wage garnishments are possible; but can he proceed with those actions based on "refusal to pay" when I insisted that I was, in fact, willing to pay?

(ps...sorry for the long, windy post)

***sorry...I posted twice above (once as "guest"). I thought I was logged in***

I have been having financial difficulty for awhile now, and wasn't able to make payments on my Citibank account. So apparently they charged off my account and sold the debt to ACS. I have been dealing with this company since April. Now???I am not trying to avoid paying my debt. I have been trying to work with them???but they don't seem to want to ???help me??? as they keep saying. The first person I spoke to literally brought me to tears when he told me that they wanted $3000 right then and there, and if I didn't pay it by 2:00pm (5:00pm my time) the next day the account would be closed and they would proceed with legal action (wage garnishment). I called some family and friends for help, but they are not people of money either. So I didn't call ACS back by the deadline, assuming my case would be closed, legal action started, and my wages garnished (this is obviously before I started doing any research). Well???the calls have been incessant since then. I expect at least one call a day. They leave messages every other day. It's hard to be able to talk to them, however, due to our conflicting work schedules. They always tell me to call back by 2pm, but I am at work at that time and cannot receive or make personal calls. By the time I am home from work, it is 1030pm their time. On a rare day off, I did speak with another guy and explained that to him, but he didn't believe me and insisted that I was stalling. Then last week I spoke with the worst of the bunch. He was yelling at me for practically the duration of the call. I flat out told him I didn't have $3000. He offered a payment plan. When I asked what the terms of the plan would be, he proceeded to say that talking to me was like ???talking to a child???, and that ???he didn't have to pacify me, I had to pacify him??? (I have been documenting all of my calls to the best of my ability). Then he told me that my case was being closed (again) and to contact my attorney. Well???they called everyday since then. And today they called me at work (for the 5th time, despite the fact that I informed them that I cannot receive calls here); the guy I spoke with tried to ???help me??? again. I told him I didn't have the $4400 he was asking for; that at best I may be able to get $1000 by week's end???and that's with borrowing from family. BUT???I couldn't complete any transaction as [1] I was at work and am not supposed to receive calls, and [2] I had to go to a meeting right then anyway; but I would call back this afternoon. He said that he was writing me up for ???refusal to pay??? (even though there I was making an attempt to pay), that my case was now closed, that my wages would be garnished (as California is the most creditor friendly state in the nation) and a 2nd lien put on my car, and that I should seek an attorney. I asked for their address, but he refused to give it to me???he just told me to have my attorney contact them for it. WTH?

So at this point and after an incredibly looooong backstory (I sincerely apologize, but thank you if you've stayed with me here), I have a few Q's.

1. I know that in CA wage garnishments are possible (though difficult to achieve, esp since I am a federal employee), but can they proceed in spite of the fact that I have, in fact, expressed that I am willing to pay the debt?
2. If I send in a cease and desist, will they take that as a ???refusal to pay????
3. I have read that some will send in a C&D only to stop telephone calls. Would it be best to do that, or cut them out completely and see if Citi will be willing to work with me? I have a feeling that they won't since I have not made payments in a year.

Thank you so much to anyone who reads and responds to this. This whole thing is seriously stressing me out, (which is really not good as I am 5 months pregnant), and I need to find some way to relieve the stress. But I don't want to be some deadbeat who tries to get out of their responsibilities.

I am trying to rebuild.. I have these guys calling almost daily for like a year now. They are trying to collect on a little over $1,200 (much of which are late payment fees.. etc) not a lot if you have it, but if you don't...
Look at this site.. it might be useful

Link deleted as per forum rules - Mike

I just got a message on my phone from some Miss something stating that there had been a "problem in her office" and I needed to call back immediately. No mention of what company it was or what it was about - just a problem in her office.

I have no problem in calling them back, but googled the number and found this. I just thought that was an odd and fishy message to leave here. Anyone else get that same thing?

-Sarah

they keep calling me too i just delete there # and let them go to hell where they belong they can ki$$ my @$$

rastus said

they keep calling me too i just delete there # and let them go to hell where they belong they can ki$$ my @$$


Why do you say this rastus?

I just got a message on my phone from some Miss something stating that there had been a "problem in her office" and I needed to call back immediately. No mention of what company it was or what it was about - just a problem in her office.

I have no problem in calling them back, but googled the number and found this. I just thought that was an odd and fishy message to leave here. Anyone else get that same thing?

Sarah, we can not disclose on a tape machine the nature of the call.

Just get rid of them with a Cease Communications letter sent certified mail and return receipt request. Federal law requires them to stop contacting you after that except to inform you of any further action they plan to take. And to "Academy Employee"... it's your kind of ridiculous statements "be a real man or woman" that give collection "agents" the name they have earned, thank you so much for reaffirming that for all of us!

Quote:

These people keep calling for a person who has the same last name as mine. Have told them on 2 occasions in the past that I don't know the person they are looking for and she doen't live here now and never has but they keep calling and leave messages on my machine. They are obviously incompetent and judging by the comments on this page are ruthless.
Plan to complain to any and all the governmet agencies I can to stop them.

We are not trying to be misleading Jane, the message is a seriuos situation. Our job is to discuss the debt with the consumer. Leaving messages is what we do 90% of the day. We do not want to appear as a telemarketing call, but also need to convay our message without disclosing the debt.

Dave, did you let the person on the other end of the phone know it was a wrong #, or did you just say "wrong #" and hang up. collection agencies often use the same skip tracing tools and when an account moves from one agency to another, the 2nd agency will typicaly use the same skip tracing tools as the first. As a collector, if someone hangs up or is rude in relpy, it seams as though thay are hiding something and chances are that the # will not be removed. You catch more flys with honey. Take 30 seconds to explain that you have had this issue in the past with other folks calling for the person with the same name and ask that your # be removed. Handle yourself in a profesional manner and you will be treated likewise.

well they just called my grandmothers house and said they were calling about a job i applied for....this is the first i have heard of these people...im scared now.

Has anyone here ever been sued, had a judgement placed against them or had their wages garnished by ACS or Citibank? Just wondering!

ACS has never sued anybody, that is not their job. All they do try and scare you into sending them a payment. They will try anything to get you to send them money. Their whole job is to try get you so upset and scared that you will send them money rather than making your house payment or putting food on your table.DON'T LET THEM DO IT. THEY ARE ALL A BUNCH IF IDIOTS SITTING IN A CUBE. A debt validation sent to them Certified mail with return receipt will keep the from calling you in the future. It worked for me.

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Duplicate Content removed as per forums rules - Mike

NO ACS will not sue you, they will however make threats or statements that make you think you are going to be sued by them this week and your paycheck on Friday will be garnished. Your paycheck will not and cannot be garnished until after you have been to court and a judgement won by the creditor to do so. Citi might do this, but that is 4-5 years down the road. ACS' whole game is a psychological one. ACS collectors break fdcpa on a daily basis, and are scum of scum when it come to collectors. I would not deal with at all. NEVER GIVE THEM POST DATED CHECKS OR electronic access to your account. Send them a debt validation letter with return receipt, or wait for this roll over to another collector (6 months or so) Powerstroke was wrong above about then being idiots sitting in a cube... IT IS A CUBICAL but they are still idiots. They probably not even have a cubical just a big room with idiots that could not get a job at Burger King..ya want fries with dat

Academy -aka- "Academy Financial Services"
alt # 215.320.0424

debt collectors are liars, cheaters, etc... They take advantage of every loophole possible and even break the law. They have been featured on almost every news program from CNN to 60 Minutes. There are laws in place to contain their harassment and collection efforts and to make this process more civil, but most figure the risk of getting caught is minimal and that the rewards of endlessly harassing and fleecing victims is far greater. We now have the power to take back our lives, stop them in their tracks and sue them for more than they are trying to collect.

First, lets start with what is actually owed and how most collection agencies work. Usually a unpaid debt is either sold or turned over to a collection agency. 95% or more of these debts are credit cards, store cards, gas cards, etc... These debts are then tiered according to age of debt, amount, credit, job history, etc... Generally most debts are bought for pennies on the dollar. Recent debt may go for $.15 to $.25 on the dollar whereas old debt that has had numerous collection attempts goes for $.05 or less and debt that is beyond the statues of limitations for the state the debtor resides in goes for less than $.01. So, for instance if you owed $10000.00 on a credit card, the debt collection agency paid at most $2500.00, but probably paid less than $1500 for it. Now, what's interesting is that they will call and write you stating that you now owe $14000.00 or so stating that it has accrued interest and various questionable fees. This is all profit if you were dumb enough to pay that. A fair settlement would be $1700.00 or less. So, the point here is that you don't ever owe what they are trying to collect from you - it is always far, far less.

Secondly, lets give you some more ammunition - The 1977 fdcpa (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) gives you rights the debt collectors won't tell you about. If you don't want to hear from them again, its easy. Just write them a letter stating that you wish they cease all contact with you (make sure you put in the letter that - P.S. This letter is in no way an acknowledgement of the above listed debt(s) - that way they cannot even attempt to try and re-age your debt (add another 7years of collection and reporting to further harass). Send the letter registered return receipt requested mail and keep your proof of receipt. If they contact you after this for any reason other than to tell you they are either dropping the issue or taking it to court (99.99% won't go to court as it costs them more money and their odds of getting anything are almost zero - even with a judgement) then you can sue them for each occurrence for $1,000. People win these suits every day - most settle out of court for a lot more than the original debt (just look this up on the internet under small claims court). You also have the right to question the debt and have the debt collector provide proof. Many debt collection agencies are being sued by many debtors for their failure to provide proof. Just look up Asset Acceptance on the internet - they are one of the biggest abusers of this federal law with thousands of outstanding lawsuits for harassing debt collection practices.

So, now you know how to stop debt collection agencies in their tracks. You know how to get relief - sue them! If enough people sue them things will change. Also use your state and local resources. State Attorney generals go after debt collection agencies that routinely break the law, Consumer protection agencies (the Better Business Bureau, etc...), the Federal Trade Commission goes after the worst abusers, and, of course, your state department of insurance and finance (whom actually licenses these agencies rto operate in your state). You state department of finance and insurance, or similar, has the power to fine, punish and even banish the debt collection agency from your state. Every state requires a debt collection agency to be licensed and put up a large financial bond (around $50,000) to operate in your state. Call these folks if you are having problems with a debt collection agency - they will get immediate results in your favor. Don't threaten the collection agency that you have these rights - use them. Bring the collection agency to its knees if they are violating your rights.

I settled with Academy went from 8000 to about 3000. I couldn't come up with a payment one time so they flew off the handle. They were taking payments through my bank. Post dated checks if you will. Now they are trying to be nice to me because my next set of payments is due. Can I just send in money or do I HAVE to talk to them on the phone??Help.

Did you get this "settement" in writing??? If not plan on paying them the WHOLE AMOUNT. No you do not have to talk to them on the phone ANY TIME, send them a check....they will cash it before the ink has dried.

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I just can believe how rude the staff at Academy Services are. I have asked Alice Mays several times not to call me at my place of employement. She continued to. I would say " Alice, do not call me at work i will get into trouble and i would then terminate the call. she would call back about and hour later stating she spoke to my supervisior and she gave Alice permission to speak with me during my work hours. I asked alice mays several times who she spoke to and she would not give me that information. she then put her supervisior Jay Johnson on the line who would not give me a supervisiors name. he threatend to sue me, have me taken to jail and have my wages garnished he effective 6/19/06. I then told Jay Johnson that no garnishments could be down without a court hearing. he called me a stupid lying **** and that he wanted his money or he would hunt me down.

[color=Red]****Adult term removed - Jason[/color]

If you don't want to hear from these "idiots in a cube" again, its easy. Just write them a letter stating that you wish they cease all contact with you (make sure you put in the letter that - P.S. This letter is in no way an acknowledgement of the above listed debt(s) - that way they cannot even attempt to try and re-age your debt (add another 7years of collection and reporting to further harass). Send the letter registered return receipt requested mail and keep your proof of receipt. If they contact you after this for any reason other than to tell you they are either dropping the issue or taking it to court. They will just drop this account and it will then roll to another company that you might have better luck in dealing with. ACS collectors dumb&stupid lacking in any formal training, how this company stays in business I just don't know.


Welcome to Academy Collection Service!

Ethical, courteous and professional revenue recovery leveraging cutting edge technology to quickly and efficiently resolve delinquent accounts on a national basis.


The above is taken from their website.....Does that sound like the ACS idiots that you have dealt with????
I think not.

Duplicate Content removed as per forums rules - Mike