Account Control Technology or ACT debt collection agency is bound by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Learn more about the company and how you can stop harassing debt collection calls.
Account Control Technology, Inc. or ACT is a legitimate third-party debt collection agency and Accounts Receivable Management company founded in 1993 and based in Woodland Hills, California, with satellite offices in Bakersfield, California, Mason, Ohio, and Dallas, Texas. Account Control Technology, Inc. has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) such as misrepresentation and improper communication tactics. If you have been contacted by Account Control Technology, Inc., make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
According to its website, Account Control Technology, Inc. “delivers consultative debt recovery, accounts receivable management and other business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions.” Account Control Technology, Inc. is a licensed debt collector in all 50 states. Account Control Technology, Inc. bills itself as “one of the nation’s leading debt recovery, accounts receivable (ARM) and business process outsourcing companies.” Account Control Technology, Inc. was named the top performing private collection agency by the U.S. Dept. of Education in 2015.
To recover the maximum amount on behalf of its clients, Account Control Technology, Inc. employs a number of tactics and technologies against debtors. Account Control Technology, Inc. utilizes top-of-the-line technology for efficient collection management and to streamline the operation of its call centers. Account Control Technology, Inc. also uses the “Latitude Collection System” advanced software program for collections, payment processing, credit reporting, and dispute resolution. In addition, Account Control Technology, Inc. employs a voice analytics program during telephone calls with debtors that monitors calls for consumer emotions in real time. The voice analytics program actually assesses the mood of the debtor while Account Control Technology, Inc. employees attempt to collect debt on behalf of its clients. Account Control Technology, Inc. also uses skip tracing tools to obtain the location of debtors.
In addition to utilizing technology, Account Control Technology, Inc. also engages in what it calls the “Consultative Approach.” This approach seeks to obtain information from debtors as to why individuals have been unable to pay an Account Control Technology, Inc. client, and then uses that information to negotiate a payment plan.
Account Control Technology, Inc. is heavily focused on training its debt collectors in tactics that obtain the highest return for its clients. Each Account Control Technology, Inc. collector undergoes a four-week initial training course administered by ACA certified professional collection specialists and trainer specialists. Account Control Technology, Inc. requires that all of its collectors become certified collection specialists.
Account Control Technology, Inc. is affiliated with numerous professional debt-collection associations, including The American Collectors Association (ACA International), Debt Buyers Association (DBA), Debt Connection, International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC), and Turnaround Management Association.
Account Control Technology, Inc. serves creditors in a diverse array of industries, including commercial, consumer finance, education loans, government, healthcare, telecommunications, cable, utilities, and energy.
As a third-party debt collection agency, Account Control Technology, Inc. is required to adhere to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that protects consumers from abusive debt collection tactics. Nevertheless, consumers have filed complaints accusing Account Control Technology, Inc. of violating the FDCPA. Those accusations have included claims that the debt collection agency has threatened to sue consumers without actually intending to do so and talking to third parties about consumers’ debts. It’s imperative that you know your rights under the law before speaking with Account Control Technology, Inc. debt collectors.
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Account Control Technology, Inc. has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2003. As of October 2019, the BBB lists 63 complaints against Account Control Technology, Inc. in the past three years, only 12 of which have been resolved. 44 of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections practices, while 17 complaints alleged problems with services provided by Account Control Technology, Inc. Since July 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received an astounding 325 complaints against Account Control Technology, Inc. 258 of these complaints contain allegations related to Account Control Technology, Inc.’s debt collection practices, while 57 complaints contain allegations related to student loan debt. In addition, Justia, one of the largest online legal databases in the United States, lists at least 12 federal cases of civil litigation involving ACT. since 1997.
If you’ve been contacted by ACT, you have the right to sue them in federal court if the debt collection agency has violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Signs that you may be on solid legal footing are:
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was put into law in order to protect consumers like you, but there’s a catch. While the government sues debt collection agencies that egregiously violate the law, it doesn’t sue agencies on behalf of individual consumers. Instead, the FDCPA has what’s called a fee-shifting provision. This means that, if you sue and win, then the debt collection agency has to pay your court costs and attorney fees. Fee-shifting levels the playing field so that you can assert your rights.
Are you asking yourself…
Account Control Technology could be calling for a number of reasons, all of them related to debt collection:
If you’ve been contacted by ACT it’s important to know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If they’ve violated your rights, you can take the agency to court and sue for statutory damages of up to $1,000 – along with court costs and attorney fees.
Yes. Account Control Technology can sue you if you owe the debt, however, threatening to sue or serve you with papers if they don’t intend to do so is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Additionally, after receiving the first collection notice, you have 30 days to dispute the debt. If you dispute the debt, then ACT is required by the FDCPA to prove that you do, in fact, owe the money. A debt collection agency isn’t allowed to sue you if, for example, the debt is past the statute of limitations or if you do not legally owe the debt. It’s a good idea to speak with a fair debt attorney if you’ve been served with a summons or legal complaint.
Yes. However, Account Control Technology cannot threaten you to garnish your wages and garnishment can only only occur if ACT files a lawsuit and obtains a judgment against you. It’s common for consumers to ignore notice of a lawsuit; if you don’t appear in court, the judge may automatically rule against you. Debt collection agencies have been known to avoid serving consumers with notice to increase the odds of obtaining a judgment. This is called “sewer service” or “gutter service.” The bottom line? If wage garnishment takes you by surprise, talk to a consumer attorney who can fight for your rights.
Yes. Account Control Technology can report debts in collection to the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Once a debt is reported to the credit bureaus, it will appear on your credit report and will impact your credit score.
Yes. However, as with wage garnishment, a property lien can only arise out of a court judgment against you. If ACT files a lawsuit against you and the judge rules in their favor, then the debt collection agency has a right to collect that money. One way of doing that is by putting a lien on your house or property. That’s why it’s imperative to respond to legal papers and to have an attorney by your side who will fight on your behalf.
No. Account Control Technology – or any other debt collection agency like ACT for that matter – has no authority whatsoever to arrest you. In fact, threatening you with arrest or jail is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. While so-called “debtors prisons” are illegal, only non-payment of things like traffic tickets can lead a judge to issue a bench warrant, which in turn can lead to arrest.
Yes. You absolutely have the right to sue Account Control Technology if you believe ACT violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA says that debt collection agencies that violate the law must pay consumers up to $1,000 in statutory damages, as well as court costs and attorney fees. That’s why engaging a fair debt attorney to represent you in an FDCPA lawsuit typically doesn’t cost you anything out of pocket. The attorney that agrees to take on your case knows that the debt collection agency will be forced to pay their fees.
If Account Control Technology – or any other debt collection agency – is calling you to the point of harassment, using abusive or profane language, or violating the FDCPA in some other way, it’s time to fight back. Under the law, you may be entitled to up to $1,000. At Lemberg Law, we won’t charge you a dime out of pocket, and we only get paid when you win. Call us today for a free, no-obligation, case evaluation. We’ll get the justice that you deserve.
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