Extensive complaints about this group from a variety of sources.
http://www.arainc.us/
ASSET RECOVERY ASSOCIATES AKA FINANCIAL CREDIT SERVICE, INC.
ARA Inc.
P O Box 5002
Villa Park, IL 60181-5002
(888) 310-1550
**
BBB:
(800) 706-3401
Asset Recovery Associates
13 years in business
Headquarters
1919 S Highland Ave STE 225A
Lombard, IL 60148-6180
BBB File Opened: 07/27/2004
Business Started: 09/19/2003
Business Started Locally: 09/19/2003
Business Incorporated: 09/17/2003 in IL
Type of Entity
Corporation
Business Management
• Mr. Bruce Cohen, President
• Mr. Mario Bianchi
• Bryan Cohen, Compliance Manager
Business Category
• Collection Agencies
• Credit Services
• Financial Services
• NAICS: Collection Agencies
Alternate Business Names
• Financial Credit Service, Inc.
Licensing, Bonding or Registration
This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.
Alerts & Actions
Pattern of Complaint
A recent review of consumer complaints filed with the BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois against the company delineates a pattern of consumer allegations.
In their complaints, consumers allege that they received calls from Asset Recovery Associates about a debt that did not belong to them and ARA would not provide background as to how their information was received.
Consumers further allege that they received threatening or rude letters and calls from ARA stating penalties such as court action,judgements, liens or wage garnishments would be imposed on their record should they not fulfill a request for payment
On April 14, 2017, Asset Recovery Associates informed the BBB of the following procedures they have in place to assist consumers with these concerns:
Here at ARA, we employ an entire staff tasked with fielding inbound calls and making outbound calls to consumers. Our ownership and management seek out and vigorously screen employees that can accomplish this inteded goal since our inception in 2003. We have also scrutinized each letter and form that may be sent to a consumer.
Our plans going forward are to create a better experience for consumers dealing with our company. We are working towards massive upgrades in our systems and potentially creating a user interface friendly to all the needs of our consumers. This will be accompanied by heightened compliance measures and increased consumer engagement in the event of a complaint. We are committed to being a standard-bearer in the industry and will do everything in our power to achieve nothing less than a stellar relationship with the Better Business Bureau and the communities it serves.
THIS BUSINESS IS NOT BBB ACCREDITED
Asset Recovery Associates
F BBB Rating System
165 Complaints according to BBB!
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Just because someone on the phone calling you says you owe a debt does not mean you actually owe it.
If a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt:
1. Demand the person give you his or her name, company name, and address
2. Demand a debt validation letter by US mail. E-mail no good.
3. Do not pay the collection agent or anyone else a dime until the debt is validated
Of course they won’t do this, no scammer ever will, so simply ignore them and block their calls.
If they are bothering you, report them:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection (Threatening civil proceedings with no intent to follow through, or threatening criminal process in order to collect a civil debt is a violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.) The same goes for endless telephone harassment
Also contact your local attorney general
If they continue to bother you, and you know you do not owe any money, tell them that you know this is a debt scam and that you are making a complaint to the police for extortion. Once you get a copy of the police report and they call you again , just read out the file number and the name of the PD or Sheriff’s office involved. Tell them you’ll be glad to send a copy to them at whatever address the jack***es are working out of now.
You'll probably have to yell at them and talk over them. Tell 'em no scammy debt collector is going to push you around.