Capio Partners, LLC, also known as MBA Law Offices, employs various methods to compel payment of medical debts in case you default on them. They often result in persistent calls, written correspondence, and threats of legal action.
Although it may be tempting to disregard MBA Law Offices’ attempts to collect the debt, this approach will unlikely improve the situation. In most cases, if you cannot agree that it satisfies the debt collector, MBA Law may proceed with a lawsuit.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports that approximately 15% of consumers who contracted debt in collections are sued in civil court.
What is MBA Law Offices?
MBA Law Offices is a law firm and a debt collection agency in Sherman, Texas. They operate as a joint venture with Capio Partners, LLC. MBA Law appears on your credit report due to its role as a collections agency attempting to recover a debt you owe. You may be wondering if you should pay this collection agency.
When you fail to make payment on loans, the creditor can forward the unpaid balance to a collections agency. While most creditors will wait until you have missed at least two payments, any form of delinquency may trigger this process.
Upon receiving their invoice, you may collaborate with MBA Law Offices to settle your debt. If you are the customer in question, you can inquire about the status of your credit report and request an email confirmation. You can also follow up with the credit bureau.
Contact Details
To contact MBA Law Offices regarding debt collections, you can call their debt collection department at 903-813-3805. You will need to provide your account information and explain the reason for your call. The customer service representatives should be able to assist you with any inquiries.
Their address is:
1313 N. Travis St., Suite 103
Sherman, TX 75092
MBA Law Offices History
MBA Law Collections have been collecting debts since 2008. This firm primarily focused on recovering utility debts like water and electricity bills at that time. Over time, MBA Law expanded its services to include other types of debts, such as credit card and medical bills.
MBA Law Offices Reviews
Common complaints against MBA Law Offices typically involve disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of the information reported to credit reporting agencies. One complainant stated that she had received collection notices for medical bills that were not hers.
MBA responded to the complaint by stating that the accounts in question were the complainant’s responsibility. They further denied engaging in any inappropriate behavior.
The complainant asserted that MBA Law Offices placed the same account on her credit reports. She further stated that MBA Law Offices was harassing her daily, and her credit score suffered as a result.
Reviews
Making threats of suing or wage garnishments is among the inappropriate ways that MBA Law Offices use to recover debts. Some consumers complained that MBA Law Offices summoned them to court for wage garnishment after obtaining a default judgment.
Researching and reading reviews from multiple sources is always a good idea to understand the agency’s reputation and track record.
BBB Reviews
MBA Law Offices’ is not accredited by the BBB. However, their ratings could be better due to their persistent efforts to collect debts through frequent calls and letters to consumers. MBA Laws Offices have had 540 complaints in the last three years, with 207 closed within the previous 12 months.
Most of these complaints relate to billing and collections, but others relate to poor customer service.
Other Reviews
Here are some current reviews on MBA Law Offices:
Most reviews suggest that MBA Law Offices may call the wrong people and attempt to collect debts from individuals without a connection to the deficit.
Other reviews state that MBA Law may need to be more transparent in its dealings with consumers and provide clear information about the amounts owed and the terms of settlement agreements.
How To Stop MBA Law Offices
Are you receiving countless calls and letters from MBA Law Offices? The situation can be overwhelming, but there are ways to stop them. Here are some steps you can take to put an end to the harassment:
Utilize a simple 11-word phrase
If you wish to end the calls, try saying, “Please stop calling and contacting me immediately.”
This 11-word phrase should be sufficient in stopping the debt collector from reaching out to you. In the event that this does not work, you may opt to send a demand letter containing the same phrase.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) states that debt collectors must adhere to a debtor’s request not to be contacted. When writing the cease-and-desist letter, ensure to include your full name, social security number, contact details, and address. It is crucial that you send the letter through certified mail and request a return receipt to serve as evidence that the company received the letter.
Upon receipt of the letter, the debt collector should not contact you unless the following exceptions apply:
- They need to acknowledge the receipt of the letter: In such cases, the company may respond by sending a letter acknowledging receipt of the letter and agreeing to cease all contact.
- They need to serve you: If the debt collection company has filed a lawsuit against you, they may contact you to serve you with legal documents.
2. Request a Validation Letter from MBA Law Offices
When MBA Law Offices first contacts you, ask them to send a debt validation letter. The letter should contain the following details:
- Your name
- The name of the creditor
- The amount of the debt
- How to dispute the debt
If you have not received a validation letter from them, it is crucial to request one. Upon receipt of the letter, review it carefully to determine whether you recognize the debt. You can request a copy of your credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax. The report contains all of your credit history, including any outstanding debts. Review the report to see if the debt MBA Law Offices is claiming is genuine. In the event that it is not, contact the credit bureaus immediately to rectify the error.
How to Tell If It Is a Scam
It is not uncommon for scammers to impersonate MBA Law Offices agents. As such, it is essential to determine whether the person you are speaking with is a legitimate representative of the company or a fraudster. Here are some tips to help you identify a potential scammer:
A genuine MBA Law Offices agent should already have all of your information on file. If the person contacting you requests any personal information, it is likely a scam. Additionally, if they cannot provide satisfactory answers about the debt they are claiming you owe, you should be suspicious. To further verify the legitimacy of the person, you can always ask for their employee ID number. If they cannot provide one, it is likely a scam.
Note: New regulations require debt collectors to send a Notice of Debt within five days of their initial contact with a debtor. This notice should contain important information that can help you determine whether the debt is collectible. The following details should be included in the notice:
- The date of the last invoice or statement provided by the original creditor to the debtor
- Date of last payment made by the debtor
- The date on which the transaction became a debt
- The charge-off date
- The judgment date, if applicable
By reviewing these dates, you can determine if the statute of limitations applies to the debt. It is crucial to note that an incomplete or non-compliant notice is considered invalid, rendering the debt uncollectible.
It is important to be aware of this new regulation, as some debt collectors who purchased debts before the implementation of this law may not have this information on file. In such cases, they may attempt to intimidate you into admitting that you are the debtor or making payment.
If you receive a Notice of Debt from an agency, carefully review it to ensure that it complies with the new regulation. If it is not compliant, respond to the agency in writing and inform them that you will not engage in any further discussions until they send a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.
3. Check the statute of limitations on your debt
To determine if your debt is within the statute of limitations, check the date of your debt against your state’s statute of limitations. The statute of limitations varies by state, so it is important to check the limitations specific to your state. You can find a list of the statute of limitations by state to help you determine whether your debt is time-barred.
Keep in mind that the statute of limitations is calculated from the day the creditor reported the debt as delinquent. If you acknowledge that the debt is yours or make a payment towards the debt, the statute of limitations will restart. On the other hand, if you fail to pay, the statute of limitations will remain in place, but the debt account will remain on your credit history for up to seven years.
Depending on your financial situation, the amount of the debt, and the time remaining on the statute of limitations, it may be in your best interest to wait until the statute of limitations has expired before making any payments towards the debt.
4. Act
After going through the steps to verify and determine the validity of the debt, there are two possible actions you can take: pay off the debt or dispute it. Here are some details on each action:
Paying the Debt
If you have determined that the debt MBA Law Offices is claiming is valid and within the statute of limitations, settling the debt is the recommended course of action. If you have the financial means to pay off the debt, you can consult with MBA Law Offices on where to make payments. This can be confusing when a debt is sold, and it may not be immediately clear whom to repay.
Another option to consider if you cannot pay off the debt in full is debt settlement. With debt settlement, a company can negotiate with MBA Law Offices to accept a lump sum payment that is less than the total amount of the outstanding debt. It is important to note, however, that not all debt settlement attempts are successful. If you choose to pursue debt settlement, it is crucial to be cautious when selecting a debt settlement company. Many debt settlement companies are scams, and they may make guarantees or charge fees before successfully settling your debt. A reputable debt settlement company should not make any guarantees beforehand or charge fees before successfully setting your debt.
You may also enroll your debt in a credit counseling program, which provides professional help in managing your debt. Credit counselors can work with you to create a budget and a debt management plan. Finally, you can file for bankruptcy, which can result in the forgiveness of some or all of your debts. However, filing for bankruptcy should be considered a last resort, as it can have serious long-term consequences on your credit score and financial future.
The best option for managing your debt will depend on your current financial situation, and it is important to consider all options and seek professional advice before making a decision.
Disputing the Debt
If MBA Law Offices is claiming a debt that is not yours, you have 30 days to dispute the debt after they contact you. After 30 days, the debt will be presumed valid, and you will be held liable. When disputing the debt, send a debt validation letter following the template design for notices sent after the Regulation F implementation on November 20, 2021.
It is important to note that MBA Law Offices is known to file lawsuits against debtors who fail to make payments. Here are some tips on what to do and what to avoid if they file a lawsuit against you:
Does MBA Law Offices Sue for Unpaid Debt?
MBA Law Offices has a reputation for suing individuals who have unpaid debt. While receiving a lawsuit from a debt collection company can be stressful and confusing, there are ways to beat them.
It is worth noting that MBA Law Offices typically uses litigation as a last resort. They will usually make an initial phone call to notify you of the debt and request that you settle it. They may offer a discounted one-time payment option if you pay the debt within a specified date. If you do not make a payment, they may continue to contact you multiple times, and they may even resort to harassing you by contacting other people in an attempt to collect the debt.
If their collection efforts are unsuccessful, MBA Law Offices may report your unpaid debt to credit agencies such as Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. If all other attempts fail, they may file a lawsuit against you in hopes of obtaining a default judgment.
Taking Action
If MBA Law Offices has already filed a lawsuit against you, there are certain steps you can take to avoid a default judgment. It is crucial to appear in court if you have been sued by MBA Law Offices. Appearing in court shows good faith and prevents the company from obtaining a default judgment against you. Hiring an attorney can help you understand the legal process and defend yourself in court. However, if hiring an attorney is not feasible, researching how to defend yourself can also be helpful.
What You Can Avoid
It is crucial to appear in court if MBA Law Offices has sued you. Not appearing in court can result in the court awarding full judgment to the debt collector, which can lead to wage garnishment, frozen bank accounts, or other extreme but lawful measures against you. Additionally, the court judgment may be listed in your credit report, negatively affecting your ability to qualify for credit and making the default public knowledge. Therefore, it is essential not to fail to appear in court to avoid these consequences.
Understand Debt Collection
It is important to be informed about debt collection, especially if you are dealing with a debt collector like MBA Law Offices. Ignoring their calls and letters will not make the problem go away. Instead, you can educate yourself on debt collection practices, your rights as a debtor, and the steps you can take to resolve the issue. Understanding debt collection will help you handle the situation with confidence and take the necessary actions to protect yourself. If you have any questions or concerns about debt collection, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted source for help and guidance.