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Have you recently been receiving phone calls from (844) 766-8319 or mailers from 1930 Olney Ave Cherry Hill, NJ 08003-2016 stating you have debt you must pay? This is MRS Associates.
MRS Associates agency is tasked with collecting outstanding debts on behalf of various industries, such as commercial, e-commerce, parking, road tolls, financial services, education, auto, and retail. Commonly referred to as MRS Innovate Solutions and MRS BPO LLC, MRS Associates is renowned for its unethical treatment of consumers and unpleasant business tactics. You might be curious about the clients MRS Associates serves.
Suppose you receive communication from MRS Associates or notice their presence on your credit report. In that case, it indicates that they have taken ownership of your debt and hold the legal authority to pursue its recovery.
Learn about MRS Associates Inc. and see what other customers who have debt with this debt collection firm notorious for itsConsumers often feel frustrated, bewildered, and infuriated after receiving a call from them.
3 Option for you NOW
1) Credit Score ANY – Is The MRS Associates Debt Valid?
This can be for anyone with a credit score below 550 or above 550, but have you confirmed that this debt is a valid debt? Who is the original creditor? If you know that this debt is not yours, you can force the firm to validate the debt.
You can hire an attorney, do this yourself, or can use Solosuit below for a small fee to force the creditor to validate that the debt is yours.
2) Credit Score Below 620 – Do you need debt relief?
If the debt IS valid, many people cannot afford the debt, and do not want to WAIT TO BE SUED for the unpaid debt, so they would like to get ahead and find debt relief option that work with their budget.
If this is you, consider taking the free debt relief calculator that considers your income and your debt to provide debt relief option that you can compare.
3) Credit Score Above 620 – Can You Settle with MRS Associates?
Are you in a position where you could get an unsecured debt consolidation loan that you can use to help settle this debt and potentially other debt that is in collections. Here’s 2 different options that you can check your rate without affecting your credit.
What is MRS Associates?
MRS Associates is a debt collection agency that operates in the United States. This company works with creditors to collect delinquent accounts, including credit card debt, personal loans, medical bills, etc. Should you pay them?
The above industries enlist the services of MRS Associates to recover overdue debts. In return, MRS Collections receives a predetermined percentage of the amount successfully collected. Alternatively, they may purchase your debt account from the original lender, who could be a creditor or another debt collection agency.
While describing itself as an account receivables management company, MRS Associates tends to downplay its role as a debt collector. It’s worth noting that they are one of the largest collection agents in the U.SU.S.
Contact Details
Below is MRS Associates’ contact information:
MRS Associates, Inc.
P.O.P.O. Box 1719
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Phone: (888) 334-5677
Fax: (856) 489-9360
Email: info@mrsassociates.com
MRS Associates History
MRS Associates, Inc. is a debt collection agency founded in 1991. The company is headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and has additional offices in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
This agency initially focused on providing debt recovery services for the healthcare industry, but over time it has also expanded to work with various other industries. The company is known for its technology-driven approach to debt collection, including predictive analytics.
MRS Associates Reviews
MRS Associates has faced legal challenges related to its debt collection practices over the years. In 2018, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered the company to pay a $500,000 fine and refund $19 million to consumers for allegedly violating federal debt collection laws.
The CFPB accused MRS Associates of using false threats and deceptive practices to pressure consumers into paying their debts.
Irrespective of the mode of contact, MRS will make all possible efforts to collect your outstanding dues. To achieve this objective, they may report your debt as a collection account to credit bureaus, negatively impacting your credit score.
Google Reviews
One complaint alleged that MRS Associated used improper communication tactics when contacting the consumer. Despite the consumer’s request not to call them at their workplace, the company still called them.
Additionally, the consumer disputes the debt’s validity and requests a written verification, but the representative from MRS Associates needs to provide more information in response.
BBB Reviews
Based on the consumer complaints on BBB, it seems that MRS Associates has significant issues with their customer service and debt collection practices. There are numerous customer complaints about harassment, incorrect billing, and failure to resolve disputes.
These complaints suggest that MRS Associates may need to be more transparent or fair in their customer dealings. The large number of complaints in a relatively short time is concerning and may indicate systemic problems within the company.
Other Reviews
There are some positive reviews about the agency, but also, there are several consumer complaints accusing the agency of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). These complaints include making false statements, attempting to collect cleared debts, contacting third parties, sharing information improperly, and using inappropriate communication tactics.
How To Stop MRS Associates
You have received communication from MRS Associates, and the calls or letters are getting out of hand. What do you do next? Here is how you stop MRS Associates
1. Use The 11 Word Phrase
By uttering the 11-word phrase “Please cease and desist all calls and contact me immediately,” you can put an end to the call.
If the phrase doesn’t work, send a demand letter that includes the same phrase. Once you’ve done this, the debt collector should stop contacting you.
As per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), once you ask a debt collector not to contact you, they are obliged to honor your request. The cease-and-desist letter should contain your name, contact details, social security number, and address. It’s vital that you send the letter by certified mail, with a return receipt requested, to prove that the company received the letter.
Once MRS Associates receives your letter, they should not contact you unless they are:
1. Acknowledging receipt of your letter. In response to your letter, they may send a reply to let you know that they have received the letter and won’t continue to contact you.
2. Serving you with a lawsuit. In the event that the debt collection agency has filed a lawsuit against you, they can contact you to let you know.
2. Make MRS Associates Validate the Debt
After receiving communication from MRS Associates, it is important to request that they validate any debt they claim you owe. Despite the common tendency for people to feel panicked and rush into repaying the debt, it is crucial to verify that the debt is actually yours. Ask MRS Associates to send a debt validation letter which should include your name, your creditor’s name, the amount you owe and how to dispute the debt. If you have not received a debt validation letter, request one. Upon receiving the letter, or if you have already received it and the debt seems unfamiliar, it is recommended that you request your credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax. Your credit report will contain all information about your credit history and allow you to verify if the debt is genuine. In the event that the debt is not genuine, you should contact the credit bureaus and rectify the mistake.
How to Tell If It Is a Scam
Large companies like MRS Associates are often targeted by scammers who impersonate their agents in an attempt to swindle unsuspecting victims. Although this is not a common occurrence, it can happen. A legitimate agent from the company should have all your information, so if they ask for personal information, it could be a scam. Furthermore, if they cannot provide answers about the debt they are claiming you owe, it is also likely a scam.
If you are ever unsure whether you are speaking with a legitimate MRS Associates agent, ask for their employee ID number. If they cannot provide it, it is likely a scam. Always avoid giving out personal information to protect yourself from scams. Another way to protect yourself is by requesting a debt validation letter.
Note: New regulations came into effect on November 30, 2021. According to these regulations, debt collectors must send a Notice of Debt to debtors within five days of initial contact. This notice should include these important details:
- date of the last invoice or statement provided by the original creditor to the debtor,
- the date of the last payment made towards the debt,
- the date on which the transaction became a debt, the charge-off date, and
- the judgment date if there is a court judgment for the debt in question.
These dates will help you determine if the statute of limitations applies to the debt. If the notice is incomplete or fails to include any of the above information, it is considered invalid, and the debt is not collectible. This is important information because many debt collectors who bought debts before these new regulations do not have this information. They may try to intimidate you into repaying the debt or admitting you are the debtor to cut their losses.
Therefore, when you receive a Notice of Debt from an agency, be sure to review it carefully to ensure that it complies with the law. If it is not compliant with Regulation F, write back to the agency, letting them know you will not engage in any further discussions until they send you a Notice of Debt that is compliant with the law. By following these tips and being vigilant, you can protect yourself from scammers and avoid falling victim to debt collection scams.
3. Confirm the Statute of Limitations on the Debt
When dealing with a debt, it’s important to know the statute of limitations. This is the period after which a creditor or debt collector cannot file a lawsuit or take any action to recover the debt. First, confirm if the debt is still within the statute of limitations. If it is time-barred, you may not have to pay it. Check the date of your debt against your state’s statute of limitations. Review the statute of limitations by state to understand your state’s specific limitations.
The statute of limitations is counted from the day the creditor reported the debt as delinquent. However, acknowledging the debt as yours or making a payment towards it will restart the statute of limitations. Failing to pay will not remove the debt account from your credit history until seven years have passed. Depending on your debt, amount owed, and financial situation, if the statute of limitations is almost up, you might consider waiting it out.
4. Act
If you find yourself in debt, there are two primary options available to you: pay it off or dispute it.
Paying the Debt
Paying the debt is the most straightforward approach. Once you determine that the debt is legitimate and within the statute of limitations, you can choose to pay it off using your own funds. However, it can be challenging to determine who to pay, especially if the debt has been sold to a collections agency. In such cases, it’s advisable to consult with the collections agency, such as MRS Associates, for guidance on where to make your payments.
If you can’t pay the debt in full, you may want to consider debt relief options such as debt settlement. A debt settlement company can negotiate with the collections agency to accept a lump sum payment that’s less than the total amount owed. However, be careful when choosing a debt settlement company, as many of them are fraudulent. They may make promises that they can’t keep or charge fees before they have successfully settled your debt.
Consider credit counseling or bankruptcy as alternative options that may be more suitable for your financial situation.
Disputing the Debt
If you dispute the debt’s legitimacy, you should act within the 30-day timeframe you have after being contacted by the collections agency. Disputing the debt means challenging the collections agency’s claim that you owe the debt. This is often the case when the debt is not yours, or the collections agency is attempting to collect an amount that’s not valid. If you dispute the debt, you should send a debt validation letter that follows the template design for notices sent after the Regulation F implementation on November 20, 2021. After 30 days, the debt will be presumed valid, and you will be held liable if you fail to dispute it during this time.
Does MRS Associates Sue for Unpaid Debt?
MRS Associates is a debt collection company that is notorious for suing debtors who owe them money. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be stressful and confusing, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
It’s important to note that MRS Associates typically uses legal action as a last resort. They will usually start by making phone calls to notify you of the debt and offer you the opportunity to settle it. They may even offer a discounted one-time payment if you pay by a specific date. If you fail to make payment, they will likely continue to call you and may even harass you by contacting other people about your debt.
In addition, MRS Associates will report your debt to credit agencies like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. If their attempts to collect the debt are unsuccessful, they may file a lawsuit against you. However, it’s important to note that many debt collection agencies, including MRS Associates, are ill-equipped to handle lawsuits. They may have an attorney who represents them in court, but often these attorneys do not have enough knowledge or documentation on your case.
What You Can Do
If MRS Associates has filed a lawsuit against you, it’s essential to appear in court. If you can afford an attorney, it’s best to hire one to represent you. However, if you cannot afford an attorney, you can research how to defend yourself. The important thing is to ensure that you show up in court. Your appearance will show good faith and will prevent the company from getting a default judgment against you.
What You Can Avoid
If you fail to appear in court, the court may award a full judgment to the debt collector. This can result in wage garnishment, frozen bank accounts, or other lawful measures against you. Additionally, the court judgment may be listed in your credit report, which can affect your ability to qualify for credit in the future and make the default public knowledge.
Understand Debt Collection
To handle the issue of debt collection calmly and with certainty, it’s important to understand the process. Receiving phone calls and letters from debt collection agencies can be intimidating, but ignoring the issue will not make it go away. Take the time to educate yourself on debt collection, what to do, and what not to do. If you have any questions on debt collection, you can call or email a professional for help.
In conclusion, MRS Associates is known for suing debtors who owe them money. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s essential to take steps to protect yourself, including appearing in court and seeking legal representation if possible. It’s also crucial to educate yourself on debt collection and understand the process to handle the issue calmly and with certainty.