800-503-3852

Thank you who ever invented caller ID & Voice Mail to screen or detour unknown calls.
These jerks tried this 'crapola' on us a few years back with some kind of call back bogus case #.
We never followed through...... and here we go again!
I did a random credit check using both of our SS #'s last Jan. Nothing in the closet. All clear.

constantly calling from noon to 9pm eastern daylight saving time. They never speak..just keep calling up to 5 times a week.  there has to be a way to stop this phone number

They keep calling and don't leave messages.  I pick up and they hang up.  

I don't know how they got my cell phone but they will be getting a call from my lawyer next time they try it.

i dont think Academy Collections comes onto this website 2 check on what we say, nice attempt tho. lol. but i agree with ur statements and feeling towards this trashy company. they're trying 2 collect on a debt thats already being professionally handled by another reputable agency. how can they get away with that? who knows!!??

I am so tired of getting calls from the people.When I called back they say they are management collections. I am not behind on any of my bills and I want these people to stop calling me.Why do they feel they have to call you twenty times a day.Someone needs to put a stop to these kind of calls! IDIOTS!!!!!!

I received a call at 8:18 am (I'm in Pa). On caller Id-Monarch Recovery? They left no message. I don't owe anything-hopefully they don't call again!

Is there a time they are not "allowed" to call before or after?
Thanks

So I called the number back. First idiot I talked with refused to tell me the name of company. He got really rude and stated if I refuse to tell him my name, he refuses to tell me his! He then told me I was being ignorant and hung up. Called back, got a very polite woman, who identified name of company-Monarch Recovery and said she's looking for a Kevin. Since there is no Kevin here, she said she'll take our number off the list. I didn't have to give her the phone number I was calling from, they automatically pulled it up even though I blocked it.

Academy Collections Service Lawsuit.
Read about it at: http://www.micreditlawyerblog.com/2009/04/ftc_hits_collection_agency_wit.html

they get away with it because no one is reporting them to the FTC and State Attorney Generals

they can also be SUED for doing this - but again most people do not bother to do anything but post on complaint boards

NOT BEFORE 8 AM AND NOT AFTER 9 PM.

go to www.ftc.gov and look at the full Fair Debt Collections Practices it is a multiple page pdf file.

That SOMEONE is YOU - you are responsible for reporting their illegal activities.  
YOU  must report them to the FTC and the Attorney Generals - in your STATE as well as where they have offices.  Its apparent that the HUGE fine they paid is not stopping them.  

FAILURE TO DO SO IS WHY THEY KEEP CALLING YOU!  

This means YOU have to track all calls received, take pictures of your caller id, so YOU  have proof of their violations against YOU.


YOU can also sue them for these harrassing calls.  

Academy Collection Service, Inc.
10965 Decatur Road
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19154-3210
Phone: 800-220-0605
800- 441-6881        800-503-3852
Local:  215-281-7500      215-992-8966
Fax: (215) 281-7512
Call Center:
9350 Ashton Road, #1
Philadelphia, PA 19114
(215) 698-1308   Las Vegas:
750 Pilot Road, Suite #A
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 889-3180

and Belmont, California 940002
Web Address: www.academycollection.com
Head Debt Collectors:
Keith Dickstein, CEO

Janet Miller, Secretary, Treasurer


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consumer Comments Below



Bud Says

Like most debt collection agencies, Academy Collection Service makes more money when they DON’T abide by the law as detailed in this email from a former employee:

Subject: Academy Collection Service (Email From A Collector)11/08/04 Email:  “…I felt compelled to write this letter to you after having read some of the information you have provided online regarding Academy Collection Service”  “I was employed as a collector at Academy from **/**/ thru */**/ when I was fired. The reasons for my being terminated had everything to do with my unwillingness to violate FDCPA regulations as I was expected to at Academy”  “Every word I have read about Academy online (all of it very negative) is completely accurate. I began keeping an informal log of each time I witnessed an FDCPA violation, other crimes being committed in the office, unethical/illegal demands placed on collectors by management, etc., and I stopped after reaching 150 violations in less than one week.”   “We (the collectors) were regularly provided with written instructions on how to perform our duties which fell within FDCPA guidelines and then immediately thereafter given verbal instructions which were in direct contradiction to the written instructions.”    “All collectors were not only expected, but required to do or say absolutely anything required to collect the most money from debtors as quickly as possible regardless of the law while at the same time it was understood that if a collector received a complaint from the Attorney General Office or other agencies we would not received our commissions on that particular account and would possibly be required to pay a fine. I saw a more than one instance in which collectors were fired for having received a complaint (these collectors were doing and saying the same things everyone did literally hundreds of times each day).”   “After seeing people lose their jobs or being financially penalized through a variety of methods by Academy management personnel and because of the fact that I needed my job very much, I was afraid to violate the law as was expected for fear of losing my job. Academy management immediately began to penalize me financially for my "lack of compliance" and I was eventually fired because of it.” “I worked as a collector for about six years before leaving the business in the early 1990s and earlier this year returned to collections work obtaining employment at Academy. In my previous collections jobs I worked at reputable firms and I never felt like the "bad guy" in fact in general I had a good, positive and well-working relationship with the debtors with whom I had regular contact. I have never been employed at a place like Academy Collection Service before. It is a nightmare of a place that I never imagined could be doing business the way they are because of existing laws and regulations covering third-party collections.”   “The other crimes being committed on a daily basis were just as mind boggling to me: drug dealing and drug use definitely being at the top of the list -- all being done very openly and with the knowledge of all who work there.”   “Academy management regularly demanded it's collectors to change dates of deposit on posted-dated check-by-phone payments in order to look better and appear more productive to their clients. How were they able to do that in this day and age?...I supposed that to a degree I am a disgruntled employee (or ex-employee) but the daily routine at Academy Collection Service is extremely bad and very illegal and something needs to be done about it as well as about some of the collectors employed there who are honest and law-abiding people of quality who work in fear and are being manipulated into unethical and illegal collection practices in order to prevent severe financial penalties being imposed on them by Academy management or the loss of their job.” J*

Lawlessness and drug use are two common complaints we receive on most collection agencies. Academy owners Keith Dickstein and Janet Miller have never shown us any efforts being used to clean up their dirty house.

CAUTION: I recommend you NEVER disclose your bank account or credit card information to a debt collector, as you risk them emptying your account, or maxing out your credit card. If you feel they are reporting on your credit bureau files in error or need assistance in dealing with them, email  the details w/your location.  Assistance and referral to a consumer legal specialist may be available.


THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS
HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND THEY WILL END UP PAYING YOU

READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE
Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    

The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

Dealing with Debt Collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
    
Statute of Limitations by State – always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm


Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website – FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn’t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they’re told (orally or in writing) that you’re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter – even if you don’t think you owe the debt, can’t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don’t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector – in writing – to stop contacting you. Here’s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don’t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don’t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
    they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don’t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don’t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don’t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans’ Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members’ Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors’ Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009

File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY – use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE’S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
    
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies – report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0

They called me every day at 2PM and left no messages.  One day I answered and the woman asked for someone else.  I told her I didn't know that person (I don't), and the woman said she'd take my number off their list.  They never called again.

I just started getting these calls...6 times today.  blocked them and now a new number came up...do they ever give up?

This is a poor excuse for a Collection agency, if it truly is one. *67 the 800 number, mute the phone, and listen. The "quality assurance" recording sounds like it was recorded from another company (grainy). Whether a man or woman answers, it is still "hello?". There is no identification, like "this is (name) with (agency name), how may I help you?"! I called it once and there was a foreigner that answered and it sounded like there were kids watching TV in the background! Don't answer and get hooked.

Did you-all notice thast Academy and Monarch have same street address ands same phone no. (800-220-0605 ?   Hmmmmmm!

These people called me and the answering machine picked it up and said this is a important message about a personal message for Donna Trump.  I have been divorced from her since 1996.  I called back and said to please remove my name I have been divorced since 1996.  I asked what they wanted and who they were and all they said is it is about a debt and they would remove my name.  I said I would call the police if they did not remove it.

I have received several calls from this number looking for a party that does not reside here.  I'ts an automated call, but they continue calling even after pressing  "2" to report that they have reached the wrong number.

Thanks for the sites! I hope it'll do some good. That company calls me <i>every single day</i> because I made the mistake of answering once.

these folks are so freakin annoying.  I actually attempted to speak with one of the minions at their call center.  this supposed debt is an oooooold dispute, settled I might add, with columbia house records.  Back in the day when CH required its members to send in their reply cards or get stuck with a bunch of crappy cds they didn't ask for or want, I missed some of the cards because of a move.  I inevitably got the bill for some cds that got dropped off at the old address.  I fought long and hard with columbia and we settled on a nominal payment.  But for some reason this incident keeps rearing its ugly head.  This company about the 4th collection company to buy this junk debt.  They usually end up getting it placed on my experian credit report, the other 2 ignore it, I dispute the debt and it comes off and these jack&**** sell the junk debt to the next bunch of jack&****