How to Negotiate and Settle Debt With Accredited Collection Services

George Simons | February 01, 2025

Fact-checked by Patrick Austin, J.D.

Patrick Austin
Attorney from George Mason
Patrick Austin, JD

Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Accredited Collection Services is a legit debt collector. Don’t ignore them. Respond to lawsuits, negotiate settlements, and always request proof of debt. Use Solo to streamline the settlement process.

Accredited Collection Services, Inc. is a legitimate third-party debt collection agency. They have been buying and collecting debts for almost 40 years. If you are struggling with a lawsuit from Accredited Collection Services, read on. We may be able to help you beat them in court.

Settle debt with Accredited Collection Services

You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.

Settle with SoloSettle

What is Accredited Collection Services?

If you have not paid a credit card debt or loan, then your original creditor may decide to sell or assign your debt to a third-party debt collection agency. If you have a lawsuit brought upon you by Accredited Collection Services, then this is the debt collector your debt was sold to.

You can contact the company at the Accredited Collection Services phone number listed below:

  • Phone number: (402) 331.0103 or (877) 331-0103
  • Address: P.O. Box 27238, Omaha, NE 68127
  • E-mail: acsmoney@acsomaha.com

Who does Accredited Collection Services collect for?

Accredited Collection Services pursues delinquent and discharged accounts purchased from a variety of companies operating in different sectors of the economy, including credit card companies, auto loan companies, personal loan companies, etc.

Read Accredited Collection Services reviews online

Researching the online reviews of other people who interacted with Accredited Collection Services on a debt collection matter is a good decision, especially if you intend to reach out to the debt collector to discuss your own debt issue. Solo is here to help. Below are sources to real online reviews:

Objectively, the online reviews for Accredited Collection Services are not all five stars. Nevertheless, there are some consumer reviews indicating the possibility you could have a generally productive experience communicating with Accredited Collection Services to discuss your debt collection matter. Let’s consider a real review from a borrower named Karen:

“I detest collection agencies. However, this company has actually been helpful. I had a bill for over 1000. My husband said he had been paying. NOT! I had no idea until I got the bill from this company. I called them and explained the situation to them. We came to an agreement on a monthly payment. They were actually very nice about the whole thing. The reason for 4 stars is they don't send out a bill. I have called and asked for one but still have not received it. That would be helpful for those of us that have high amounts to keep track of. They also assured me that this will not show on my credit report unless I fail to stick to our agreement. I am trusting this to be true. So cut them a break, they are just doing their job.”

Karen’s review highlights an important truth - proactively engaging with a debt collector improves your odds of reaching an amicable resolution. This is because debt collectors, including those affiliated with Accredited Collection Services, are generally willing to work with you to resolve your debt issue.

Engage with Accredited Collection Services to Negotiate a Debt Settlement

At any stage of the debt collection process, whether you’ve been served with a debt collection lawsuit or only received a handful of phone calls, you retain the ability to try and negotiate a debt settlement. A negotiated settlement is worth considering, especially if you acknowledge that you owe the debt. If you’re successful, you may be able to get an agreement in place where you wind up paying less than the amount owed.

Here are some recommended steps to try and settle your debt with Accredited Collection Services:

  1. If you were served with a debt collection lawsuit, make sure to timely file an Answer so you mitigate the risk of getting hit with a default judgment.
  2. Determine how much you can afford to pay toward the debt without adversely impacting your ability to cover other necessary living expenses. Consider using the following formula: Amount available to settle = (monthly income – monthly costs) + savings)
  3. Make a reasonable settlement offer that is less than the maximum amount you can pay.
  4. Be ready to go through multiple rounds of negotiating.
  5. When you reach a debt settlement agreement, get the terms in writing.

To learn more about these tips and others that may assist you on your journey to settle debt with Accredited Collection Services, watch the following interview with a consumer rights attorney, John Skiba, where he shares the best tips for negotiating debt settlement with collectors:

Use these tips to engage with Accredited Collection Services and settle your debt

Never ignore a debt

The first step in any debt lawsuit is to make sure you do not ignore it. It can be very easy to ignore a lawsuit because you simply do not want to face it. This is the worst thing you can do for yourself because it is not going to go away. Instead, you will be awarded a default judgment, meaning you automatically lose. Your wages can be garnished, money can be taken directly from your bank account, and you may even acquire more debt.

Responding to the lawsuit allows you to negotiate for yourself. Despite this, make sure that you deny all liability for the debt.

Use Solo to respond to debt collection agencies the right way.

Never accept liability for the debt

You will be required to file an official response that denies liability for the money that you owe. This is essential if you wish to fight your debt collection lawsuit in any way shape or form. If you automatically accept liability then you will have accepted full responsibility, and there is not a good chance you will have room to negotiate.

Ask for proof of the debt

If you file a denial of liability and the debt collector does not back down, it means you need to follow up with a request. Request evidence of your debt. They will be legally required to provide evidence that they own your debt, they have the right to sue you for the debt, and proof of where it came from.

Proof can come in the form of the original credit receipt or other “chain of custody” paperwork. What happens sometimes is that the debt has gone through many different hands. This means that information may be lost, and it may be impossible to bring forth proper proof.

Choose the Right Defenses to Fight Debt Collectors

There are other defenses you can consider as well. These might include:

  • Mistaken identity
  • Past bankruptcy
  • Fraudulent charges
  • Expiration of the statute of limitations
  • Filing a counterclaim due to violations of the FDCPA by the debt collector

Pick the right affirmative defenses with SoloSuit.

Remember you have options

When you face a lawsuit from Accredited Collection Services, it can feel like there is nowhere to turn. It is essential to consider the defenses you may have and always ask for proof. You always have options and do not need to allow debt to control your life.

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Debt collector guides

Are you being contacted by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt settlement

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created state guides on debt settlement. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Legal aid

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing with medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state’s statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Wage garnishment

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources


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