Settle Debt With AWA Collections In 3 Steps

George Simons | February 13, 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: AWA Collections uses skip-tracing to locate consumers. Then, armed with credit reporting, it tries to get you to pay alleged delinquent accounts. If you are not careful, AWA collectors can pressure you into restarting the clock on the statute of limitations. You can use Solo to engage with AWA Collections in and out of court.

Although debt collection phone calls can be annoying, a ruined credit report is worse. AWA Collections knows that consumers want to protect their credit scores.

By reporting, they hope to convince you to pay sooner rather than later. If you are receiving multiple phone calls and letters from AWA Collections, Solo can help.

But who is AWA Collections? And how do consumers feel about the company? Keep reading for answers to these questions and more.

Settle debt with AWA Collections

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

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What is AWA Collections?

Adler Wallach Associates, Inc (AWA Collections) is a debt collection agency, operating since August 1993. It is a legitimate third-party debt collector.

AWA Collections specializes in accounts receivables, skip-tracing, asset investigation, and credit reporting. In other words, they help credit providers track consumers, determine whether to pursue them, make collection calls and report delinquent accounts to credit bureaus.

Who does AWA Collections collect for?

AWA Collections works for almost every industry. More specifically, AWA Collections collects for:

  • Bank cards and financial institutions
  • Healthcare
  • Telecommunications
  • Utilities
  • Retail/Commercial
  • Government

So it is possible to hear from AWA Collections whether you have late medical bills, gas bills, or taxes.

Is AWA Collections legit?

Yes, AWA is a legitimate debt collection agency with a crew of trained debt collectors who will call you, report your unpaid debt to the credit bureaus, and may even take legal action against you.

The best way to resolve debt with a legit collector like Adler Wallach & Associates is to communicate openly and honestly with the company’s collections agents. To do so, you can use the AWA Collections phone number or the following contact information:

  • Phone number: 888-771-3690
  • Email: info@payawa.com
  • Address: 1045 W Katella Ave STE 230 Orange, CA
  • Mailing address: P.O. Box 6605 Orange, CA 92863-6605
  • Website: www.adlerwallach.com

Read AWA Collections reviews online

If you are curious to learn what consumers have said about their experience with AWA Collections on an unpaid debt, then take a moment to read these AWA Collections reviews:

How to negotiate a debt settlement with AWA Collections

If you acknowledge the fact that you owe the debt that is being collected and would like to avoid going through a stressful litigation process, then you can take proactive steps to try and negotiate a debt settlement. AWA Collection may agree to settle for a lesser amount than nothing at all. They may also agree not to report your account to credit bureaus once you pay the settlement amount. The debt settlement process can be as simple as follow these three steps:

  1. Respond to the pending debt collection lawsuit filed by AWA Collections.
  2. Determine how much you can reasonably afford to pay based on the amount owed, then send a settlement offer to AWA Collections.
  3. If you can reach an agreement, get the debt settlement terms in writing.

To learn more about debt settlement negotiation, check out this video explaining how you can negotiate a debt settlement on your own:

SoloSettle makes it easy to start the debt settlement negotiation process. Keep in mind that many debt collection agencies are willing to settle for less than the original amount, because often they purchase the debt for pennies on the dollar.

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Make an Offer

What are your FDCPA and FCRA rights?

We have explained the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in everyday language in our blog for everyday consumers to understand.

In summary, debt collectors must follow these rules under federal law:

  • Debt collectors cannot send you postcards to try and publicize your debt.
  • Debt collectors must identify themselves and identify you when they call.
  • Debt collectors cannot harass you with endless or odd-hour calls.
  • A debt collector cannot scream profanities at you or call you demeaning names.
  • Debt collectors cannot threaten to harm you or a family member.

You can find a more extensive explanation on the Fair Trade Commission's (FTC) website.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) also regulates how and what debt collectors can report to credit reporting agencies (CRAs).

For example, FCRA Section 623 (a) (1) (A) states that “A person shall not furnish any information...if the person knows, or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate.”

You have the right to dispute any wrong information in your credit report. Contact each bureau that reported the error and ask them to rectify it. Also, reach out to AWA and ask them to either validate the debt or stop furnishing it.

You can find each of the three major bureaus' dispute contacts on their websites.

Technically, the law allows debt collectors to report collections to the bureaus without notifying you first. The only way to stay current is to check your information regularly. All agencies offer one (sometimes more) free report every year here.

Also, check whether the statute of limitations has expired on an account and take care not to resurrect any zombie debts.

Send a Debt Validation Letter to AWA Collection to avoid a lawsuit

You can prevent a lawsuit by sending a Debt Validation Letter. AWA Collections acquires debts at all stages and may lose valuable information on an account. Asking AWA to validate each debt can stop collections if they cannot verify the debt.

Many debt collectors give up after receiving a Debt Validation Letter, because they simply cannot validate the debt they’re trying to collect. Because of this, a Debt Validation Letter is a great tool to get debt collectors off your back and move on with your life.

What can I do if AWA Collections sues me?

If your collection account goes to the courts, you can still win the lawsuit. The secret is to respond to the Summons.

Many consumers ignore the Summons, thinking the case will disappear because they are innocent. But that is not how lawsuits work.

Failure to file your Answer at the court can earn you a default judgment, and the debt collector may get permission to garnish your wages, place liens on your property, or freeze your bank accounts.

Even though responding to a lawsuit may seem complicated, it is straightforward.

Follow these three steps to respond to a AWA Collection lawsuit:

  1. Answer every claim: The Complaint tells you why AWA is suing you. The document has a list of claims. You should answer each claim independently. State clearly whether you agree, deny, or deny for lack of knowledge.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses: Tell the court why you should win the case. For instance, mention if the collection is the result of identity theft.
  3. File the Answer with the court and AWA's lawyer before the deadline: You have 14-35 days, depending on your residence. Check the Summons for how much time your lawsuit allows. Solo can file for you. If you file for yourself, be sure to use certified mail so you can track the letter. Remember to keep a copy for your reference.

Use Solo to draft and file your Answer in minutes.

You can learn more about these three steps in this video:

Now, let’s consider an example.

Example: When Juan received a court Summons to appear for a debt collection lawsuit, he felt defeated. He searched the internet to find help and stumbled on Solo. After watching a few of Solo’s YouTube videos, Juan felt confident to face the challenge. He used SoloSuit to draft and file an Answer with the court and the debt collector's attorney. To his surprise, the debt collector withdrew the case because they realized they could not win for lack of evidence to prove their claims. Solo helped Juan get his life back.


The most prevalent claim against AWA Collections is wrongful credit reporting. And it is no wonder because when they start tracking you down, AWA's skip-tracing agents “keep their eyes on the prize"—your money.

This article has shown you how to beat AWA Collections by knowing your rights, using the Debt Validation Letter, and responding promptly to a lawsuit. Winning against any debt collector starts with Solo.

Settle your debt with AWA Collections.

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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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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