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Why is FMA Alliance Calling Me? How to Resolve Debt

George Simons | January 24, 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: If FMA Alliance contacts you about a debt, confirm its legitimacy via a debt validation letter, file a written Answer to any pending lawsuit, and negotiate a settlement for less. Solo can help you streamline this process and resolve your debt.

What's one of the least appreciated items you can receive in the mail? Probably a notice from a debt collector telling you that you owe money. This can be extremely stressful, especially if you have no idea who the debt collector is or what the debt is for. Many people simply throw these letters away, but that's not the best way to handle it.

Instead, you should carefully read through the letter to determine what the debt is for and what your options are. If the amount is small enough and you do believe you owe the debt, it may be best just to pay it so that you can move on with your life. If this is the route you choose to take, make sure that the debt collector agrees to remove any negative information that may have been sent to the credit reporting bureaus before agreeing to pay. You'll also want verification of payment, such as a receipt.

On the other hand, if you don't recall the debt at all, you'll want to dispute the debt immediately. Typically, this must be a written dispute sent to the company within 30 days of receiving your notice. Your request should be sent to the debt collector in a debt validation letter—in this case, FMA Alliance—asking them to provide evidence that the debt is, in fact, yours.

Settle debt with FMA Alliance

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

Settle with SoloSettle

What is the FMA Alliance?

FMA Alliance is a legitimate debt collection agency formed in 1983 with its base of operations in Houston, TX.

Who does FMA Alliance collect for?

FMA Alliance generally focuses on debt collection matters for governmental agencies, so when you receive a notice of debt from FMA Alliance, it will typically relate to past-due taxes, fines, government fees, court-ordered debts, or tolls. However, the agency may pursue other types of debt as well.

On its website, it states that FMA Alliance collects for companies in the following industries:

  • Finance
  • Healthcare
  • Student Loans
  • Government

Read FMA Alliance reviews online

If you are curious to know what people have said about their interactions with FMA Alliance on different debt collection matters, then take a moment to read these reviews:

Objectively, the online reviews of FMA Alliance’s online reviews are mixed at best. Nevertheless, there are some online reviews reflecting a positive experience when communicating with FMA Alliance collectors to try and resolve debt. Take, for example, the experience of a borrower named Johnny:

“I would really like to thank Cynthia Gray for taking the time to go over the details of my account. I am very thankful for her great customer service. We were both able to work together and get my account closed out. She was very professional and was super easy to work with. Thanks again!”

Johnny’s review indicates that FMA Alliance debt collectors are trained to work with you to resolve your concerns and get your debt paid in a manner that works for you and your current financial situation. Effective communication is key.

If calling a debt collector to negotiate sounds generally unpleasant, try using SoloSettle to negotiate online and resolve your debt through the digital settlement platform.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

How to settle debt with FMA Alliance

With the help of SoloSettle, you can take proactive steps to try and negotiate a debt settlement where you wind up only paying a portion of what is actually owed. Many debt collectors, including FMA Alliance, may be amenable to accepting a settlement for an amount less than what you owe. Here are some recommended steps to try and settle your debt with FMA Alliance:

  1. File an Answer to the debt collection lawsuit so you don’t get hit with a default judgment.
  2. Determine how much you can actually afford to pay with 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 FMA Alliance, watch the following interview with a consumer rights attorney, John Skiba, where he shares the best tips for negotiating debt settlement with collectors:

How does the FDCPA protect me from the FMA Alliance?

The FDCPA establishes standards that debt collectors must follow whenever they attempt to collect a debt. These standards are designed to protect the consumer from unfair debt collection practices, such as harassment or abuse. For example, debt collection agencies are prohibited from any of the following actions when pursuing a debt:

  • Threatening a consumer with legal action when they don't intend to follow up on it.
  • Repeatedly calling the consumer throughout the day or letting the line ring non-stop.
  • Not providing proper validation of the debt.
  • Saying or implying that the consumer is a criminal for not paying their debt.
  • Using deceptive means to attempt to collect a debt.
  • Contacting third parties, such as a relative or friend, to try to coerce the consumer to pay a debt.

Any of these actions violate the FDCPA, and the consumer has the right to file a claim against the debt collector if they experience actions that are contrary to the law.

What should I do if I am sued by the FMA Alliance for a debt?

If you receive a Summons or notification from FMA Alliance that you are being sued for a debt, you'll want to take action as soon as possible. If you fail to respond or pay the debt prior to the court date, the court may issue a judgment against you.

A judgment allows FMA Alliance to use a variety of tools to collect the full amount of the debt that you potentially owe. These tools can include garnishing your wages, freezing your bank account, or even placing a lien on your property.

Obviously, you don't want a judgment — especially for a debt that you don't truly owe. Thus, taking the time to Answer the Summons is critical. You do this by asking them to validate the debt, that they have the legal standing to sue you, and that the debt is truly owed by you. In many cases, simply filing an Answer is all it takes to get the debt collector off your back.

Respond to a debt lawsuit against FMA Alliance

The first step to beating FMA Alliance in court is to respond to the Summons and Complaint. The proper way to respond is by filing a written Answer with the court and sending a copy of it to FMA Alliance.

Make sure to file the Answer before the deadline, which is 14-35 days depending on which state you live in.

Follow these 6 tips when drafting your Answer:

  1. The Answer isn't the place to tell your side of the story in detail.
  2. Deny, Deny, Deny.
  3. Include affirmative defenses.
  4. Use standard formatting or “style”.
  5. Include certificate of service.
  6. Sign it.

To learn more about these 6 tips, check out this video:

After you've drafted your Answer, file it with the court immediately. Some courts require you to file electronically, but usually you can mail it in or drop it off in person. You should also send a copy of the Answer to FMA Alliance and request a return receipt for proof of delivery.

SoloSuit can help you file an Answer in all 50 states.

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

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Wage garnishment

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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.

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