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How to Settle Debt With Accredited Collection Services in 6 Steps

George Simons | January 28, 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: Follow these six steps to settle debt with Accredited Collection Services: Respond to any pending lawsuit to avoid default judgment, calculate a reasonable payment, make an offer, negotiate, get the terms of the agreement in writing, and pay promptly. Solo can help with all these steps and more.

If you are being sued and taken to court by Accredited Collection Services, don't panic. As a consumer, you have legal rights and options to resolve your debt collection matter.

Follow our guide to find how you can come out the winner. If you keep your cool and play your cards right, you can reach an amicable resolution to your debt issue, such as a negotiated debt settlement. Let's first take a look at this collection company to see what they're all about.

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

Who Is Accredited Collection Services?

According to Accredited Collection Services' website, they state they hire only professional debt collectors to help track down unpaid debt. Furthermore, they also state that they treat every client with “respect and dignity.”

Who does Accredited Collection Services collect for?

Accredited Collection Services pursues unpaid debts on behalf of various companies operating in different sectors of the economy.

How to negotiate with Accredited Collection Services to settle debt in 6 steps

With the help of the 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 Accredited Collection Services, 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:

  1. If Accredited Collection Services sued you, then make sure to file an Answer. Failing to respond heightens the risk of a default judgment, which could negatively impact your attempted debt settlement negotiations.
  2. Determine how much you can reasonably afford to pay toward your debt 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 prepared to engage with ACS through multiple rounds of negotiations.
  5. If you are able to reach a debt settlement agreement with ACS, memorialize the terms in writing.
  6. Pay the agreed upon settlement amount in a timely manner.

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:

Read Accredited Collection Services reviews online to prepare yourself for negotiations

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

It’s fair to say the online reviews for Accredited Collection Services are up and down. Nevertheless, there are many consumer reviews reflecting a generally positive experience communicating with ACS collectors during the debt collection process. For example, consider the review of 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.”

Karen’s review is spot on. Always remember that whomever is contacting you from Accredited Collection Services is an actual person who is trying to do their job. If you keep this in mind while engaging with Accredited Collection Services, then you heighten your chances of reaching an amicable resolution to your debt collection matter. You could even negotiate a settlement and pay less than the amount you originally owed.

Of course, if you are terrified at the idea of calling a debt collector to negotiate a settlement, then consider using SoloSettle to negotiate online and resolve your debt through our innovative digital settlement platform.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

The Best Tactics for Handling Accredited Collection Services

If you are contacted by Accredited Collection Services about an unpaid debt, the first thing you need to know is that any information you give them is going to be used against you in court. As such, you want to remain very guarded in your conversation.

This means not giving them any information they request. They're going to want to verify your address and other data about you. The only thing you should say is that you want to see verification of the debt in question.

This is formally known as a Request for Production of Documents. In doing so, you are seeking proof that the debt is indeed yours (i.e., the original bill with your signature on it). When you ask for a Request for Production of Documents, you need to do so by certified mail.

This ensures that you have a receipt for your request, and you'll want to hang onto this paperwork should your case go to court. If Accredited Collection Services is unable to produce this documentation, you will have effectively won your case.

However, you need to be able to prove this to the judge. Why? Because Accredited Collection Services is going to try to win the case in court by producing every other kind of document. They're going to do this while hoping that you'll play into their hands and admit that the debt is yours.

Do not do this. It's a common tactic used when debt collection agencies don't have the original bill with your signature on it. Many people unwittingly fall for the presentation of the opposing counsel, thinking that the evidence produced is enough to make you guilty of owing debt.

It isn't. Accredited Collection Services needs to have the original documentation in court and on the day of your trial. They will likely attempt to delay the hearing so that they can come up with the original bill. If you have a debt attorney representing you, they will tell the judge that a delay isn't allowable, and you will be awarded the victory.

Make the right affirmative defenses with SoloSuit.

You may be able to file a counterclaim for certain debt collection practices

Now, on the matter of counter-suing, you have this option available if a debt collector is potentially engaging in improper collection practices. If you suspect you’ve been treated wrongly by a debt collector, review this FDCPA violations list to learn more about your legal rights and how to protect them.

However, proactively engaging with the debt collector provides a higher likelihood of resolving your debt issue effectively and efficiently, as opposed to further amplifying litigation via a counter-claim. There’s also a level of risk associated with filing a claim. For example, you're going to need to be able to prove to the judge that the alleged wrongdoing occurred.

You're probably going to need to have kept a record of every time you were contacted for the debt in question. This means keeping a log of every incident, with time stamps and information exchanged.

If they emailed you, texted you, called you, or contacted you in some other way, you need to be able to show proof of every instance. As such, you want to be sure not to delete or erase any messages or contact attempts.

If a debt collector left voicemails, make sure that you save every single one of them. Write down words exchanged so you can show the judge what was said.

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.

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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.

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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 collection FAQs

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

Debt collection documents and templates

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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

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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.

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