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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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)
Make a reasonable settlement offer that is less than the maximum amount you can pay.
Be prepared to engage with ACS through multiple rounds of negotiations.
If you are able to reach a debt settlement agreement with ACS, memorialize the terms in writing.
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:
Accredited Collection Services reviews on Google 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.
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.
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
Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.
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 all 50 states.
Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.
Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.
We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.
You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.