A.R.M. Solutions Called You: What to Do Right Now

A call from A.R.M. Solutions landed on your phone. They say you owe money. Maybe they left a voicemail mentioning a lawsuit. Maybe they sent a letter with your name misspelled. Now you're wondering: is this real, or am I being scammed?

A.R.M. Solutions is legitimate. They're a New York-based debt collection agency working for hospitals, utility companies, subscription services, and commercial creditors. But legitimate doesn't mean correct. Debt collectors make mistakes. They buy old accounts with missing paperwork. They call the wrong person. Before you pay a cent, you need to verify what they're claiming.

Who A.R.M. Solutions Collects For

A.R.M. Solutions handles debts across five main industries:

• Medical providers: Hospitals, imaging centers, private practices
• Utilities: Propane delivery, waste management, water districts
• Commercial accounts: Business-to-business invoices
• Media subscriptions: Magazines, digital services
• Insurance carriers: Unpaid premiums, coverage gaps

They don't buy debt outright. They collect on commission, which means the original creditor still owns your account. This matters later if you negotiate.

Your First Move: Demand Debt Validation

Do not confirm anything over the phone. Do not give them your bank account number. Do not agree the debt is yours.

Instead, send a debt validation letter within 30 days of first contact. This letter forces A.R.M. Solutions to prove:

• The debt amount is accurate
• They have the legal right to collect
• The original creditor's name and address
• Documentation showing you signed for this debt

Mail it certified with return receipt. Once A.R.M. Receives your letter, they must stop collection activity until they send proof. If they can't prove it, the debt dies.

Many debts fail validation. Accounts get sold multiple times. Paperwork gets lost. Medical bills have wrong patient IDs. A 2021 study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that 30% of Americans have an error on their credit report. Validation catches those errors.

Know Your Rights Under Federal Law

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) limits what A.R.M. Solutions can do. These actions are illegal:

• Calling before 8 a.m. Or after 9 p.m. In your time zone
• Calling you at work after you tell them not to
• Discussing your debt with your employer, neighbors, or family
• Threatening arrest (debt is civil, not criminal)
• Claiming you'll be sued when they have no intention to file
• Adding fees not authorized by your original contract
• Continuing contact after you send a cease communication letter

If A.R.M. Solutions violates any of these, document it. Note the date, time, caller's name, and what they said. You can sue them for up to $1,000 per violation, plus actual damages and attorney fees. File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or call 855-411-2372.

Check the Statute of Limitations

Every state sets a deadline for suing over unpaid debt. This is the statute of limitations. It ranges from three years in some states to ten in others. Medical debt, credit card debt, and utility bills each have different clocks.

If your debt is past the statute of limitations, A.R.M. Solutions can still call you. But they can't win a lawsuit. If they sue anyway, you file an Answer citing the expired statute as your defense. The case gets dismissed.

Crucial: making a payment or even acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the clock in some states. That's why you never confirm anything before validation.

If the Debt Is Valid: Negotiate a Settlement

Your validation letter comes back with proof. The debt is real. You owe it. Now what?

Most collectors, including A.R.M. Solutions, will accept less than the full balance. They're working on commission and want to close your file. Industry data shows collectors typically settle for 40-60% of the original amount.

Start your offer at 25% of the balance. If they counter at 70%, meet them around 50%. Get the settlement in writing before you send money. The agreement must state:

• The exact dollar amount you'll pay
• That this payment settles the debt in full
• That A.R.M. Solutions will report the account as "paid" or "settled" to credit bureaus
• A deadline for them to update your credit report

Never give them access to your bank account via automatic withdrawal. Pay with a cashier's check or money order so you have proof.

If They Sue You: File an Answer

A.R.M. Solutions filed a lawsuit. You got served with a Summons and Complaint. You have 20-30 days to respond, depending on your state.

Filing an Answer is not optional. If you ignore the lawsuit, A.R.M. Wins by default. They get a judgment, which means wage garnishment and bank levies are on the table.

Your Answer should:

• Deny any claims you dispute
• Admit only what you know is true
• Raise affirmative defenses (statute of limitations, lack of proof, wrong amount)
• Demand they prove they own the debt and have standing to sue

Once you file, you force them to produce evidence. Many debt collection lawsuits collapse when collectors can't find the original signed contract. If you need help drafting your Answer, check if bankruptcy might stop the lawsuit entirely.

When Bankruptcy Makes Sense

If A.R.M. Solutions is one of several creditors piling on, bankruptcy might be the cleanest exit. Chapter 7 wipes out medical debt, credit card debt, utility bills, and most other unsecured debts in four months.

The moment you file, an automatic stay kicks in. All collection calls stop. All lawsuits freeze. Wage garnishments end. A.R.M. Solutions must back off immediately or face sanctions.

Bankruptcy costs $300-$400 in court fees plus attorney fees if you hire one. But it erases debts you'd spend years paying off. If you're facing $10,000 or more in collections across multiple accounts, bankruptcy might save you more than negotiating.

What Not to Do

When A.R.M. Solutions calls, these mistakes make things worse:

• Confirming your identity: Say "I need to verify who you are first" and hang up.
• Giving them your bank info: They'll drain your account.
• Agreeing to a payment plan without a written agreement: Verbal promises mean nothing.
• Ignoring a lawsuit: Default judgments are brutal and hard to overturn.
• Paying a debt you don't recognize: Validation first, payment later.

A.R.M. Solutions and Your Credit Report

A.R.M. Solutions reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A collection account tanks your credit score by 70-100 points. It stays on your report for seven years from the date of first delinquency.

Paying the debt doesn't remove it. The account gets marked "paid" but stays on your report. If you negotiate a settlement, it shows as "settled for less than full balance," which is still negative but better than unpaid.

One strategy: negotiate a pay-for-delete agreement. You pay the full amount (or close to it), and A.R.M. Agrees to remove the collection from your credit report entirely. Get this in writing before you pay. Not all collectors do this, but it's worth asking.

How to Stop the Calls

A.R.M. Solutions must stop calling if you send a written cease communication letter. This is separate from debt validation. Once they receive your letter, they can only contact you to:

• Confirm they received your letter and will stop calling
• Notify you they're taking a specific action, like filing a lawsuit

Send it certified mail. Keep a copy. If they call after receiving it, file a complaint with the CFPB and consider talking to a consumer rights attorney. Violations of cease communication orders are easy wins in court.

Where to Get Help

If A.R.M. Solutions is pressuring you and you're not sure what to do, you have options:

• Free legal aid: Search "legal aid" plus your state. Many offer free debt collection defense.
• Credit counseling: Nonprofit agencies can review your situation and help you respond.
• Consumer rights attorneys: They often work on contingency for FDCPA violations. You don't pay unless you win.
• Bankruptcy attorneys: Most offer free consultations. They'll tell you if filing makes sense.

You're not stuck. Debt collectors have power, but you have rights and leverage. Use them.