How to Handle MRS Associates Debt Collection Calls

MRS Associates Inc. is a debt collection company known for aggressive tactics. After a call from them, you likely feel annoyed, confused, and angry. MRS debt collectors often dictate conversations and come across as disrespectful.

This article covers everything about MRS Associates, your rights, and how to respond when they contact you.

What is MRS Associates?

MRS Associates, also known as MRS Innovative Solutions and MRS BPO LLC, collects debts from multiple industries. These include commercial, e-commerce, parking, road tolls, financial services, technology, telecommunications, utilities, education, auto, and retail.

Companies hire MRS Associates to follow up on overdue debt. They give MRS an agreed percentage of collected money. Alternatively, MRS buys your debt account from the original lender. The client could be a creditor or another collection agency.

MRS has been in business for over 31 years. They are Better Business Bureau accredited but have a poor 1.12 star rating. Their unprofessional collection methods caused this low score.

Physical Address:
1930 Olney Ave
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003-2016

Phone Number: (888)-334-5677

Website: https://www.mrsbpo.com

MRS primarily uses agents to contact debtors by phone or mail. They violate consumer rights by calling multiple times daily. They also call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. They are aggressive, making debtors feel uncomfortable and disrespected. Some consumers report feeling stalked due to MRS’s unrelenting nature.

MRS Associates Has Bad Reviews and Many Complaints

MRS Associates has changed its name due to numerous complaints. If you feel frustrated with MRS, you are not alone.

As of 2022, MRS Associates has received 256 complaints on its BBB profile. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported 137 complaints against MRS. These complaints mention the following:

• MRS calls multiple times daily to discuss a debt.
• MRS reports fraudulent debts to credit bureaus.
• When consumers pay off a debt, MRS does not mark it as paid.
• MRS sends settlement letters to bait consumers into calling them.
• MRS does not remove negative credit reports after full payment.

Here is a real example from the MRS Associates BBB profile:

“Keep calling at least twice a day and refuse to identify self. I am more than capable of establishing they are trying to collect from someone who is not me. They will not remove my phone number unless I give them my information. I don’t have anything on my credit report from this company.”

If you have experienced these tactics, you should learn about your consumer rights. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act can protect you.

The FDCPA Regulates MRS Associates

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects people from harassing debt collectors. Many debt collectors don’t abide by the FDCPA, including MRS Associates. Like any debt collection agency, MRS must adhere to Fair Trade Commission laws.

Dealing with debt collectors can be confusing. You must know your rights under the FDCPA to protect yourself.

A debt collector violates the FDCPA if they:

• Call you at work when your employer prohibits such communications.
• Call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Lie about who they are.
• Threaten to harm you or your family physically or financially.
• Use obscene or profane language during phone calls.
• Discuss your debt with friends, family members, or coworkers.
• Threaten to take legal action they cannot or do not plan to take.

If MRS Associates has used these tactics, you are not alone. MRS calling at odd hours is common for most consumers. MRS Associates frequently disregards the FDCPA in favor of their interests.

If MRS violated your consumer rights, report them to the FTC online. You can also submit a complaint on the CFPB platform. Report it to your state’s attorney general as well.

Use These Options to Fight MRS Collection Agency

When a debt collection agency attempts to collect from you, the debt enters your credit report. Your credit report will reflect that creditors assigned MRS to collect from you. Fortunately, you have options to remove this information from your credit report.

DIY Credit Repair

Many DIY credit repair guides can show you how to remove debt. These entries include collections, charge-offs, and judgments.

When you invest in a repair guide, you learn how to remove unwanted entries. The guide will explain every step needed to improve your credit score. These steps include:

1. Request your credit report: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax must send you a free copy yearly.
2. Assess your credit report: Check how MRS collections entry affected your credit score.
3. Devise an action plan: Plan how you will implement challenges to repair your credit.
4. Dispute inaccurate entries: Write a dispute letter to the three credit bureaus.
5. Pay down debts that belong to you: The best way to improve your score is paying off debts.

The above steps can help repair your credit report and improve your score. Although it may take time to clear some debt, you can strike a deal with MRS. Request them to delete the debt from your credit report once you pay.

Keep Accurate Notes

Debt collectors usually call consumers in a hurry. They convince them to make debt payments without confirming any information. When a MRS debt collection agent calls you, keep a record of the conversation:

• The number of times they call
• The agent’s name
• The number used to contact you
• The time of day
• The length of your conversation

The more information you log, the better your chances of winning a case. The same applies to any mail sent from MRS Associates. Never throw their mail away, no matter how aggravated you feel.

Request a Debt Validation

Often, debt collectors try to collect using information from old, outdated debt. They can do it intentionally to pull in extra revenue. They may also do it unintentionally because information was erroneously transferred.

The main aim is to be sure the debt is valid. You have a legal right to request debt validation.

Send a Debt Validation Letter to MRS Associates

Send a Debt Validation Letter to MRS debt collection agency. Request them to provide more details on the debt in question. Debt verification helps you avoid paying more than you owe. You also avoid paying a debt that is not yours.

Debt validation can also help you avoid being sued for a debt.

You may discover that the harassment you deal with is unfounded. Just because MRS Associates has one of your old bills doesn’t mean you owe them money. If the debt is invalid, the law dictates that MRS must cease all collection attempts. Request that they send debt validation via certified mail.

You also have rights under the statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations is the timeline a debt collector has to collect. After that, the debt is time-barred.

Every state has a different timeline for the statute of limitations. The type of debt also determines the timeline for collection. For example, the statute of limitation for car loans in most states is four years. Credit cards usually have a six-year statute.

The statute of limitations clock starts when you fail to make a scheduled payment. Every time you make a payment on the account, the clock resets. Before you agree to pay a debt collector, check the statute of limitations. You want to avoid resetting your clock.

Example: Scott defaulted on an auto loan repayment. The creditor realized the debt would expire in 25 days. They hired MRS collection agency to collect from him. The agents started calling Scott multiple times daily. They threatened him with a lawsuit. Even if MRS sends a lawsuit via certified mail, the debt will expire. They cannot take legal action against Scott for not responding.

Negotiate a Debt Settlement

When you confirm the debt belongs to you, inform MRS you want to settle. The amount you want should be one you can pay without defaulting. Once they agree, prepare yourself with the amount you want to begin negotiating.

MRS may have bought the debt for pennies on a dollar. They can take a lower amount of up to 50% less. On other occasions, the creditor is happy to receive any amount. They may accept even 30% of the entire debt.

For example, if you have a debt of $1,100, start negotiating at $450. MRS may begin with $850. Give another counter offer of $550 as you explain your situation. They may counter again and stop at $600. Take the offer if they refuse to budge.

What if MRS Associates Sues Me for a Debt?

The first step to beating MRS Associates in court is responding to the lawsuit. You need to respond with a written Answer. Follow these three steps to respond to a debt collection lawsuit:

1. Respond to each claim listed in the Complaint document. When you’re sued for a debt, you receive two legal documents. These are the Summons and the Complaint. The Summons notifies you of the lawsuit. The Complaint lists the specific claims MRS Associates is making against you. In your Answer document, respond to each claim from the Complaint. Admit, deny, or deny due to lack of knowledge. Most attorneys recommend denying as many claims as possible.
2. Assert your affirmative defenses. An affirmative defense is any legal reason MRS should not win. For example, if the statute of limitations has expired, include this as an affirmative defense.
3. File your Answer with the court and send a copy to MRS Associates. Be sure to send your documents via certified USPS mail. Request a return receipt.

Our partner Solo can help you draft and file an Answer in all 50 states. You can respond to MRS Associates in just 15 minutes.