How to Resolve Debt With Southwest Recovery Services (SWRS)
Southwest Recovery Services is a legitimate debt collector, but you don't have to pay immediately when they contact you. Send a Debt Validation Letter to verify the debt is yours and accurate. If SWRS validates the debt, you can negotiate a payment plan or settlement for less than you owe.
Answer Your LawsuitCalls from debt collectors never come at convenient times. Getting repeated calls from Southwest Recovery Services can feel overwhelming and stressful.
You might want to ignore the calls and hope they stop. Running from debt never works though. The debt grows and damages your financial health.
Respond to Southwest Recovery Services in Court
SWRS filed a lawsuit against you? Don't let the court issue a default judgment. Draft and file your Answer in minutes with professional guidance.
File Your Answer NowYou shouldn’t ignore Southwest Recovery Services. But you also shouldn’t pay them immediately. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Southwest Recovery Services?
Southwest Recovery Services is a debt collection company based in Dallas, Texas. The company calls itself a “nationally recognized leader” in the debt collection industry.
SWRS doesn’t operate in Oregon or Washington. If you live in either state, you won’t hear from them.
Southwest Recovery Services collects all types of debts. Common debts include past-due rent, medical bills, and credit card accounts. The company works with various creditors across multiple industries.
Don’t confuse Southwest Recovery Services with Spire Recovery Solutions. Both companies use similar abbreviations (SWRS and SRS). You need the correct company information when sending letters or making payments.
Contact Information for SWRS
Southwest Recovery Services headquarters: 16200 Addison Road, Suite 260, Addison, TX 75001
Main phone number: 866-551-2888
SWRS operates offices in these locations:
- Addison, TX
- Austin, TX
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- Midland, TX
- Oklahoma City, OK
- San Antonio, TX
- Snellville, GA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
Is Southwest Recovery Services Legitimate?
Yes, Southwest Recovery Services is a legitimate debt collection company. Being legitimate doesn’t mean consumers like dealing with them though.
Consumer Complaints About SWRS
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) database shows nearly 500 complaints against SWRS between December 2011 and November 2023. Most complaints came from Texas residents.
Common complaints include:
- Attempting to collect debts consumers don’t owe
- Refusing to verify debts when requested
- Trying to collect more than the actual amount owed
- Representatives using rude or obscene language
The Better Business Bureau gives SWRS a B rating as of August 2024. The company isn’t BBB accredited. SWRS received over 100 complaints in the past three years.
Some complaints may have been misdirected. People sometimes confuse Southwest Recovery Services with Spire Recovery Solutions. The BBB noted this confusion on the SWRS profile.
Your Rights When SWRS Contacts You
Debt collectors want you to panic and pay without asking questions. Many people do exactly that because they don’t know their legal rights.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects you. You have the right to ask any collection agency to verify your debt in writing.
You exercise this right by sending a Debt Validation Letter. Our partner Solo can help you create this letter quickly and correctly.
What to Include in Your Debt Validation Letter
Your Debt Validation Letter must request six specific pieces of information:
- The original creditor’s name (who you originally owed)
- The exact amount allegedly owed
- A copy of the original contract or agreement
- The date of the most recent transaction or payment
- Proof that SWRS has legal rights to collect this debt
- SWRS’s license number to operate in your state
Send your letter via certified mail with return receipt requested. You’ll have proof that SWRS received your request.
What Happens After You Send the Letter
Southwest Recovery Services must stop collection activities once they receive your Debt Validation Letter. They cannot contact you until they provide the requested proof.
If SWRS can’t validate your debt, you don’t legally owe it. Collection agencies rarely admit this. They’ll simply stop contacting you about that particular debt.
If SWRS Validates Your Debt
You have several options when SWRS provides valid proof:
Negotiate a payment plan: You can arrange monthly payments that fit your budget. Collection agencies often accept reasonable payment arrangements.
Settle for less: SWRS may accept a lump sum payment for less than you owe. Many collectors settle debts for 40-60% of the balance.
Dispute inaccurate information: Check the amount carefully. Collectors sometimes add incorrect fees or interest charges.
Request a pay-for-delete agreement: Ask SWRS to remove the collection account from your credit report after payment. Get this agreement in writing before paying.
Negotiating With Southwest Recovery Services
You hold more power than you might think. Debt collectors buy debts for pennies on the dollar. They profit even when accepting less than the full amount.
Start your negotiation at 25-30% of the debt. Work your way up slowly. Never reveal your maximum budget during initial conversations.
Get everything in writing before sending money. Written agreements protect you if disputes arise later.
Our partner Solo can negotiate with Southwest Recovery Services on your behalf. Professional negotiation often results in better settlement terms.
What If SWRS Already Sued You
Southwest Recovery Services may file a lawsuit to collect the debt. You’ll receive a court summons if this happens.
Never ignore a lawsuit. Courts grant default judgments when defendants don’t respond. Default judgments allow wage garnishment and bank account levies.
You must file an Answer to the lawsuit within the deadline stated on your summons. Each state has different response deadlines, typically 20-30 days.
Your Answer should include defenses and affirmative defenses. Common defenses include statute of limitations, lack of proof, and improper service.
Our partner Solo helps you draft and file a proper Answer to debt collection lawsuits. You can respond to the summons correctly without hiring an expensive attorney.
Protecting Your Credit Report
Collection accounts damage your credit score significantly. A Southwest Recovery Services collection can drop your score by 50-100 points.
Check your credit reports from all three bureaus. Look for inaccurate information about the SWRS collection account.
Dispute any errors with the credit bureaus. They must investigate and correct inaccurate information within 30 days.
Consider requesting a pay-for-delete agreement. SWRS isn’t required to grant this request, but many collectors do accept these arrangements.
Know When to Seek Legal Help
You might need professional assistance in certain situations:
- SWRS violates the FDCPA through harassment or threats
- The debt amount is very large (over $10,000)
- SWRS has already filed a lawsuit against you
- You believe the debt is beyond your state’s statute of limitations
- You’re considering bankruptcy to handle multiple debts
Consumer protection attorneys often work on contingency for FDCPA violations. You won’t pay upfront fees if the collector violated your rights.
Taking Control of Your Financial Future
Dealing with Southwest Recovery Services feels stressful. You have rights and options though. Debt collectors count on consumers not knowing how to respond.
Send a Debt Validation Letter as your first step. Verify the debt is legitimate before paying anything. Negotiate payment terms or settlement amounts that work for your budget.
Face your debt directly instead of avoiding it. You can resolve this collection account and move forward with better financial health.