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West Asset Management

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Debt collectors like cannot harass you over a debt. You have rights under the law, and we will stop the harassment once and for all.THE BEST PART IS…If violated the law, you will get money damages and they will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. Plus, some of our clients also receive debt relief and cleaned-up credit reports. You have nothing to lose! Call us today at 888-572-0176 for a free consultation.

Who is ?

is a debt collection agency, the parent corporation of which is West Corporation, based in Omaha, Nebraska. The company is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has received over 70 BBB complaints within the past three years, most of which are for billing/collection problems. In 2011, West Asset paid a then-record civil penalty of $2.8 million to the Federal Trade Commission for a long list of violations of the FTC Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), not the least of which was withdrawing funds from consumers’ bank accounts and/or charging their credit cards without their consent.Consumers also allege harassing phone calls, HIPAA violations, wrongfully damaging debtors’ credit reports based on mistaken identity, and a common pattern of accepting debt payments without confirming the debt as paid or removing the associated information from consumers’ credit reports.

’s Address, Phone Number, and Contact Information

is located at 7171 Mercy Road, Omaha, NE 68106. The main telephone number is 800-841-9000 and its website is https://www.west.com/industries/financial-services/.

Phone Numbers Used by

Like many debt collection agencies, may use many different phone numbers to contact debtors.  For an advanced search, visit www.agrussconsumerlaw.com/ and click “Number Search” in the “Lookup” dropdown menu.  Here are some phone numbers may be calling you from:

  • 209-800-1043
  • 214-506-7144
  • 214-506-7172
  • 323-203-0823
  • 615-763-4788
  • 800-270-1022
  • 877-411-7197
  • 888-589-9642
  • 903-891-1132
  • 972-217-8317

Lawsuits

If you want to know just how unhappy consumers are with , take a look at the number of lawsuits filed against the agency on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (“PACER”). PACER is the U.S.’s federal docket which lists federal complaints filed against a wide range of companies. A search for will display over 600 lawsuits filed against the agency across the United States for violations of consumer rights and/or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Complaints

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law which applies to everyone in the United States. In other words, everyone is protected under the FDCPA, and this Act is a laundry list of what debt collectors can and cannot do while collecting a debt, as well as things they must do while collecting debt. If is harassing you over a debt, you have rights under the FDCPA.The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) protects you from robocalls, which are those annoying, automated, recorded calls that computers make all day long. You can tell it’s a robocall because either no one responds on the other end of the line, or there is a delay when you pick up the phone before a live person responds. You can receive $500 per call if violates the TCPA. Have you received a message from this agency that sounds pre-recorded or cut-off at the beginning or end? These are tell-tale signs that the message is pre-recorded, and if you have these messages on your cell phone, you may have a TCPA case against the agency.The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) protects electronic payments that are deducted from bank accounts. If took unauthorized deductions from your bank account, you may have an EFTA claim against the agency. , like most collection agencies, wants to set up recurring payments from consumers; imagine how much money it can earn if hundreds, even thousands, of consumers electronically pay them $50 – $100 or more per month. If you agreed to this type of reoccurring payment, the agency must follow certain steps to comply with the EFTA. Did continue to take electronic payments after you told them to stop? Did they take more money from your checking account than you agreed to?  If so, we can discuss your rights and potential case under the EFTA.The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) works to ensure that no information reported to your credit report is false. In essence, it gives you the right to dispute those inaccuracies that you find on your credit report. We’ve handled many cases in which a debt collection agency reported debt on a consumer’s credit report to obtain leverage over the consumer. If is on your credit report, they may tell you that they’ll remove the debt from your credit report if you pay it; this is commonly known as “pay for delete.” If the original creditor is on your report rather than the debt collector, and you pay off the debt, both entities should accurately report this on your credit report.Several states also have laws to provide its citizens an additional layer of protection. For example, if you live in California, Florida, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Wisconsin, you may be able to add a state-law claim to your federal law claim above.  North Carolina, for example, has one of the most consumer-friendly statutes in the country: if you live in NC and are harassed over a debt, you may receive $500 – $4,000 in damages per violation. We work with a local counsel in NC and our NC clients have received some great results in debt collection harassment cases. If you live in North Carolina and are being harassed by a debt collector, you have leverage to obtain a great settlement.

How do we Use the Law to Help You?

We will use state and federal laws to immediately stop ’s debt collection. We will send a cease-and-desist letter to stop the harassment today, and if violates the FDCPA, EFTA, FCRA, or any state law, you may be entitled to money damages. For example, under the FDCPA, you may receive up to $1,000 in damages plus actual damages. The FDCPA also has a fee-shift provision, which means the debt collector will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs. If you have a TCPA case against the agency, we will handle it based on a contingency fee and you won’t pay us a dime unless you win.THAT’S NOT ALL…We have helped hundreds of consumers stop phone calls from and we know how to stop the harassment and get you money damages. Once again: you will not pay us a dime for our services. We will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or contingency fee, and the debt collector will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs.

What if is on my Credit Report?

Based on our experience, some debt collectors may credit-report, which means one may mark your credit report with the debt they are trying to collect. In addition to or instead of the debt collector, the original creditor may also be on your credit report in a separate entry, and it’s important to properly identify these entities because you will want both to update your credit report if or when you pay off the debt.THE GOOD NEWS IS…If is on your credit report, we can help you dispute it. Mistakes on your credit report can be very costly: along with causing you to pay higher interest rates, you may be denied credit, insurance, a rental home, a loan, or even a job because of these mistakes. Some mistakes may include someone else’s information on your credit report, inaccurate public records, stale collection accounts, or even being a victim of identity theft. If you have a mistake on your credit report, there is a process to dispute it, and my office will help you obtain your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information.REMEMBER…If a credit reporting agency violates its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you may be entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000, and the credit reporting agency will be required to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision, which means the credit reporting agency will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. We have helped hundreds of consumers fix inaccurate information on their credit reports, and we’re ready to help you, too.

Complaints against

If you’re on this page, chances are you are just like the hundreds of consumers out there being harassed by . Here are some of the BBB reviews and complaints against :

  1. “Noncompliance to FDCPA. Violation of FCRA. Breech of HIPAA. is collecting and reporting an account in violation of FDCPA, FCRA and Breech of HIPAA. I started receiving a ton of calls and I answered a few and they were rude and absolutely horrible to deal with. I was just talked over and they demanded payment. I tried to ask questions or even explain what I thought was going on. I got sick of getting hung up on and stopped answering any unknown number. I mailed this company a letter requesting the surety bond agreement and license number for their agency with this creditor. I also asked for the complete payment history, all conversations recorded both with original creditor and this agency. I asked for FCRA 623 documents through the CFPB and NEVER received all the documentation that proves they have legal right to be doing what they are doing. SO I mailed THREE cease and desist letters stating stop all calls, emails, letters and delete from CRA’s immediately per FCRA. They continue to ignore my requests and continue to report and collect illegally! I have had my family members harassed, my employer called, even my employer was told there would be fees for paperwork if they did not comply with this collection agency. They hide behind a ton of different numbers and REFUSE to comply with laws of FDCPA and FCRA! The account listed on my credit is INSTANT HIPAA violation even stating medical so the companies that inquire my credit see my personal confidential medical information!!”
  2. “I Mrs. ****** ********** have paid all debt due from me to this company, however it is still listed against me on my credit report. I am in the process of purchasing a home, however there are negative items on my credit report that is costing me a less than favorable score. I have tried to get this matter handle by calling the company that have these items listed against me in order to correct the matter, but have been unsuccessful. I am including their address and phone numbers listed, however no one ever answers the phone…”
  3. “Have no dealings with me – won’t stop calling. These people call numerous times a day, from a number located in my area code. I’ve called them back to ask why they’re calling, and each time I’ve called someone tells me my number is NOT in their computer and they don’t have an account listed with my telephone number. Then, a week later, they’re back calling 3 and 4 times a day again. If they have no account for my phone number, WHY ARE THEY CALLING 4 TIMES A DAY???? I have no outstanding debts, and have no reason to have ANY dealings with these people. I have had the same phone number for ** years, so they are not trying to reach someone else at my number. Have NO idea why they persist in calling my telephone, but I WANT THEM TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.”

Cases We’ve Handled against

I think you’ll agree when we say that threats and harassment from collection agencies can be pretty intimidating. However, we can stop the harassment and get you money damages under the law, and the collection agency will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs. Here are some cases we’ve handled against :

  1. Hassell H. v. – In September 2015, Hassell of Noble County, Indiana, pursued a claim against for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Complaints included using “false representations or deceptive means” to attempt to collect debt and failure to report the plaintiff’s disputed debt to the credit bureaus. The case was resolve in December 2015 and Hassell was pleased with the outcome.
  2. Sharniece D. v. – In June 2015, Sharniece of St. Clair County, Illinois, pursued a claim against for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Complaints centered on West Asset’s failure to identify itself as a debt collector when leaving voicemail messages and otherwise attempting to collect debt. The case was resolved in August 2015 and Sharniece was happy with the results we obtained for her.
  3. Liliana W. v. – In April 2013, Liliana of Portland, Oregon, pursued a claim against for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Complaints included harassing phone calls, “harassing, oppressive, or abusive” conduct when attempting to collect debt, and contacting the plaintiff after receiving a cease-and-desist letter. The case was resolved in May 2013 and Liliana was relieved we were able to stop the harassment.

What Our Clients Say about Us

Mike Agruss Law has over 690 outstanding client reviews through Yotpo, an A+ BBB rating, and over 100 five-star reviews on Google. Here’s what some of our clients have to say about us:“Michael Agruss handled two settlements for me with great results and he handled them quickly. He also settled my sister’s case quickly and now her debt is clear. I highly recommend Michael.”“Mike Agruss Law was very helpful, they helped me solved my case regarding the unwanted calls. I would highly recommend them. Thank you very much Mike Agruss!”“Mike Agruss Law was very helpful to me and my veteran father! We were harassed daily and even called names for a loan that was worthless! Agruss stepped in and not only did they stop harassing, they stopped calling all together!! He even settled it so I was paid back for the problems they caused!”

Can Sue Me?

Although anyone can sue anyone for any reason, we have not seen sue consumers, and it’s likely that the agency does not sue because they don’t always own the debt they are attempting to collect, and would also need to hire a lawyer, or use in-house counsel, to file a lawsuit. It’s also likely that the agency collects debt throughout the country, and it would be quite difficult to have lawyers, or a law firm, licensed in every state. However, there are collection agencies that do sue consumers; for example, Midland Credit Management is one of the largest junk-debt buyers, and it also collects and sues on debt. Still, it is less likely for a debt collector to sue you than for an original creditor to hire a lawyer or collection firm to sue you. If has threatened to sue you, contact Mike Agruss Law as soon as possible.

Can Garnish my Wages?

No, unless they have a judgment. If has not sued you, then the agency cannot get a judgment. Barring limited situations (usually involving debts owed to the government for student loans, taxes, etc.), a company must have a judgment in order to garnish someone’s wages. In short, we have not seen this agency file a lawsuit against a consumer, so the agency cannot garnish your wages, minus the exceptions listed above. If has threatened to garnish your wages, contact our office right away.

Settlement

If you want to settle a debt with , ask yourself these questions first:

  1. Do I really owe this debt?
  2. Is this debt within the statute of limitations?
  3. Is this debt on my credit report?
  4. If I pay this debt, will remove it from my credit report?
  5. If I pay this debt, will the original creditor remove it from my credit report?
  6. If I pay this debt, will I receive confirmation in writing from for the payment and settlement terms?

These are not the only things to consider when dealing with debt collectors. We are here to help you answer the questions above, and much more. Whether it’s harassment, settlement, pay-for-delete, or any other legal issue with , we at Mike Agruss Law are here to help you.

Share your Complaints against Below

We encourage you to post your complaints about . Sharing your complaints against this agency can help other consumers understand what to do when this company starts calling. Sharing your experience may help someone else!HERE’S THE DEAL!If you are being harassed by over a debt, you may be entitled to money damages – up to $1,000 for harassment, and $500 – $1,500 for illegal robocalls. Under state and federal laws, we will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or contingency fee, which means the debt-collector pays your attorneys’ fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. We have settled thousands of debt collection harassment cases, and we’re prepared to help you, too. Contact Mike Agruss Law at 888-572-0176 to stop the harassment once and for all.

Submitted Comments

john jay
10 years ago
all required info is false I don't trust anyone with personal info but the blank is complete to send the mail which is true add 904 600 5275 to West Asset Management numbers they're in Middleburg FL
patti
9 years ago
Add 559 702 4053. This # shows up in my call history on work phone. No message and it's always after I leave for the day.
Magruss
9 years ago
Hi Patti, Thank you for letting me know 559-702-4053 is one of West Asset Management's phone numbers, too. Have you received something in writing from West Asset Management? If not, you should call them up and ask them to send you something in writing. You should also ask West Asset Management the following questions: 1. Who is the original creditor? 2. How much money is owed? 3. Is the debt within the statute of limitations? 4. Is the debt being reported on your credit report? Please let me know if you have any other questions. I've helped dozens of consumer being harassed by West Asset Management. I can help you, too. Thanks, Mike.
Stephanie Yarbrough
9 years ago
Hi, West Asset now has my student loan. They said they sent a form for me to fill out saying how much I make per month it was called a alternative form of documentation. I never received it, I told them that today, the lady was rude and said yes it shows here you received it I looked all through my emails I informed her I did not. So, they fax me the form I fill it out along with two current pay stubs. This is so they can set me up on a payment plan based on my income. They told me my student loan was pending garnishment and that I needed to get the forms in right away. Because of all the horrible reviews I'm afraid to give them any of my account information.
Brenda Lowery
9 years ago
Add 256-906-0182 and 256-906-0185. I do not answer calls from numbers I do not recognize and I have blocked these numbers. I will continue to not answer and block their numbers.
Jack H.
8 years ago
I spoke to nick at the west asset management to resolve my student loan default. I call nick yester afernoon, try to get my student loan resolve, get out of default, so the irs would not withheld my tax return.I am trying to get out of default of my student loan.
Laura
7 years ago
I'm not sure. I just received a call from. I just received a call at WORK from West Asset Management. I've never heard of this company before and have no idea what they are calling about. When she asked for me by first and last name, I told her "I" wasn't available, but she could leave a voicemail for me, she declined and stated she'd call back later. I guess, I should call them back on my lunch and let them know this is my work number and not to call it. Who the hell are these people and how did they get my work number to begin with? Then, if I continue to get harassed, I should contact you again? I just googled Asset Management after I hung up with her, as I wasn't sure if this was a personal matter or a business matter. Your company's page popped up and I thought I'd find out a little more. Well, I don't have any details yet. I think I'll need to call Asset Management back, to see what this is about, then contact you again when I know. I don't know what they are contacting me for, but I was not happy that they are calling me at work for a debt collection, if that is what this is? If I do continue with your company's services, would you be my direct contact? Or would I be directed to someone else? Please go ahead and forward my info on to the lawyer. I believe this may be student loan obligation, but I will not know until I call them back today. I will be calling them back in the next hour or so!
Chris
7 years ago
I've come across, through my ""protectNyId account thar there is derogatory info on my report pertaining to West Asset Management. What is Potentially Negative Information? An item is ""Potentially Negative"" when a credit reports that you have not met the terms of your agreement with them. This may include late payments, charged off accounts, accounts sent to collection, bankruptcies, liens, judgements, etc. I'm not sure what this account pertains to. also, the savings in my bank account has been taken and is gone. I'm trying to determine what happen if maybe the tax matter I may have might have something to do with it. I'm going to the franchise tax board to see if there's any matter I need to address. I've spoken to a tax resolution specialist and was told they're services would cost $3600. this is another derogatory iten in my report!
Nancy
7 years ago
Just want to verify my bal. acct no 214-22525817. you hold the records and are not willing to give me my balance, I'll call them. Sorry to have bothered you!
Rajanae
6 years ago
They harass me about 8,000 dollars I owe from a car loan!

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