Is Credence Resource Management Legit? Why Are They Calling Me?

If you have recently received a call or letter from Credence Resource Management, you are not alone. They are a notoriously aggressive collection agency that is known for violating the law. People have made multiple complaints to the Better Business Bureau about this agency for everything from false debt reporting to harassment. There are over 100 lawsuits in 19 states against Credence Resource Management LLC. You should check your credit report for debt from this agency. Even if the debt CRM reported is legitimate, you may be entitled to compensation. 

Credence Resource Management is based out of Dallas, Texas. They have repeatedly reported false debt to the credit bureaus and taken money from people's bank accounts without their consent. They use multiple phone numbers with various area codes.

How Do I Know if My Rights Have Been Violated?

There are a few different laws governing the rights of consumers when it comes to debt collection and several different agencies that enforce these laws. It is helpful to know what these laws are so you can call an attorney if Credence Resource Management or any other collection agency disobeys one of these rules.

Debt Reporting Laws

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act sets the standards for the way collection agencies can go about collecting a debt. Collection agencies are only allowed to call you during the hours of 8:00 am to 9:00 p.m. in the area where the debtor is located. They must announce that they are calling to collect a debt and that the information you tell them will be used to get their money. They must allow you to challenge the validity of any debt they put on your credit report. If they violate these rules, they may owe the debtor as much as $1,000.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act

Robocalls are calls made automatically by a computer. They often do not have a greeting or say exactly where they are from. In many cases, they will not give you clear instructions for opting out of future calls unless you give them certain personal information. They may not tell you why they are calling and force you to call them back if you want further information.

When robocalls were invented, most people had landlines and only used their cell phones occasionally. Hence certain protections apply strictly to cell phones. The TCPA states that you cannot ever make robocalls to a person’s cell phone unless they have given you express permission to do so. If a collector or marketer violates these rights, you may be entitled to restitution of $500.00

The Electronic Funds Transfers Act

The EFTA states that you must agree to have electronic payments taken from your checking account. If an agency tries to do this without your permission, they violate your rights. 

Consumer protection laws exist for a good reason. When your rights are violated, it can hurt your credit rating and your reputation. It is important to fight back and stand up for your rights when an agency harasses you.