If you’ve received a phone call from someone representing AMCOLLECT/ACEI, you may be stressed about what to do next. You may not know whether the debts they’re chasing you for are yours or whether they’re legitimate. You might even want to hide or ignore the problem and hope it goes away.
However, it’s important to keep track of the debt collection process and to know your rights. Otherwise, you could end up getting into even worse trouble or hurting your credit. Read on to find out what you should do if AMCOLLECT/ACEI contacts you.
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What is American Collections Enterprise, Inc. (ACEI)?
Established in 1993, American Collections Enterprise, Inc., which is sometimes referred to as ACEI or AMCOLLECT, is a debt collections agency headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. As well as debt collection, they offer other services like skip-tracing (tracking down missing debtors) and reporting to the credit bureaus.
Alternative names for American Collections Enterprise, Inc.
American Collections Enterprise, Inc. is also known as AMCOLLECT (which is the name they use on their own website). Online, the company is often referred to as ACEI.
What kinds of debts does American Collections Enterprise, Inc. collect?
American Collections Enterprise, Inc. collects debt for small-to-medium-sized US businesses from various sectors. The types of debts they collect include:
- Medical
- Dental
- Hospital and outpatient surgical centers
- Tuition and school fees
- Commercial (business to business)
- Banking (credit cards, loans, etc.)
- Bad checks
- Unpaid utilities
- Landlord/tenant/real estate
Is American Collections Enterprise, Inc. a legit debt collection company?
Yes, American Collections Enterprise, Inc. is a legit debt collection company. They’re a member of ACA International (the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals), which is a trade association for professional businesses and individuals in the industry.
However, you still need to be careful. Although ACEI is a real debt collection company, scammers often pose as debt collectors. If you get a call from someone claiming to be an ACEI representative, don’t pay them any money right away. You can tell whether you’re talking to a legitimate debt collector by contacting ACEI using the contact information above.
Note that ACEI should have sent you debt validation proving that you owe the debt when they first contacted you, as required by law. If they didn’t send you validation, it’s a significant red flag.
Also, even if ACEI is legit, it’s still possible they could use unethical tactics. Debt collectors are well-known for being aggressive when they pursue debts. In fact, ACEI has been taken to court in the past for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (a law that protects borrowers from predatory debt collectors and harmful debt collection practices).
If ACEI is calling you, make sure you know your rights, and don’t give out your personal information or agree to pay anything over the phone.
How to deal with ACEI
Ready to take control of your debt with ACEI? Choose the methods you want to attempt below.
Dispute Collections If the debt is inaccurate, learn how to remove the collection from your credit report. | Stop Harassment If your rights are being violated, learn how to fight back using protections under federal law. |
Verify Debt If you're not certain the debt is yours, request more information (and temporarily stop collection efforts). | Pay Debt Collector If you're ready to pay up, learn how to do it in a way that keeps you on better financial footing. |
