The Law Office of Paul Mankin

Is A-1 Collection Service Harassing You?

A-1 Collection Service

A-1 Collection Service is a debt collection agency located in New Jersey. A-1 Collection Service’s parent company is the TRAF Group, who also operates under the names American Trading and Credit America. A-1 Collection Service is incorporated in New Jersey as the TRAF Group and has been doing business since 1964.

Contact Information

2297 Highway 33 Ste 906

Trenton, NJ 08690-1717

http://www.trafgroup.org/

(609) 771-9200

Since 2016, a total of 16 complaints have been filed against the A-1 Collection Service with the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency that protects consumers from unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices has received 87 complaints against the company since 2013. Violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) alleged in these complaints include the company: 

  • Refusing to provide consumers with the name and address of the original creditor
  • Failing to send consumers verification of the debt
  • Continuing collection efforts without providing verification of the debt
  • Failing to identify disputed debts as such

The FDCPA requires that a debt collector provide a consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, the amount of the debt, and notice that the consumer has thirty days to dispute the debt. The collector must also inform the consumer that if he/she disputes the debt within the thirty days, it will send the consumer verification of the debt. If the consumer disputes the debt within the given thirty days, the collector must provide that verification and stop all collection efforts until it has done so.  

According to a majority of the complaints against A-1 Collection Service, not only does it refuse to provide consumers with verification of a debt and continues its collection efforts once verification has been requested, but it also pursues collection efforts on debts that have been paid or discharged in bankruptcy, attempts to collect fees and charges not authorized by law, and falsely reports information to credit reporting bureaus.

Creditors and debt collectors need to be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold the TRAF Group and A-1 Collections Service accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.