Frequently Asked Questions
Advocates for Consumers in Debt (ACD) is a dedicated advocacy group of counselors, not lawyers. We help consumers exercise their rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by stopping harassment and ensuring debt collectors follow federal law.
No. ACD never charges consumers.
With your consent, ACD, on your behalf, will send a formal "Cease and Desist" letter and confirm delivery. After that, debt collectors are legally prohibited from contacting you.
According to the FDCPA, the debt collector must notify the credit bureau so that the consumer’s credit report reflects that the consumer is disputing the debt. If the collector fails to do this, that is an FDCPA violation.
If they violate the FDCPA, by either contacting you after they have received the “Cease and Desist” notice or have failed to notify the credit bureau that you have disputed a debt, the collector can be sued at no cost to you. In fact, you can receive up to $1,000 in damages.
Yes, and do not ignore it. You may then want to contact the Attorney representing the debt collector to see if you can manage a cash settlement (if you have the funds available), or a monthly settlement amount to avoid a judgment being taken against you. You can consult with a local Attorney to represent you in that lawsuit. ACD can provide some additional resources that may be able to assist you.