One of the
largest debt buyer organizations in America In 2005,
Collect America owner Phillip Scott Lowery reportedly sold
his operations for $350 MILLION to an organization called
First Analysis Private Equity Fund IV, in collaboration
with co-investor KRG Capital.
The
Collect America system is comprised of approximately thirty
franchisee’s across the country, with an attorney name on their door.
Some of the attorneys such as Sam W. Streeter of Houston, have
been dubbed ‘Rent-A-Lawyers’ due to their total lack of debt
collection law and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
experience.
*Collect America Franchisees:
Law Office
of Sam W. Streeter, Houston, TX
Richard G. &
Catherine A. Neuheisel Law Firm, Tempe, AZ
Neuheisel Law
Firm, Deborah Sue Harvego, Sacramento, CA
Law Office
of Thomas K. Bamford, Dallas, TX
Harold E.
Scherr, Attorney at Law, Longwood, FL
Bronson and
Migliaccio Attorneys, Williamsville, NY
Bronson and
Migliaccio Attorneys, Elmwood Park, NJ
Phillips and
Cohen and Associates, Westampton, NJ
Law Office
of Larry Roach, Copley Twp, OH
Phillip
Scott Lowery P.C., Denver, CO
Law Office
of Joe Pezzuto, Phoenix, AZ
Law Office
of J. Anthony Cambece, Boston, MA
Workman Law
Office, P.A., Jacksonville, FL
Collect
America, LTD, Denver, CO
Gamache and
Myers, St Louis, MO
P. Scott
Lowery, P.C., Tulsa, OK
Law Office of
Wilfred E. Briesemeister, Montclair, CA
Harrison Ross
Byck, Morrisville, PA
Daniels &
Norelli, P.C., Westbury, NY
Davis Law
Office, Russell A. Davis, Solana Beach, CA
Richard
DeJana & Associates, Kalispell, MT
Dennis
Michael Dendy Law Office, Gretna, LA (Houston TX)
Daniel N.
Gordon, P.C., Eugene, OR
Mims, Jerry
M., Attorney, Islip Terrace, NY
Pentagroup
Financial, LLC, James J. Thorpe, Attorney, Houston, TX
(represents
CACV & CACH)
(*May not
accurately reflect all franchisees)
Since the sale of the main
organization, Denver Attorney Phillip Scott Lowery and his
collectors that include attorneys David L. Michael and James
R. Wolf have relocated to the Cherry Creek Drive address.
Scott and wife Texie were rumored to have moved to Vail, CO,
however he reportedly still is involved in the day to day operations
through brother
Arthur Todd Lowery.
CACV of
Colorado, LLC. which stands for Collect America Collection Vehicle
and CACH, LLC are the debt purchasing arms of Collect America. Lowery and associates
reportedly purchase these accounts for pennies
on the dollar, then attempt to collect on the full value. Collect America does place these accounts on
credit bureau reports under the names CACV, CACH and Collect
America. Under provisions of federal law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act
(FCRA), they may NOT stay past the date of last activity as
stated by the original creditor and the information and amounts
reflected MUST be accurate, as stipulated by federal law.
The ONLY
thing that can restart a ‘date of last activity’ is by YOU making
a payment, Collect America cannot change it under any
circumstances. You should always obtain copies of your credit reports
directly from the credit bureaus to compare those dates. You have the
right to dispute any debt buyer account found on your credit reports as
“Not My Account” with the credit bureaus. Always
keep copies of credit reports for reference. If a date of
activity has been changed in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may be able to take legal
actions against whomever in federal court for violating the law. Contact me
for referral to a local consumer law professional.
If you are
ever sued by a Collect America attorney it is VERY
important that you respond to that suit. An attorney from the National
Association of Consumer Advocates may be able to assist you, I
recommend you visit:
www.naca.net
