Updated by Attorney Derek DePetrillo on May 15, 2024
Chainlink Services Debt Collection Harassment?
Chainlink Services Debt Collection Harassment? Do they threaten to take legal action or garnish your wages? Are they calling you at all hours or several times a day? Are they telling your family and neighbors that you owe a debt? If so, what they are doing is illegal and needs to stop. You have the legal right to stop Chainlink debt collection harassment. If a collection agency violates the FDCPA, you may be eligible to receive up to $1000.00 in statutory damages, along with covering your attorney fees.
Who is Chainlink Services?
According to their website Chainlink Services is a licensed, full-service consumers asset management company that focuses on recovery of delinquent consumer debt. With the objective of delivering best in-class customer service, our goal is to service the consumer with the care and detail everyone deserves.
Chainlink Services was formally known as PNC Consumer Services.
Address: 5385 Main Street Suite 4
Williamsville, NY 14221
Phone: 888-202-4257
FAX: 716-219-8785
Email: admin@chainlinkservicesllc.com
How do debt collection agencies work?
Debt collectors are agencies whose job is to pursue debtors on behalf of a first-party creditor and attempt to get them to pay their debts.
If you are getting calls from a debt collector or you think you may be getting calls from them soon because of a debt that you have, you will need to understand how debt collection agencies work. Understanding this will give you a better idea of the aim and interests of a debt collector and how their minds usually work, helping you to be better prepared for their calls, to communicate better with them, and make informed decisions.
There are different types of debts, collections, and collection agencies, but there is a general sequence.
When you default on your regular debt payments, the original creditor will try to use their best effort to attempt to collect their debt from you usually within about 3 to 6 months.
However, if for whatever reason they’re not successful, they can choose to outsource it to a collection agency. The collection agency then begins to pursue the debt like they’re the original creditor.
If you owe money to an XYZ bank for example, for the first 6 months, they will be the ones calling you. After 6 months, the calls may still come, but it may be from a debt collector. The caller may still say they’re from XYZ bank, but he may actually be from ABC collection agency. The creditor pays the collection agency a commission when they collect the debt.
Commissions for collection agencies have considerably come down over the years because credit card companies and banks have been squeezing them to try to get a reduction in the amount of money, they spend in trying to collect bad debt. Therefore, the commission rate could be anywhere from 10 to 20 percent.
As a general rule, as the debt gets older – for example, if it goes past the statute of limitations period, and it can’t be settled in court – the commission rate for the collection agency goes higher. It might be as high as 40 or 50 percent of whatever they collect.
Another option for some creditors explores is to sell off the debt. Sometimes, the creditor can sell off the debt completely to a collection agency for pennies on the dollar, depending on the type of debt it is.
The debt buyer can in turn choose to get another debt collector to pursue the debt for them or pursue it by themselves. Debt collection involves several ordeals and layers of interactions, depending on the type of debt, how old it is, and the decision of the original creditor.
If you’re getting calls about a debt, it may not be from your original creditor, but rather from the debt collector who they have enlisted to collect it.
You should make proper inquiries about the debt and ask questions about the original creditor to confirm that the debt is actually yours and see what options are available for you to pay up. The FDCPA allows you to ask questions about the debt, the amount, and the original creditor.
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that provides protections to consumers against abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices. Violations of the FDCPA can occur when debt collectors engage in prohibited conduct during the process of attempting to collect a debt. Here are some common FDCPA violations:
- Harassment or Abuse: Debt collectors are prohibited from using harassment or abuse in connection with the collection of a debt. This includes threats of violence, use of obscene or profane language, repeated phone calls with the intent to annoy or harass and publicizing the consumer’s debt.
- False or Misleading Representations: Debt collectors may not use false or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt. This includes misrepresenting the amount or status of the debt, falsely implying that failure to pay will result in arrest or legal action, or misrepresenting themselves as attorneys or government officials.
- Unfair Practices: Debt collectors are prohibited from engaging in unfair practices that can cause harm to consumers. This includes adding unauthorized fees or charges to the debt, contacting consumers at inconvenient times or places, or threatening actions that cannot legally be taken.
- Contacting Third Parties: Debt collectors are generally prohibited from disclosing information about a consumer’s debt to third parties, such as friends, family members, or employers. They may only contact third parties to obtain location information about the consumer, and even then, they are limited in what they can say.
- Failure to Provide Required Disclosures: Debt collectors must provide certain disclosures to consumers, including information about the amount and nature of the debt, the name of the original creditor, and the consumer’s rights under the FDCPA. Failure to provide these disclosures can constitute a violation of the law.
- Threatening Legal Action: Debt collectors may not threaten legal action that they do not intend to take or cannot legally take. For example, threatening to sue a consumer without the intent or ability to do so can constitute a violation of the FDCPA.
- Failure to Cease Communication Upon Request: Upon a consumer’s request, debt collectors must cease communication with them. Continued communication after receiving such a request can be a violation of the law.
Common Questions
Can Chainlink Services garnish my wages? Yes, a debt collector can garnish your wages on a Federal Student loan or if they obtain a judgment from the courts.
Can Chainlink Services sue me? Yes, you can be sued so long as the debt is within the statute of limitations
Can Chainlink Services report my debt to the collection’s bureaus? Yes, Debt collectors are allowed to place the collection account on your credit report
Can Chainlink Services arrest me? Debt collectors don’t have the authority to have you arrested for a debt. However, if you violate a court order, e.g., an order to appear in court, the judge can issue a warrant for your arrest. Depending on the laws in your state, you may be arrested for certain debts like unpaid child support or traffic tickets.
About Us
Consumer Rights Law Firm, PLLC is a law firm that specializes in helping clients who are facing harassment from debt collectors in any form, including telephone communication. Rather than suffer alone, contact our office to begin the process to stop the Chainlink Services harassment. Our office has been assisting consumers since 2010. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Consumer Rights Law Firm Better Business Bureau
If you are interested in learning more about how to safeguard yourself and prevent harassment from Chainlink Services call us at (877)700-5790 for immediate assistance or visit our website at We Stop Debt Collection & Phone Harassment – Call Now at 877-700-5790 (consumerlawfirmcenter.com)
Success Stories
“I would highly recommend the Consumer Rights Law Firm to anybody that has been harassed! They were very professional and straightforward about my rights”.
“I had the pleasure of dealing with Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC on 2 different occasions the staff were very courteous and helpful, and they were familiar with the Collection Agency’s in question and the harassment calls stop, I was even compensated. I would recommend this company to anyone going thru this type of harassment a very satisfied customer”.
“Because of a lie from a third-party debt collector that threatened me financially I nearly made the mistake of paying the debt collector money I couldn’t afford. The people here were friendly, knowledgeable and settled my case quickly. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!”
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