Are You Receiving Harassing Calls from Emergent Business Group?

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Is Emergent Business Group or one of its alternate names like Emergent Servicing calling you repeatedly, threatening legal action, or continuing to call after you’ve told them to stop? You are not alone, and what they may be doing could violate federal law. This guide explains exactly who Emergent Business Group is, what their documented complaint patterns look like, what federal court litigation has been filed against them, and the precise steps to take to stop the harassment today.

Who Is Emergent Business Group?

Emergent Business Group, Inc. (EBG) is a third-party debt collection and receivables management company based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, founded in 2015 and incorporated in 2017. It provides both first- and third-party collection services as well as debt purchasing and portfolio acquisitions. The company reports over 100 years of combined industry experience among its leadership and received up to $10 million in Series A funding from Strandview Capital in 2018, reflecting institutional backing and scale within the receivables industry.

Known DBA names and alternate identities:

Emergent Servicing: the name most commonly used in consumer-facing collection contacts
Emergent Portfolio Services: used in portfolio acquisition contexts
New Century Financial Services: a third DBA documented in federal litigation

Key personnel (per BBB filing):

Bruce White Sr.: CEO
Sam Ison, Esq.: VP of Operations
Chuck Riter: Manager of Customer Care

Debt types collected: Credit card debt, consumer installment loans, subprime auto loan deficiencies, student loans, and emerging online credit products (fintech lending)

PA Department of Banking and Securities license number: 64228

BBB accreditation status: NOT accredited, the BBB profile lists EBG as a collections agency in Horsham, PA with no BBB accreditation and no published BBB rating.

One thing consumers consistently misunderstand about companies like EBG is the difference between a servicer and an owner. EBG’s own BBB complaint responses make this explicit: in multiple cases, Emergent states clearly that it does not own the accounts it is collecting — it is a servicer acting on behalf of an original creditor or debt buyer. That distinction matters because it means the debt has likely changed hands at least once before reaching EBG, and with each transfer, documentation can erode and debt amounts can be misrepresented.

Is Emergent Business Group Legit or a Scam?

Emergent Business Group is a real, licensed debt collection company regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (license no. 64228) and supported by institutional investment, with an active compliance process for BBB complaints. However, licensing does not guarantee that every debt they pursue is valid or every collection practice is lawful. The company has received multiple BBB complaints in recent years, has been named in a federal FDCPA class action, and consumers have alleged issues such as continued calls after cease requests, inconsistent balances, and unprofessional conduct. The recent increase in complaints may indicate a shift in collection activity or portfolio behavior that warrants attention.

Emergent Business Group Reviews and Consumer Complaints

The BBB complaint record for Emergent Business Group, Inc. is publicly available at Better Business Bureau. and documents a consistent set of consumer concerns. What follows are direct summaries based on the publicly filed complaints.

Complaint: Continued calls after written cease-and-desist (filed December 2023, BBB Complaint #21009015):

“Emergent Servicing calls me on a regular basis. They have been told on multiple occasions that they are to cease and desist any further phone calls, and that if they need to contact me, they are to do so by mail and mail only, yet they continue to call. It has gotten to the point I am seriously considering filing a lawsuit against them for harassment and violation of my rights under FDCPA.”

This is a textbook FDCPA violation allegation. Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), once a consumer communicates in writing that they wish all contact to cease, the collector may make only one further contact — to confirm the cessation or to notify the consumer of specific legal action. Continuing to call is an independent violation for which statutory damages of up to $1,000 may be recoverable.

Complaint: Workplace calls and third-party disclosure (filed December 2023, BBB Complaint #20980847):

“This client has been harassing my co-workers and family members about some debt they claim I owe. All they need to do is send a letter explaining the debt to the address on file and stop harassing me by calling my work. If I lose my job I will never be able to pay. The reason my boss knew it was a collection agency calling is they automatically said ‘this call is recorded’…”

EBG’s own response confirmed the calls to the consumer’s workplace and explained it as a compliance measure but also acknowledged the calls stopped only after the BBB complaint was filed. Under FDCPA § 1692c(a)(3), a debt collector may not contact a consumer at their place of employment if the collector knows or has reason to know that the employer prohibits such communications.

Additional documented complaint patterns from BBB filings:

Consumers unable to reach the company by phone, with all numbers appearing disconnected, while still being contacted by the company
Payment settlement amounts not being properly credited to or reported to the original creditor
Accounts transferred to new collectors after EBG collected settlement payments, with no satisfaction reported
Debt balance increasing without explanation while consumers tried to update payment methods

In our practice, we frequently see this combination of inaccessibility and continued collection activity, where a company is aggressively outbound on calls but unreachable when a consumer tries to make a payment, dispute a charge, or request documentation. That asymmetry is not an accident; it creates the conditions for violations.

Emergent Business Group Phone Numbers

Emergent Business Group / Emergent Servicing contacts consumers from multiple numbers. Consumers have reported receiving calls from numbers associated with the company’s Horsham, PA headquarters. The company uses alternate business names in caller ID, meaning a call identified as “Emergent Servicing” or “New Century Financial Services” is the same operation.

If you are receiving calls from any unfamiliar Pennsylvania-area or toll-free number referencing a credit card, installment loan, auto deficiency, or student loan, document the number, date, time, and content of each call. This log is the foundation of any FDCPA claim.

Why Is Emergent Business Group Calling Me?

If Emergent Business Group is contacting you, it typically means they are attempting to collect a consumer debt such as a credit card balance, installment loan, auto deficiency, or student loan that has been placed with them by an original creditor or debt buyer. EBG operates as both a first-party servicer and a third-party debt collector, meaning it may collect on behalf of lenders or accounts transferred for collection. In BBB responses, the company states it does not own the debts it handles and instead acts as a servicer, indicating the accounts originate with and remain owned or assigned by another entity.

Reasons you may be receiving calls include:

Your credit card, auto loan, or installment loan was charged off and the account was assigned to EBG for third-party collection
An online fintech lender (EBG specifically mentions serving “emerging online credit providers”) transferred your account after default
A student loan servicer assigned your account to EBG for recovery
Your account was previously with another collector and has now been reassigned to EBG
EBG has the wrong contact information and is attempting to reach someone else with a similar name or old phone number

One thing consumers often misunderstand is that receiving a call from a third-party servicer like EBG does not mean you owe exactly what they are claiming. The amount they quote may include fees, interest, or charges added after the charge-off that are not legally authorized under your original agreement. You have the right to request a complete accounting before making any payment.

Emergent Business Group Phone Harassment Patterns

Based on BBB complaints and the consumer complaint record, the documented harassment patterns associated with Emergent Business Group / Emergent Servicing include:

Continued calls after explicit cease-and-desist instructions: the December 2023 BBB complaint documents this directly and is corroborated by EBG’s own timeline of events
Calls to the workplace: calls placed to consumers’ employers that disclosed the existence of a debt collection matter, as documented in BBB Complaint #20980847
Calls to family members and co-workers third-party disclosures about the debt, which the FDCPA forbids except under very narrow circumstances
Unauthorized card charging attempts: running a payment card multiple times per day without authorization, and attempting to charge a second card the consumer never authorized, as described in BBB Complaint #21928283
False or misleading threats: implying a consumer could face criminal theft charges for a civil consumer debt, as documented in BBB Complaint #20576381 and acknowledged by EBG in its own response
Payment processing failures: collecting settlement payments but failing to properly report the satisfaction to the original creditor, resulting in consumers being contacted again by new collectors
Operational inaccessibility: consumer complaints consistently describe phone numbers that go unanswered or disconnected, making it impossible to update payment information, dispute charges, or request documentation

Federal Lawsuits Against Emergent Business Group

Case 1: Moon v. Emergent Business Group, Inc. et al

Court: U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey Docket: 2:18-cv-09238 Filed: May 15, 2018 Claims: FDCPA, misleading debt validation notice

This proposed FDCPA class action against Emergent Business Group, Inc. (also operating as Emergent Servicing and New Century Financial Services) was filed by a New Jersey consumer over a collection letter that stated the debt would be assumed valid unless disputed within 30 days. The complaint alleged this language was misleading because it failed to clearly explain that, under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(a)(3), disputes must be made in writing to trigger key protections. It argued that the omission could mislead the “least sophisticated consumer” into unknowingly losing important legal rights.

Official case source: ClassAction.org: Moon v. Emergent Business Group, Inc.

Our firm’s perspective: The “least sophisticated consumer” standard protects non-lawyers who read collection letters literally. When a collector omits that disputes must be in writing, it can mislead consumers into thinking a phone call is enough when it is not. This class action highlights why written, certified-mail disputes are essential and identifies all consumers who received EBG’s letters during the class period as potentially affected.

Case 2: Buttrey v. Emergent Business Group, Inc.

Court: U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio Docket: 1:24-cv-00182 Filed: April 2, 2024 Claims: FDCPA, default judgment proceedings following alleged debt collection violations

This FDCPA action was filed by an Ohio consumer, Brandy Buttrey, against Emergent Business Group, Inc. The case proceeded through standard litigation steps, including service of summons and complaint, followed by the defendant’s failure to timely respond, resulting in a clerk’s entry of default. The defendant later appeared, moved to set aside the default, and filed corporate disclosures and related motions. The case was ultimately dismissed with prejudice on February 28, 2025, subject to potential reopening if a settlement was not finalized.

Official case source: PacerMonitor docket record for Buttrey v. Emergent Business Group

Our firm’s perspective: This case reflects a procedural FDCPA dispute where initial non-response led to default, later corrected through appearance and motion practice. It underscores how quickly FDCPA cases can escalate when deadlines are missed and why early, timely participation in the litigation process is critical for both sides.

FDCPA and EFTA Violation Reference Table

Violation Type	Emergent Business Group Example	Statute
Continued calls after cease request	Documented in BBB #21009015; calls continued until explicit verbal request	FDCPA § 1692c(c)
Workplace contact	Calls to employer, colleague answered; disclosed debt collection context	FDCPA § 1692c(a)(3)
Third-party disclosure	Calls to family members and co-workers disclosing debt	FDCPA § 1692b, 1692c(b)
False criminal threat	Implying “intent to steal” for a civil lease debt	FDCPA § 1692e(4)
Misleading validation notice	Omitting “in writing” from dispute rights notice (Moon lawsuit)	FDCPA § 1692g
Unauthorized card charges	Charging unrelated card twice daily, attempting second unauthorized card	FDCPA § 1692f(1); EFTA § 1693
Payment not credited	Settlement funds collected but not reported as satisfaction to creditor	FDCPA § 1692f
Unprofessional/abusive conduct	Threatening theft accusation; hanging up; refusing to hear consumer explanation	FDCPA § 1692d
False representation of debt	Implying higher balance without documentation	FDCPA § 1692e(2)

How to Stop Emergent Business Group Calls

Step 1: Document Every Interaction

Begin keeping a detailed record of all communications from Emergent Business Group. Log the date, time, phone number, caller identity, and a summary of what was said. Note any aggressive language, inconsistencies in the debt amount, or automated/robo-call indicators. Preserve all voicemails, letters, emails, and screenshots. This documentation is essential if you later challenge the validity or legality of the collection efforts.

Step 2: Request No Further Contact in Writing

You have the right under the FDCPA to demand that Emergent Business Group stop contacting you. Send a written cease-communication request by certified mail with return receipt to their listed address. Once received, continued calls or messages may constitute separate violations under federal law. Keep all proof of delivery.

Step 3: Demand Written Debt Validation

Under FDCPA § 809(b), you can request full written verification of the alleged debt within 30 days of initial contact. After receiving your dispute, Emergent Business Group must pause collection activity until they provide proper documentation, including the original creditor and itemized balance. If they cannot validate the debt, they may not lawfully continue collection.

Step 4: File Complaints With Regulatory Agencies

Report the company’s conduct to the CFPB, FTC, FCC (if robocalls are involved), BBB, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. These agencies track patterns of misconduct and may investigate repeated violations.

Step 5: Speak With Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC

If Emergent Business Group is contacting you without proper validation, continuing after a written dispute, reporting inaccurate information, or attempting to collect a debt you do not recognize, you can contact Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC at (877) 700-5790 for a free case review. FDCPA and TCPA violations may allow recovery of statutory damages, actual damages, and attorney’s fees with no upfront cost.

State-Specific Legal Protections

Emergent Business Group collects from consumers nationwide. Depending on your state, you may have additional protections beyond the federal FDCPA:

Pennsylvania (home state): The Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (FCEUA) mirrors and supplements the FDCPA for Pennsylvania consumers. The Pennsylvania Attorney General actively enforces consumer protection laws against licensed collection agencies.
New Jersey: The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act provides additional remedies for consumers harassed by debt collectors, including the ability to recover treble damages in certain cases. EBG’s federal class action was filed by a New Jersey consumer.
All states: The FDCPA applies uniformly regardless of state. Statute of limitations is one year from the date of each violation.

CONSUMER RIGHTS LAW FIRM, PLLC

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 Emergent Business Group harassment. Our office has been assisting consumers since 2010. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

If you are interested in learning more about how to safeguard yourself and prevent even more harassment from Emergent. Business Group, call us at (877)700-5790 for immediate assistance or visit our website.

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Frequent Asked Questions

1. What is Emergent Business Group and what do they do?
Emergent Business Group, Inc. (EBG) is a third-party debt collection agency headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania, founded in 2015. The company provides receivables management, debt servicing, and asset investigation services for financial institutions, credit card lenders, and auto lenders. They also operate under the alternate business names Emergent Portfolio Services and Emergent Servicing.

2. Is Emergent Business Group a legitimate company or a scam?
Emergent Business Group is a legitimate, privately held debt collection company that has received venture capital funding. However, the company has been the subject of numerous consumer complaints and at least one class action lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Their BBB profile shows multiple complaints regarding billing issues, harassment, and improper debt collection practices.

3. What is Emergent Business Group’s BBB rating and complaint history?
The BBB profile for Emergent Business Group shows several customer complaints filed against the company, including issues with continued harassing phone calls and billing disputes. One complaint alleged the company called a consumer’s parents in another state looking for her, which may violate debt collection laws. The business has responded to complaints, with some being resolved by closing accounts and returning them to clients.

4. Has Emergent Business Group faced any lawsuits?
Yes, in May 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against Emergent Business Group in federal court alleging the company sent deceptive collection letters. The lawsuit claimed the collection letter failed to properly inform consumers that disputing a debt must be done in writing, violating FDCPA Section 1692g(a)(3). The plaintiff sought statutory damages and attorney fees for all consumers who received similar letters.

5. Can Emergent Business Group call my family members or employer?
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors can contact third parties like family members only to locate you, not to discuss the debt. One complaint alleged Emergent called a consumer’s parents in another state, which may violate federal law if the debt was discussed. If a collector contacts your family or employer about your debt rather than just to obtain location information, they may be violating your legal rights.

6. What should I do if Emergent Business Group contacts me about a debt?
First, do not provide any personal financial information or make a payment over the phone without written verification. Request a debt validation letter within thirty days of their first contact, which they are required to provide by law. Keep detailed records of all communications, including dates, times, and the names of representatives who contact you.

7. What if I believe the debt Emergent Business Group is collecting is not mine?
You have the right to dispute the debt in writing within thirty days of receiving their initial notice. Several complaints indicate Emergent has handled fraud claims by sending fraud packets with instructions, including obtaining a police report. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, request a fraud packet from the company and file a police report promptly.

8. Can Emergent Business Group sue me or garnish my wages?
Debt collectors can potentially sue you for unpaid debts, but they cannot make empty threats to do so without intending to take legal action. If they obtain a default judgment against you (which can happen if you ignore a lawsuit), they may be able to garnish your wages. Contacting an attorney before the situation escalates to a lawsuit is strongly recommended if you believe the debt is invalid or your rights are being violated.

9. What laws protect me from harassment by Emergent Business Group?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits abusive, threatening, or misleading practices by debt collectors. This includes calling repeatedly to harass you, using false information, threatening violence or arrest, and calling at unreasonable hours. If Emergent violates the FDCPA, you may be entitled to damages of up to $1,000 plus attorney fees and court costs.

10. Where can I file a complaint against Emergent Business Group?
You can file a complaint against Emergent Business Group with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the CFPB online, or your state attorney general’s office. You may also consider consulting a consumer protection attorney, especially if you believe the company has violated the FDCPA through harassment, deceptive letters, or improper third-party contacts.

Attorney Derek DePetrillo

Attorney Derek DePetrillo graduated from the Massachusetts School of Law in 2007 and was admitted to practice law in the State of Massachusetts in 2007. Mr. DePetrillo is also licensed in many federal jurisdictions across the United States.

Mr. DePetrillo has been assisting consumers with consumer protection since 2010. Mr. DePetrillo’s main area of practice is under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Mr. DePetrillo has filed countless lawsuits and arbitration claims against debt collectors and banks. Mr. DePetrillo fights for the little people who have had their rights violated and need a helping hand to guide them through the stressful times of debt collection.

Disclaimer: The information contained in these articles is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Reading or relying on this content does not create an attorney-client relationship with our firm. Because every legal matter is unique, you should consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific circumstances before making any legal decisions.