A call from an unfamiliar collector is unsettling on its own. According to FTC records, Regional Adjustment Bureau, Inc. paid a $1.5 million penalty in a 2014 enforcement action. The agency also operates as RAB Patient Services and RAB Collections while collecting medical and student loan debts.
Reviewed by Jeff Wood, consumer protection attorney. Sourced from FTC case records and federal court filings. Last updated August 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Regional Adjustment Bureau, Inc. (RAB) is a Memphis, Tennessee collector founded in 1971, specializing in medical and student loan debt
- The FTC imposed a $1.5 million penalty on RAB for deceptive and unfair FDCPA violations (W.D. Tenn. No. 2:14-cv-02522)
- RAB also operates as RAB Patient Services and RAB Collections, and is related to RAB Performance Recoveries, LLC
- Whitley v. RAB alleged the company failed to disclose whether a balance was increasing from interest or fees
- Each unauthorized automated call to your cell may carry a separate TCPA claim worth $500 to $1,500
- The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency, whether or not you owe the debt
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Regional Adjustment Bureau (RAB)?
Regional Adjustment Bureau, Inc. is a third-party debt collector founded in 1971 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with an additional office in Plano, Texas. RAB is licensed in all 50 states and specializes in medical debt recovery and defaulted student loan collections. The company markets its healthcare division under the name RAB Patient Services, also abbreviated RAB Patient Svcs.
If you searched RAB Inc, RAB Collections, or RAB Patient Svcs, these all point to the same company. Rabinoc Recovery Services and Regional Recovery Services are separate, unaffiliated entities despite the similar names. This page covers Regional Adjustment Bureau, Inc. specifically.
In our practice, we pull RAB’s original creditor placement letter on every file, because that document confirms which entity, RAB or RAB Performance Recoveries, actually holds authority to collect. A mismatch between the calling name and the placement letter is often the first documentation problem we find.
Contact information:
- Also known as: RAB, RAB Inc, RAB Collections, RAB Patient Services, RAB Patient Svcs
- Related entity: RAB Performance Recoveries, LLC
- Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee (founded 1971)
- Additional office: 6504 International Pkwy, Suite 2100, Plano, TX 75093
- Phone: (972) 233-1131 | 972-233-1131 | 9722331131
- Specialty: Medical debt collection and federal student loan recovery
Why Is Regional Adjustment Bureau Calling You?
Regional Adjustment Bureau is calling you about a medical bill or a student loan, its two primary debt categories. If RAB or RAB Patient Services is calling, the debt likely originates from a hospital or physician group. If RAB is calling about a student loan, a guaranty agency or federal servicer likely assigned the account.
As a third-party collector, RAB must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in every contact. Its FTC enforcement history shows those rules have allegedly been broken at scale before.
For medical debt, verify the balance against your insurance explanation of benefits before engaging RAB. For student loans, federal loans allow administrative collection tools like wage garnishment without a court judgment, while private loans require one first. If RAB blurs that distinction, that may be an FDCPA violation.
Is Regional Adjustment Bureau a Scam?
Regional Adjustment Bureau is a real, licensed debt collection agency, but licensed does not mean every tactic is legal. According to FTC records, the agency’s $1.5 million penalty reflects real compliance findings, not rumor. A call that feels like a scam may instead reflect RAB’s documented FTC history rather than actual fraud.
Consumers have alleged that RAB representatives misstated balances or omitted required disclosures. If a call felt off, the issue may be a genuine FDCPA violation rather than an impersonation attempt.
Is Regional Adjustment Bureau Banned by the FTC?
No, RAB has not been banned from collecting debts. Yes, the FTC did take formal action against the company.
- FTC v. Regional Adjustment Bureau, Inc. (W.D. Tenn. No. 2:14-cv-02522): the FTC imposed a $1.5 million civil penalty for deceptive and unfair FDCPA practices, documented on the FTC’s case page.
A penalty of that size signals a documented pattern rather than an isolated lapse. If RAB is currently contacting you, a review can check whether the same practices from that case are still occurring on your account.
In our experience, a penalty this size often means the underlying conduct outlasts the case that produced it. When we review a current RAB file, we check whether the same disclosure failures from the FTC action are still showing up in the client’s calls today.
What RAB Cannot Legally Do
RAB’s marketing emphasizes professionalism, but its enforcement record shows conduct can diverge from that image. Federal law prohibits RAB from doing any of the following, regardless of how it brands itself.
- Calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone
- Using abusive, profane, or threatening language
- Threatening arrest or property seizure over a consumer debt
- Misrepresenting the amount owed or adding unauthorized fees
- Failing to disclose whether a balance is increasing from interest or fees, an allegation raised against RAB in a federal court complaint
- Discussing your debt with your employer, family, or coworkers
- Using an automated dialer to call your cell without prior consent
- Continuing to call after a written cease-and-desist request
Each unauthorized automated call may be a separate TCPA violation worth $500 to $1,500. Review your rights at the FTC’s debt collection resource.
In our practice, when a client reports an automated or prerecorded call to their cell phone, we request the carrier call log first, because that record is often the strongest evidence behind a standalone TCPA claim, separate from whatever the underlying debt turns out to be.
How to Respond to Regional Adjustment Bureau (RAB)
Given this documented history, your first steps matter.
- For medical debt: verify the balance against your EOB and contact your provider and insurer before engaging RAB.
- For student loans: check studentaid.gov for your rehabilitation and repayment options before accepting any RAB proposal.
- Send written validation within 30 days by certified mail to RAB’s Plano address, requesting the original creditor and an itemized balance.
- Document every call, including the date, time, number, and content, and note any automated or prerecorded calls.
- Send a cease-and-desist by certified mail if calls continue, and keep the receipt as proof of delivery.
How to Remove Regional Adjustment Bureau From Your Credit Report
A RAB entry can suppress your score and stay on file for up to seven years. Your options depend on the debt type.
- Medical debt under $500: federal rules bar these entries entirely. Dispute immediately with all three bureaus.
- Medical debt reported within one year of service: dispute with documentation of the service date.
- Inaccurate balance: a federal complaint has alleged RAB failed to disclose balance changes in at least one case. Dispute any discrepancy with supporting records.
- Pay-for-delete: negotiate written deletion from all three bureaus before paying, and get it in writing.
Inaccurate reporting may also support a separate Fair Credit Reporting Act claim alongside any FDCPA issue.
In our practice, we compare RAB’s reporting date against the original service date on every medical account we review, because that single comparison often surfaces a reporting violation before any formal dispute is filed.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps With RAB Cases
RAB’s $1.5 million FTC penalty and its federal court history give well-documented claims real leverage. We review the placement letter, the call log, and any balance disclosures together to see where your specific file breaks from what the law requires.
The Wood Firm PLLC has handled FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA cases exclusively since 2010, representing consumers only. A review costs nothing upfront, and RAB pays our fees if we win. Call +1-844-638-1122.
Whether you owe the debt or not, a review can identify violations worth pursuing. Visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency, so if RAB violated federal law, RAB pays our fees, not you.
Common Questions About Regional Adjustment Bureau (RAB)
Is Regional Adjustment Bureau the same as Rabinoc Recovery Services or Regional Recovery Services?
No. Rabinoc Recovery Services and Regional Recovery Services are separate, unaffiliated companies. RAB also operates as RAB Collections and RAB Patient Services, and is related to RAB Performance Recoveries, LLC.
What was the FTC enforcement action against RAB about?
The FTC imposed a $1.5 million civil penalty on RAB for deceptive and unfair FDCPA practices, documented at case No. 2:14-cv-02522 in the Western District of Tennessee.
Can RAB garnish my wages for a medical debt without suing me first?
No. For medical debt, RAB must obtain a court judgment before garnishing wages. Only federal student loans allow administrative garnishment without a judgment.
What is RAB Patient Services?
RAB Patient Services is an operating name Regional Adjustment Bureau uses for its healthcare collections division. The same FDCPA protections apply to calls from that name.
Should I pay RAB before speaking to an attorney?
No. Verify the balance against your provider’s records and confirm the debt type first. A free consultation costs nothing before you pay anything.
How long do I have to sue RAB for FDCPA violations?
One year from the date of the violation, not from when you discovered it. Each violation carries its own one-year clock.
What to Do If Regional Adjustment Bureau Contacts You Next
Save every call log, letter, and voicemail from RAB before you respond further. Those records support a validation request and, where warranted, a potential FDCPA or TCPA claim. A contingency review carries no upfront cost. Call +1-844-638-1122 to have your file reviewed.
Jeff Wood represents consumers exclusively, never creditors or collectors. He holds federal court admissions across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. He practices from Little Rock, AR.
