If Armstrong & Associates has been contacting you about medical debt, you may feel stressed or overwhelmed. These calls can be confusing, especially when you are unsure about what you owe or whether the debt is even valid. You are not alone in this experience, and federal law may protect you from harassment and unfair collection practices.
Who Is Armstrong & Associates
Armstrong & Associates is a debt collection agency based in Mobile, Alabama, that specializes in collecting healthcare debts. If you believe this agency might be violating your rights, understanding what the law allows can help you take informed action to protect yourself.
The agency is a third-party debt collector that has operated since 1915, specializing in medical debt collection. The company primarily collects unpaid hospital bills, physician charges, and laboratory fees on behalf of healthcare providers.
Unlike general debt collectors, Armstrong & Associates focuses exclusively on healthcare-related accounts. The agency markets itself as patient-friendly, but if you are receiving calls that feel aggressive or harassing, that approach may not match your experience.
Even agencies with healthcare specialization must follow federal consumer protection laws. Speaking with a lawyer about your situation does not restart your debt or admit you owe the money.
How Armstrong & Associates Collects Debt
Armstrong & Associates may contact you through phone calls, letters, and electronic messages. The agency typically begins collection efforts after a healthcare provider has attempted to collect payment directly.
Collection methods used by the agency might include:
- Phone calls to your home, work, or cell phone
- Written letters demanding payment
- Electronic messages or texts
- Reporting the debt to credit bureaus
While these collection activities are common, the law sets clear boundaries on how and when debt collectors can contact you. If Armstrong & Associates crosses those boundaries, you might have grounds for legal action.
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
Dealing with debt collectors can feel intimidating, especially when you are unsure of your legal protections. If you believe Armstrong & Associates is violating federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) provides specific protections. This federal law prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices.
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors cannot:
- Call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time
- Contact you at work if they know your employer prohibits such calls
- Harass you with repeated calls meant to annoy or abuse
- Use obscene language or threaten violence
- Falsely claim to be attorneys or law enforcement
- Threaten actions they cannot legally take or do not intend to take
- Discuss your debt with third parties such as neighbors, friends, or family members
You do not need to owe the debt to have rights under this law. Even if the debt is valid, Armstrong & Associates must still follow these rules when attempting collection.
How to Request Debt Validation
Many people feel uncertain about whether they actually owe a debt, especially when dealing with medical bills that involve insurance claims and complicated billing. If you are unsure whether you owe the debt Armstrong & Associates claims you owe, you can request debt validation. This process requires the collector to prove the debt is yours and that the amount is correct.
Under the FDCPA, you have 30 days from the first contact to request validation in writing. Once you send the request, the collector must stop collection efforts until they provide proof of the debt. Requesting validation does not admit liability or restart the statute of limitations on the debt.
Your validation request should include:
- A clear statement that you dispute the debt
- A demand for verification of the debt amount and original creditor
- Your contact information
Send the request via certified mail with return receipt to create a record of your communication. If Armstrong & Associates continues collection efforts without providing validation, this might violate federal law.
Signs Armstrong & Associates May Be Violating the FDCPA
If Armstrong & Associates has been contacting you, you might be wondering whether their behavior crosses legal boundaries. You are not expected to know every detail of consumer protection law, and recognizing potential violations is the first step toward protecting yourself. If Armstrong & Associates has engaged in any of the following behaviors, the agency might be violating your rights:
- Calling multiple times per day or week in a pattern that seems designed to harass
- Threatening to have you arrested or claiming they can garnish your wages without a court order
- Continuing to contact you after you sent a written cease communication letter
- Revealing your debt to your employer, family members, or others without your permission
- Failing to provide debt validation after you requested it within 30 days
- Reporting inaccurate information about your debt to credit bureaus
Many people hesitate to take action because they worry about making things worse or feel embarrassed about their situation. These feelings are completely normal, but you should know that documenting violations and consulting with an attorney who handles FDCPA cases could help you understand your options. Many consumer protection attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.
How to Stop Armstrong & Associates Calls
If you believe Armstrong & Associates is harassing you, federal law may give you ways to stop unwanted debt collection calls and protect your rights. You can send a cease communication letter requesting that the agency stop contacting you.
The FDCPA allows you to send a written request telling the collector to stop all communication or to only contact you in specific ways. Once the agency receives your letter, it must stop contacting you except to:
- Confirm it will stop contacting you
- Notify you of specific actions, such as filing a lawsuit
Keep in mind that sending a cease communication letter does not eliminate the debt. The creditor or collector might still pursue legal remedies such as filing a lawsuit. However, this step can provide immediate relief from constant calls and give you time to assess your situation.
How to Remove Armstrong & Associates from Your Credit Report
Armstrong & Associates might report your debt to credit bureaus, which could affect your credit score and financial standing. If the agency reports inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it and potentially remove it from your credit report.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit reporting must be accurate. If Armstrong & Associates reports a debt you do not owe, reports the wrong amount, or continues reporting after you disputed it, this could violate federal law.
You can dispute errors on your credit report by:
- Sending a dispute letter to the credit bureau showing the inaccurate entry
- Requesting debt validation from Armstrong & Associates
- Consulting with a consumer protection attorney if the errors persist
Credit bureaus must investigate disputes within 30 days. If they cannot verify the debt, they must remove it from your report.
Understanding Medical Debt Collection Laws
Medical debt collection operates under the same federal laws as other consumer debts, but some states provide additional protections. If you live in a state with specific medical debt laws, Armstrong & Associates must comply with both federal and state requirements.
Some states limit when medical debts can be reported to credit bureaus or require longer waiting periods before collection begins. Others prohibit certain collection practices against patients who are receiving charity care or financial assistance.
If you are struggling with medical debt, you might qualify for financial assistance programs offered by the original healthcare provider. Many hospitals have charity care policies that could reduce or eliminate your debt. Requesting this assistance does not waive your rights under the FDCPA.
How The Wood Law Firm Helps Fight Armstrong & Associates Harassment
The Wood Law Firm focuses on holding debt collectors accountable when they violate consumer protection laws. If Armstrong & Associates has harassed you, threatened you, or violated your rights under the FDCPA, an experienced attorney can help you take action.
The firm represents consumers who have been subjected to illegal debt collection practices. Services include:
- Investigating whether Armstrong & Associates violated federal or state law
- Filing FDCPA lawsuits against debt collectors who break the law
- Helping stop harassing calls and protecting your rights
- Seeking compensation for damages caused by illegal collection practices
Many FDCPA cases are handled on contingency, which means you pay no attorney fees unless the firm wins your case. The law also allows successful plaintiffs to recover statutory damages, actual damages, and attorney fees from the debt collector.
Taking the first step can feel difficult, but speaking with an attorney about your rights costs you nothing and could provide the clarity and relief you need. If you believe Armstrong & Associates violated your rights, call +1 844-638-1122 for a free consultation.
Meet Attorney Jeff Wood
Attorney Jeff Wood has dedicated his legal career to protecting consumers from abusive debt collection practices. With extensive experience in FDCPA litigation, he understands the stress and confusion that aggressive debt collectors can cause.
Jeff Wood believes that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their financial situation. His approach focuses on clear communication, aggressive advocacy, and helping clients regain control over their lives.
The Wood Law Firm has helped hundreds of consumers stop illegal debt collection harassment and recover damages under federal law.
Client Success Stories
Medical Debt Harassment Stopped
A client was receiving multiple calls per day from a medical debt collector regarding a hospital bill she believed was covered by insurance. After she requested validation, the calls continued. The Wood Law Firm filed an FDCPA lawsuit, and the case was resolved with the harassment stopped and the client receiving compensation for the violations.
False Threats Exposed
Another client was threatened with immediate arrest over an unpaid medical bill. The debt collector claimed legal authority it did not have. The Wood Law Firm took action and helped the client obtain relief, including statutory damages and the removal of inaccurate information from credit reports.
Credit Report Errors Corrected
A client discovered that a debt collector had reported a medical debt she had already paid. Despite her attempts to resolve it directly, the collector refused to correct the error. The Wood Law Firm helped the client dispute the inaccurate reporting, and the entry was removed from her credit report.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Armstrong & Associates call me at work?
Not if you tell them your employer prohibits such calls. Once you inform the collector, they must stop contacting you at work.
2. Will requesting debt validation hurt my credit?
No. It is common to feel uncertain about taking this step, but requesting validation is your legal right and does not affect your credit score or restart the statute of limitations.
3. Does speaking with a lawyer restart my debt?
No. Many people worry about this, but consulting with an attorney about your rights does not restart the statute of limitations or admit you owe the debt. You are simply learning about your legal options.
4. Can I sue Armstrong & Associates if they violated the FDCPA?
Yes. If the agency violated your rights, you might recover statutory damages, actual damages, and attorney fees.
5. How much does it cost to hire The Wood Law Firm?
Many FDCPA cases are handled on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless the firm wins your case.
6. What should I do if Armstrong & Associates continues calling after I sent a cease letter?
Document each call and contact a consumer protection attorney immediately. Continued contact after a cease letter might violate federal law.
7. Can Armstrong & Associates garnish my wages for medical debt?
Not without a court judgment. If they threaten wage garnishment without legal authority, this might violate the FDCPA.
