A call or letter referencing Mercantile Adjustment Bureau deserves extra caution, since the company itself closed. BBB records and the Buffalo News confirm the agency is out of business. Understanding what happened helps you tell a legitimate successor from a possible scam.
Key Takeaways
- Mercantile Adjustment Bureau, LLC is out of business, confirmed by the BBB and the Buffalo News
- Any contact claiming to be from this name deserves independent verification before you pay anything
- A possible successor, Mercantile Solutions, operates from the same Williamsville, NY address
- Nine documented federal lawsuits allege deceptive collection letters and hidden dispute deadlines
- Mercantile Adjustment Bureau has no connection to Mercantile Bank, a separate institution
- The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Mercantile Adjustment Bureau?
Mercantile Adjustment Bureau, LLC was a third-party debt collection agency founded in 1934. The company was headquartered in Williamsville, New York, near Buffalo, for over 80 years. It collected healthcare, financial, and retail debts on behalf of original creditors.
The company was never BBB accredited, and its BBB file is now marked as out of business. Whether any successor entity holds your specific debt is worth verifying before you engage.
In our practice, we request written proof of who currently holds a debt before a client responds. That documentation matters even more once the original company has closed.
- Former address: 165 Lawrence Bell Dr, Williamsville, NY 14221
- Founded: 1934
- Status: Out of business, confirmed by BBB and the Buffalo News
- Possible successor: Mercantile Solutions, mercantilesolutions.com, same address
What Phone Number Is Associated With Mercantile Adjustment Bureau?
The number on file is (716) 929-8200 | 716-929-8200 | 7169298200. This number now appears associated with Mercantile Solutions rather than the original, closed company.
If this number calls you, verify who is actually on the line before discussing any debt. Ask for their full legal name and licensing information in writing.
Why Would Someone Contact You Claiming to Be Mercantile Adjustment Bureau?
Since the original company closed, contact using this name usually means one of two things. Either a successor entity like Mercantile Solutions holds a debt once assigned to the closed company. Or a scammer is impersonating a defunct collector that consumers can’t easily verify.
Is Mercantile Adjustment Bureau a Scam?
The original Mercantile Adjustment Bureau was a legitimate, decades-old collector, not historically a scam. Because the company is now closed, any current contact using its name raises an immediate red flag.
Consumer reports reportedly describe suspicious messages referencing this name, a pattern consistent with scammers impersonating defunct collectors. Do not pay immediately, and do not share banking information on the first call.
Call back only a number you’ve independently verified through official sources, not the number that contacted you. A debt legitimately transferred to a new collector should be documentable in writing.
Is Mercantile Adjustment Bureau Connected to Mercantile Bank?
No. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau was a debt collector, while Mercantile Bank is a separate financial institution. They share a word in their name and nothing else.
If you’re searching for a Mercantile Bank breach or phishing message, that’s a different situation. Contact Mercantile Bank directly through their official website for those issues.
Was Mercantile Adjustment Bureau Banned by the FTC?
No. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau was never banned by the FTC during its decades of operation. That doesn’t mean its practices went unchallenged.
Nine federal lawsuits document a consistent pattern of deceptive collection letters. Consumers can still file with the FTC or CFPB about any current contact using this name.
In our practice, we treat the company’s closure as a reason for more scrutiny, not less. A defunct name is exactly what scammers rely on.
Has Mercantile Adjustment Bureau Been Sued?
Yes. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau was named as a defendant in at least nine federal lawsuits.
- Bower v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau (2:16-cv-01441): Allegedly used a cutoff date design that hid when the 30-day dispute window began.
- Nolet v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau (2:17-cv-01399): Allegedly misidentified the original versus current creditor on Capital One and Kohl’s accounts.
- Felberbaum v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau (1:16-cv): A class action alleging false and misleading collection practices.
- Goodman v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau (18-cv-04488): Allegedly failed to properly disclose the right to dispute the debt.
- Hernandez v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau: Allegedly added undisclosed collection costs to student loan debts.
- Madar v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau: Allegedly failed to disclose information needed to calculate the true balance.
- Pinyuk v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau: Allegedly failed to disclose whether the stated balance was accruing interest.
- Sterling v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau (11-CV-639, W.D.N.Y.): An earlier 2011 federal case in the same district.
- Mastalski v. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau (1:12-CV-1293, N.D. Ohio): A 2012 federal case in a separate district.
Across nine cases, three patterns repeat: hidden dispute deadlines, misidentified creditors, and undisclosed interest. If an old letter you kept shows any of these signs, it’s worth a second look.
In our practice, we compare any letter a client kept against these nine documented patterns. A close match often points straight to a viable claim, even years later.
How Do You Handle Contact From Mercantile Adjustment Bureau or Mercantile Solutions?
Verify Who Is Actually Contacting You
Request their full legal name, address, and licensing information in writing. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a collector must identify itself accurately.
Check Any Letter Against the Documented Patterns
Confirm the 30-day dispute window is clearly dated and the creditor is correctly named. Also check whether the letter discloses interest accrual. Any of these may be independently actionable under the FDCPA.
Request Written Debt Validation
Within 30 days of first contact, send a written validation request by certified mail. Ask for the original creditor’s name, the chain of assignment, and an itemized balance breakdown.
Send a Cease-and-Desist if Contact Continues
Send a written demand by certified mail and keep your receipt. Document any voicemail that never identifies the caller as a debt collector. That omission is a documented pattern in this company’s history.
How Do You Remove Mercantile Adjustment Bureau From Your Credit Report?
- Verify the original creditor: confirm the name on the entry matches your actual account records.
- Check the balance: dispute any amount that differs from what you recall owing.
- Cite the closure: dispute the entry as unverifiable since the original collector no longer exists.
- FCRA grounds: inaccurate reporting supports a separate Fair Credit Reporting Act claim.
Review your rights at the FTC’s debt collection rights resource for a general overview of your dispute options.
In our practice, we pull a client’s full credit file before disputing any Mercantile-related entry. An unverifiable tradeline from a closed company is often the fastest path to removal.
Why The Wood Firm PLLC for Mercantile Adjustment Bureau Cases
MAB’s nine cases share the same core problem. Their letters were built to confuse consumers about their rights and their debts. We know how to match what you were sent against the patterns established in these cases.
The Wood Firm PLLC has handled FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA cases exclusively since 2010. Call our office directly at +1-844-638-1122.
Whether the debt is real or the contact is fraudulent, it’s worth a closer look. Visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review.
The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency. If a collector broke the law, they pay our fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mercantile Adjustment Bureau
Is Mercantile Adjustment Bureau still in business
No. The company is out of business, confirmed by the BBB and the Buffalo News. A possible successor, Mercantile Solutions, operates from the same Williamsville, NY address.
Is Mercantile Adjustment Bureau connected to Mercantile Bank
No. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau was a debt collector, and Mercantile Bank is a separate financial institution. They share a name and nothing else.
The dispute window on my letter is unclear, is that normal
No, and it may not be accidental. The Bower case specifically alleged cutoff dates designed to hide when the 30-day window began. Document it and call before assuming the window has passed.
The letter names a creditor you don’t recognize, should you pay
Not without verifying first. The Nolet case alleged creditor misidentification on Capital One and Kohl’s accounts. Request full validation, including the chain of assignment, before paying anything.
The letter doesn’t say whether your balance is growing, is that a problem
Potentially. Both the Madar and Pinyuk cases allege undisclosed interest accrual. That omission may match a documented violation pattern.
Should you pay before speaking to an attorney
No, especially since the original company is closed and any contact carries fraud risk. A free call could reveal the contact is fraudulent or that letter violations already occurred.
What Should You Do Next About Mercantile Adjustment Bureau?
If you received a letter or call using this name, verify who is contacting you first. The Wood Firm PLLC reviews these files on contingency, so a consultation costs nothing. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free file review.
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.
