Account Control Systems is calling you about a debt, and the calls feel like harassment. Knowing exactly who you are dealing with matters.
ACS is a 44-year-old New Jersey debt buyer that created the “Collectors Pledge” promising dignity and respect in collections. The company’s own federal lawsuit record documents over 35 cases alleging the violations they pledged to avoid: harassment, false threats, workplace contact, and failure to validate.
If Account Control Systems has crossed the line with you, call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency. ACS pays our fees if we win.
Also searched as: Account Control Systems Inc, ACS, ACS debt collection, Account Control Bureau, and accountcontrolsystems.com. Not to be confused with CP Control, Credit Control LLC, or Central Portfolio Control, which are separate companies.
Key Takeaways
- Account Control Systems, Inc. (ACS) is at 85 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Suite 113, Montvale, NJ 07645. Founded January 4, 1982 (44 years). Not BBB-accredited. B- BBB rating. President: Amelia Vitale. COO: Mark Paisley.
- ACS created “The Collectors Pledge”, a widely adopted industry code promising dignity and respect. The company’s own federal lawsuit record documents over 35 FDCPA lawsuits including 5 in the Eastern District of Wisconsin alone.
- BBB complaints allege falsified credit reports, harassment, and failure to update settled accounts.
- ACS is a debt buyer: it purchases charged-off portfolios at steep discounts and collects the full balance. The gap between purchase price and collection target creates financial incentive for aggressive tactics.
- You may be entitled to up to $1,000 per FDCPA violation and $500 to $1,500 per illegal robocall. ACS pays your attorney fees if we win.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Account Control Systems?
Account Control Systems, Inc. (ACS) is a debt buyer and collection agency based at 85 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Suite 113, Montvale, New Jersey 07645. The company was founded on January 4, 1982 and incorporated September 29, 1999. Website: accountcontrolsystems.com. Phone: (201) 367-1622.
ACS is led by President Amelia Vitale, COO Mark Paisley, and Executive Vice President Al Mucci. The company is not BBB-accredited and carries a B- BBB rating. Its BBB file has been open since October 18, 2007.
What makes ACS notable beyond its complaint record: the company created the Collectors Pledge, an industry-wide code of conduct that many collection agencies across the country adopted. The Pledge commits signatories to treating borrowers with dignity and respect. ACS’s own federal lawsuit history documents 35+ cases alleging exactly the violations the Pledge is designed to prevent.
As a debt buyer, ACS purchases portfolios of charged-off consumer accounts at steep discounts (often pennies on the dollar) and then attempts to collect the full face value. This model creates a large profit margin on every recovered account, which is the financial pressure behind aggressive collection tactics.
Why Is Account Control Systems Calling You?
ACS purchased a debt portfolio that includes your account. The original creditor sold the account after it charged off. ACS paid a fraction of the face value and now owns the right to collect.
Because ACS bought the debt, it may have incomplete documentation. The original contract, payment history, and account details sometimes do not transfer cleanly in portfolio sales. This is why requesting debt validation in writing is critical. ACS must prove the debt is yours and that they are authorized to collect before continuing. Learn what to do when a debt collector contacts you.
Is Account Control Systems Harassing You?
Whether You Owe the Debt or Not, We Can Help You
- Up to $1,000 per FDCPA violation
- Actual damages for emotional distress and lost wages
- Attorney fees paid by ACS if we win
We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.
FREE Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
The Federal Lawsuits Against Account Control Systems
ACS has accumulated over 35 federal FDCPA lawsuits, including a concentration of cases in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The following are documented cases on PACER:
- Newman v. ACS (2:13-cv-01131-JPS)
- Ozier v. ACS (2:14-cv-00468-WEC)
- Pietraszewski v. ACS (2:15-cv-00489-JPS)
- Mikolajczyk v. ACS (2:15-cv-01231-LA)
- Schmitz v. ACS (2:17-cv-00365-LA)
These cases allege harassment, workplace contact, false threats of legal action, and failure to identify the collector. A pattern of 35+ lawsuits across multiple years and jurisdictions is not coincidence. Review the top FDCPA violations.
Is Account Control Systems a Scam?
No. ACS has operated since 1982, employs staff with named executive leadership, has a physical New Jersey address, and is the creator of the Collectors Pledge. It is a legitimate business.
However, 35+ federal lawsuits and BBB complaints alleging falsified credit reports, harassment, and failure to update settled accounts show a company whose practices have repeatedly crossed legal lines. Being legitimate does not mean every collection tactic is lawful.
Account Control Systems Phone Numbers
- (800) 482-8026 (also 8004828026, 800-482-8026, 800.482.8026): Primary toll-free
- (201) 367-1622 (also 2013671622, 201-367-1622, 201.367.1622): Montvale, NJ office
- (201) 767-5300 (also 2017675300, 201-767-5300, 201.767.5300): Alternate office line
Document every call: date, time, number, and exactly what was said. Automated calls to your cell without consent may be separate TCPA violations worth $500 to $1,500 each. Check how many times a collector can legally call per day.
How to Stop Account Control Systems
1. Request Debt Validation
Certified letter to ACS, 85 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Suite 113, Montvale, NJ 07645 within 30 days. As a debt buyer, ACS must produce the original contract, the chain of ownership from the original creditor, and an itemized balance. Many debt buyers cannot produce full documentation, especially on older or frequently-sold portfolios. See our debt validation guide.
2. Document Every Violation
Note every call time (before 8 AM or after 9 PM are automatic violations), the specific threats made (arrest, immediate garnishment), and any contact with your workplace or family. Each violation is a separate statutory damages claim.
3. Never Admit the Debt
Do not confirm debt ownership, agree to payment plans, or acknowledge the balance in writing. Admission can restart the statute of limitations and weaken your legal position. Review what to say and not say.
4. Send a Cease-and-Desist
Certified mail to the Montvale address. After receipt, ACS can only contact you to confirm cessation or notify you of legal action.
5. Call an Attorney
Call +1-844-638-1122. The Wood Firm PLLC stops contact within 48 hours.
Can Account Control Systems Sue Me or Garnish My Wages?
ACS can sue you if the debt is valid and within your state’s statute of limitations. New Jersey allows 6 years for most written contracts. If the debt is older, ACS cannot successfully sue you.
ACS cannot garnish your wages without filing a lawsuit, winning, and obtaining a court order. Threats of immediate garnishment without those steps are federal violations. Federal student loans and tax debts have different rules, but ACS is a consumer debt buyer, not a government collector.
How to Remove Account Control Systems From Your Credit Report
Debt is not yours: Dispute with all three bureaus. BBB complaints specifically cite falsified credit reports, meaning ACS may be reporting debts that do not belong to you.
Account is settled but not updated: BBB complaints also cite failure to update settled accounts. If you paid or settled and ACS still shows the debt as open, dispute with documentation of the settlement.
ACS never validated: Reference the unanswered validation request in your bureau dispute.
Pay-for-delete: Because ACS is a debt buyer, it has more flexibility to negotiate deletion as a condition of payment. Get the agreement in writing before paying.
Inaccurate reporting gives you a separate FCRA claim. Learn about your credit reporting rights.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps
When ACS makes false threats of arrest or immediate garnishment, calls your workplace after being told to stop, reports falsified information to credit bureaus, or continues contact after a cease-and-desist, those are actionable claims under the FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA.
The Wood Firm PLLC has handled these cases exclusively since 2011. Never represented a creditor. You pay nothing upfront. Contact stops within 48 hours. Learn about how we work for you and why clients choose us. Read the attorney profile.
Real Cases Against Collectors Like Account Control Systems
Client identities are protected.
- Workplace harassment. A collector called a client’s employer repeatedly after being told the employer prohibited personal calls. The Wood Firm PLLC documented each call and obtained statutory damages with immediate cessation.
- Falsified credit report. A collector reported a settled debt as still open. The Wood Firm PLLC pursued FCRA claims and obtained deletion plus damages.
- Arrest threat. A collector threatened arrest for an unpaid consumer debt. The Wood Firm PLLC documented the false threat and recovered statutory damages.
Has Account Control Systems Violated Your Rights?
Whether You Owe the Debt or Not, We Can Help You
Free Consultation – No Upfront Costs – ACS Pays Our Fees
Frequently Asked Questions About Account Control Systems
Who is Account Control Systems?
A debt buyer based at 85 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Suite 113, Montvale, NJ 07645. Founded January 1982. 44 years in operation. Not BBB-accredited, B- rating. President: Amelia Vitale. Creator of the “Collectors Pledge.”
Is Account Control Systems a scam?
No. ACS is a legitimate 44-year-old New Jersey company. However, 35+ federal lawsuits and BBB complaints about falsified credit reports and harassment show a documented pattern of FDCPA violations.
What phone numbers does ACS use?
(800) 482-8026, (201) 367-1622, and (201) 767-5300. Document every call.
Can Account Control Systems sue me?
Yes, if the debt is valid and within the statute of limitations. New Jersey allows 6 years for most written contracts.
Can ACS garnish my wages?
Only with a court judgment. Threats of immediate garnishment without mentioning a lawsuit are federal violations.
How do I remove ACS from my credit report?
Dispute with all three bureaus. Strong grounds: ACS reported a debt that is not yours, or failed to update a settled account (both documented BBB complaint patterns). Reference any unanswered validation request.
How do I stop ACS from calling?
Cease-and-desist via certified mail to 85 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Suite 113, Montvale, NJ 07645.
Can I sue Account Control Systems?
Yes. Up to $1,000 in statutory damages per FDCPA lawsuit. Attorney fees paid by ACS. The Wood Firm PLLC handles these on contingency.
Take Action Against Account Control Systems Today
A 44-year-old debt buyer that created the industry’s own ethical pledge but has accumulated 35+ federal lawsuits for violating it has a documented pattern. The Wood Firm PLLC has handled consumer protection cases exclusively since 2011, works on contingency, and makes ACS pay.
Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. Browse our list of collection agencies, review our practice areas, or file with the CFPB.
