Getting a call from Action Collection Agency about an unrecognized medical bill is unsettling. According to BBB records, the agency has logged 25 complaints in three years. Consumers allegedly describe calls that arrived before any written validation notice.
Key Takeaways
- Action Collection Agency of Boston, also known as Action Collection Agencies, Inc., is headquartered in Middleborough, Massachusetts, and was founded in 1967.
- The agency is not BBB accredited and has logged 25 complaints in three years, with consumers allegedly reporting calls without prior written notice.
- A Florida resident filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the agency misrepresented consumers’ legal rights in collection letters, in alleged violation of the FDCPA.
- The FDCPA requires a written validation notice within five days of first contact. Its absence may be a standalone federal violation.
- FDCPA violations may carry up to $1,000 in statutory damages. TCPA violations carry $500 to $1,500 per illegal call.
- The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency. If the collector violated federal law, they pay our fees.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Action Collection Agency of Boston
Action Collection Agency of Boston is the consumer-facing name for Action Collection Agencies, Inc. A third-party debt collector founded in 1967, the agency now runs from Middleborough, Massachusetts. It collects healthcare, utility, and commercial debts after original creditors’ in-house efforts fail.
Jay E. Gonsalves acquired the agency in 1991 and consolidated its New England offices into one Middleborough headquarters. Gonsalves holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and once served on ACA International’s national board. The company now employs more than 50 people and serves clients in every state.
- Also Known As: Action Collection Agencies, Inc.; Action Collection Agency of Boston
- Founded: 1967; reorganized under Jay E. Gonsalves in 1991
- Address: 16 Commerce Blvd, Middleborough, MA 02346
- Phone: see phone number section below
- Website: actioncollection.com
- Payment Portal: PayStream portal
- BBB Profile: Action Collection Agency of Boston BBB listing
- Debt Types: healthcare, commercial, utility
In our practice, we pull the original creditor agreement on every Action Collection Agency file. Healthcare debt often changes ownership, and a broken chain may mean the agency lacks standing to collect.
Action Collection Agency Phone Numbers Reported by Consumers
People search phone numbers online to identify unknown callers. If a number from the agency appeared on your caller ID, these are the formats consumers have documented.
- 800-649-0790
- (800) 649-0790
- +1-800-649-0790
- 8006490790
BBB complaint records show consumers who received calls without a corresponding written notice on file. If a number above appeared before any validation letter arrived, document the date and time.
Why Is Action Collection Agency Calling You
Action Collection Agency is calling you because a creditor placed your account with them for collection. A healthcare, utility, or commercial creditor may have assigned or sold the debt after its own attempts failed.
The debt has often changed hands by the time the agency contacts you. Consumers have alleged in BBB complaints that it contacted them about debts they did not recognize. In at least one documented case, the agency acknowledged calling a number tied to a different account.
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): prohibits harassment, false statements, and calls outside 8 AM to 9 PM in your time zone. A written validation notice must arrive within five days of first contact.
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA): automated dialing or prerecorded messages to your cell phone without prior written consent may carry $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages per call.
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): reporting a debt to credit bureaus before a validation notice arrives may violate both statutes at once.
What Action Collection Agency Can and Cannot Do
Action Collection Agency can call you, send letters, report validated debts, and file suit to obtain a judgment. What the FDCPA forbids is a longer list.
The agency cannot call before 8 AM or after 9 PM in your local time zone. It cannot keep contacting your employer once you say those calls are inconvenient or prohibited. It cannot threaten wage garnishment before a court enters a judgment.
A written cease-and-desist request sent by certified mail limits the agency to two further contacts. Any other contact after confirmed receipt may be a standalone FDCPA violation with its own damages.
Has Action Collection Agency Been Sued
Yes. Action Collection Agency has faced consumer-led federal litigation over its collection letters and practices.
- Aria v. Action Collection Agencies, Inc. (Florida, 2018): a Florida resident alleged the agency’s collection letter misrepresented her legal right to be contacted at work, in alleged violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1692e.
- 5FDB2C6 v. Action Collection Agency of Boston, No. 1:17-cv-08899 (S.D.N.Y.): a federal civil complaint before Judge Ronnie Abrams alleging FDCPA violations.
- B1A4B18 v. Action Collection Agency of Boston (S.D. Cal.): a federal civil complaint with a jury demand alleging FDCPA violations.
- A 2023 bankruptcy-discharge complaint alleged the agency kept demanding payment on a debt already discharged in bankruptcy, in alleged violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692e and 1692c(c).
When we open an Action Collection Agency file tied to a collection letter, we pull the original notice. We compare every line against the FDCPA’s accuracy requirements. Misstated dispute rights are among the most documentable violations.
Is Action Collection Agency a Scam
Action Collection Agency of Boston is a real, licensed agency with more than 55 years of history. Licensed does not mean every tactic is legal.
The agency confirmed its legitimacy in a February 2026 BBB response citing its internal compliance procedures. Consumers have nonetheless filed 25 complaints in three years, ranging from unrecognized debts to disputed billing.
One February 2026 BBB complaint describes a consumer billed for a debt the file did not contain. The agency responded that the number was tied to a different healthcare account. That kind of misidentification, if it generates calls, may still support an FDCPA claim.
In our experience, Action Collection Agency’s BBB responses show a pattern worth noting. The agency often places accounts on dispute hold only after a formal complaint arrives. The FDCPA does not require a complaint to trigger that hold.
Is Action Collection Agency Banned by the FTC
No. The FTC has not banned or taken enforcement action against Action Collection Agency of Boston. No consent order or injunction appears in the public record under its current name.
That absence does not put the agency’s conduct beyond regulatory reach. The CFPB accepts complaints directly at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, and each one adds to a public pattern regulators track. Private federal litigation under the FDCPA remains the most direct tool for individual consumers.
What Happens If You Ignore Action Collection Agency
Ignoring the calls does not make the debt disappear. The agency offers legal collections, so it may file suit and pursue a judgment.
Waiting also narrows your strongest window: the first 30 days for demanding validation. Validation rights continue after that, but bureau-reporting timelines tighten.
In our practice, we check whether a debt is time-barred before a client takes any action. Even a small payment can restart your state’s statute of limitations. Timing matters as much as the amount owed.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps Stop Action Collection Agency Debt Harassment
The Wood Firm PLLC reviews every Action Collection Agency file for three things. Did a validation notice arrive within five days of first contact? Did the letter accurately state dispute rights, and did any credit reporting happen before validation?
The firm handles these cases on contingency, with no upfront fees. The agency pays our fees if it violated federal law. When you call, a team member documents your situation, and the firm then handles all further contact with the agency. Reach us at +1-844-638-1122.
If the agency contacted you about a debt without a validation notice, that gap may support a claim. 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 it violated federal law, it pays our fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Action Collection Agency a legitimate company
Action Collection Agency of Boston is a real, licensed agency founded in 1967 and based in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Being legitimate does not mean every tactic follows federal law. If no validation notice arrived within five days, that gap may be a violation.
Why is Action Collection Agency calling me about a medical bill I do not recognize
The agency specializes in healthcare debt, and records sometimes become incomplete when bills change hands. It may contact consumers about accounts they have no record of. Request validation in writing within 30 days to pause collection activity.
Is Action Collection Agency a scam or the real thing
Action Collection Agency is a real company, not a scam operation. Consumers have reported calls from numbers that did not identify the agency clearly. Request a written validation notice before discussing any account details.
Can Action Collection Agency report my debt to the credit bureaus
Yes, the agency can report debts to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, but reporting must comply with the FCRA. A debt reported before a validation notice arrived may be challengeable under both statutes.
What should I do if Action Collection Agency calls my workplace
Notify the agency in writing that workplace calls are prohibited or inconvenient. Further workplace calls after that notice may violate 15 U.S.C. § 1692c. Document every call before sending the notice.
Does Action Collection Agency sue consumers
Yes, the agency offers legal collections and can file suit to obtain a judgment. A judgment allows wage garnishment or bank levies through a further court process. Do not ignore a lawsuit summons.
How do I dispute a debt with Action Collection Agency
Send a written dispute by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Ask for the original creditor’s name, account number, and proof the agency owns the debt. The agency must pause collection until it responds.
Can Action Collection Agency contact my family members about my debt
Only to locate you, not to discuss the debt itself. Contacting relatives for your address is permitted, but disclosing that you owe money may violate the FDCPA. Document every third-party contact with specifics.
Other Collectors The Wood Firm PLLC Handles
The firm represents consumers dealing with a wide range of third-party debt collectors. If a different agency has contacted you, browse the complete list of collection agencies The Wood Firm handles or explore our full practice area overview.
- United Recovery Systems
- Radius Global Solutions
- American Profit Recovery
- Aargon Agency
- Alliance One Receivables Management
- Collection Service of America
- FMS Investment Corp
- Account Control Technology
Your Next Step If Action Collection Agency Has Contacted You
Start documenting every call today: date, time, and what was said. If no validation letter arrived within five days of first contact, that gap may support a federal claim. The Wood Firm PLLC reviews these cases at no upfront cost. The agency pays our fees if it broke federal law. Call +1-844-638-1122 to start a free case review today.
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.
