Apelles LLC sent you a collection letter or left a voicemail, and the name looks like a typo. According to a 2018 federal class action filing, Apelles allegedly sent settlement letters with misleading tax-consequence language. Consumers rarely recognize that kind of written violation without an attorney reviewing the document. If Apelles has contacted you, call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review.
Key Takeaways
- Apelles LLC is a Westerville, Ohio third-party debt collector operating at apellesnow.com. It collects consumer credit card balances, auto loan deficiencies, and other accounts, including Navy Federal Credit Union accounts.
- Common misspellings include Appelles LLC, Appells LLC, Apellas LLC, Apellis LLC, Appellas LLC, and Apelle LLC. All refer to the same Westerville, Ohio company.
- A 2018 federal proposed class action, Hughes v. Apelles LLC (No. 2:18-cv-2408, W.D. Tenn.), alleged that Apelles sent settlement letters with misleading tax-consequence language, violating the FDCPA’s prohibition on deceptive representations.
- Federal court records document over 30 proceedings naming Apelles as a defendant.
- FDCPA violations carry up to $1,000 per lawsuit in statutory damages. TCPA violations carry $500–$1,500 per illegal automated call or text.
- The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. If Apelles violated federal law, they pay our fees.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Apelles LLC?
Apelles LLC is a third-party debt collection agency based in Westerville, Ohio, operating through apellesnow.com. The company collects consumer credit card balances, auto loan deficiencies, and other accounts on behalf of original creditors and debt buyers. Its documented clients include Navy Federal Credit Union.
Consumers frequently misspell the name after seeing it on a letter or hearing it in a voicemail. Appelles LLC, Appells LLC, Apellas LLC, Apellis LLC, Appellas LLC, Appeles LLC, and Apelle LLC are all misspellings of the same company. In our practice, that name confusion creates a window where consumers delay acting on their rights.
- Also Known As: Appelles LLC, Appells LLC, Apellas LLC, Apellis LLC, Appellas LLC, Appeles LLC, Apelle LLC
- Address: 3700 Corporate Dr, Ste 240, Columbus, OH 43231-5001
- Phone: 800-594-7630 | 888-982-9954 | 877-825-4490 | (877) 825-4490 | 8778254490
- Website: apellesnow.com
- BBB Profile: Apelles LLC BBB listing
Phone Numbers Apelles LLC Uses
Consumers searching these numbers are trying to identify who called them. Apelles LLC contacts consumers from multiple numbers. If any of the following appear on your caller ID, the call likely comes from this agency.
- 800-594-7630 | (800) 594-7630 | +1-800-594-7630 | 8005947630
- 888-982-9954 | (888) 982-9954 | +1-888-982-9954 | 8889829954
- 877-825-4490 | (877) 825-4490 | +1-877-825-4490 | 8778254490
Under FDCPA and FCC rules, any voicemail a debt collector leaves must disclose that the communication is from a debt collector. A voicemail that does not identify the caller or name the company may itself be a violation. Save any voicemails from these numbers before doing anything else.
Why Is Apelles LLC Calling You
Apelles LLC is calling you because a creditor assigned or sold your account to them for collection. The account may be a Navy Federal Credit Union credit card, auto loan, or personal loan that went into default. It may also be a different consumer account entirely.
Apelles must send you a written validation notice within five days of first contact. The notice must identify the creditor and state the amount claimed. If Apelles called you but no written notice arrived within five days, that gap may be an FDCPA violation.
Three patterns appear most often in Apelles files we handle:
- Navy Federal account assignments. Apelles actively collects on Navy Federal accounts. If you had a Navy Federal credit card, auto loan, or personal loan go delinquent, Apelles is the likely caller.
- Settlement letters with misleading language. The 2018 federal class action against Apelles centered on settlement letter language that allegedly misled consumers about tax consequences. If Apelles sent you a settlement offer, have an attorney review the language before you respond.
- Debt documentation disputes. BBB complaints through 2024 document consumers challenging debt amounts and receiving inadequate validation from Apelles. If you do not recognize the balance or account number, send a written validation demand before taking any other action.
Has Apelles LLC Been Sued
Yes. Federal court records document over 30 proceedings naming Apelles LLC. The most significant documented case is a 2018 proposed class action:
- Hughes v. Apelles LLC, No. 2:18-cv-2408 (W.D. Tenn.): plaintiffs alleged Apelles sent settlement letters with misleading tax-consequence language, failed to distinguish principal from interest, and violated 15 U.S.C. § 1692e.
When we open an Apelles file, we pull the settlement letters first. The Hughes case showed that Apelles’s written communications, not just its phone calls, carry documented federal litigation risk. In our practice, we request the envelope postmark alongside every settlement letter a client receives from Apelles, because backdated or delayed delivery can itself affect whether the five-day validation clock was properly triggered. A letter on your kitchen counter may contain a violation worth more than a dozen after-hours calls.
Is Apelles LLC a Scam
Apelles LLC is a real, licensed debt collection agency, but licensed does not mean every tactic is legal. The company operates through apellesnow.com with a documented business address in Westerville, Ohio and a BBB profile in Columbus.
The name confusion works in Apelles’s favor. Consumers who cannot identify the company by name often delay sending a validation request or cease-and-desist, which keeps the collection cycle running. That delay costs consumers time and may cost them leverage.
In our practice, we verify the spelling of the entity name on every collection letter and credit bureau entry an Apelles client brings in. A name discrepancy between the collection letter and the credit report can raise chain-of-title questions. Those questions can affect whether Apelles has standing to collect.
Is Apelles LLC Banned by the FTC
No. The FTC has not banned Apelles LLC from operating as a debt collector. No FTC enforcement action against the agency appears in the public record.
The absence of an FTC ban does not mean Apelles operates without legal exposure. The Hughes class action is federal court documentation that this specific collector has faced claims of deceptive written communications. Individual FDCPA lawsuits carry their own damages and do not require any prior FTC involvement. A federal FDCPA claim is available to you regardless of whether Apelles has ever faced a regulatory action.
Can Apelles LLC Garnish Your Wages
No, not without a court judgment. Apelles must first file a lawsuit, win a judgment, and obtain a separate court order before any wage garnishment can begin. A threat of immediate garnishment during a phone call, before any lawsuit, may violate the FDCPA. Document the date, time, and exact language used if that happens.
Can Apelles LLC Report to Your Credit
Yes, Apelles can report valid debts to credit bureaus. Under the FCRA, the reporting must be accurate and must reflect any written dispute you submit. Reporting a wrong balance, maintaining a bureau entry after a written dispute, or reporting inaccurate account information may each be a separate FCRA violation. FCRA statutory damages run from $100 to $1,000 per violation.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Stops Apelles LLC
When we open an Apelles LLC file, we examine three documents before anything else: the settlement letter, the validation notice (or the absence of one), and the credit bureau entry. Apelles’s documented litigation history involves written communication violations, not just call conduct.
We review the exact language in every settlement offer to determine the tax-consequence framing alleged in the Hughes case. We verify whether the validation notice arrived within five days of first contact and properly identified the creditor. We request call records to verify timing and confirm whether Apelles had written consent before placing automated calls to your cell phone.
The Wood Firm PLLC represents consumers only. Our firm has never represented a creditor or a debt collector. We handle FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA cases on contingency: no upfront costs, no hourly fees. If Apelles violated federal law, they will pay our attorney fees. After you call, we review the facts of your situation and explain your options before any case is filed. Reach our firm at +1-844-638-1122.
If Apelles LLC sent you a settlement letter or left a voicemail you cannot identify, do not respond before a review. 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 Apelles violated federal law, they pay our fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Apelles LLC and is it legitimate
Apelles LLC is a real, licensed third-party debt collection agency based in Westerville, Ohio, operating at apellesnow.com. Licensed status means they can legally pursue consumer debts, but it does not mean every tactic complies with federal law. A 2018 federal proposed class action alleged deceptive settlement letter language against Apelles. The company appears in over 30 federal court proceedings.
Is Appelles LLC the same as Apelles LLC
Yes. Appelles LLC, Appells LLC, Apellas LLC, Apellis LLC, Appellas LLC, and Apelle LLC are all misspellings of Apelles LLC. All refer to the same Westerville, Ohio debt collection agency. If any of those spellings brought you here, you found the right company.
Who does Apelles LLC collect for
Apelles collects for original creditors and debt buyers across multiple consumer credit categories. Documented collection activity includes Navy Federal Credit Union accounts. Request written validation identifying the specific account and original creditor before making any payment.
What is the Apelles LLC lawsuit about
Hughes v. Apelles LLC, No. 2:18-cv-2408, was a proposed federal class action alleging Apelles sent settlement letters with misleading language about tax consequences. The filing alleged the letters failed to distinguish principal from interest and misled consumers about the financial implications of settling. Court documents are available through ClassAction.org.
What should I do if Apelles LLC sent me a settlement letter
Save the letter and do not respond or pay before an attorney reviews the language. The specific content of Apelles settlement letters was the subject of a federal class action. A letter referencing tax consequences or financial implications of settling for less than the full balance warrants review before you take any action.
Can Apelles LLC garnish my wages
No, not without a court judgment. Apelles must file a lawsuit and win a court order before wage garnishment can begin. A threat of immediate garnishment during a phone call may violate the FDCPA. Document the date, time, and exact language used.
How do I get Apelles LLC to stop calling me
Send a written cease-and-desist by certified mail with return receipt to 3700 Corporate Dr, Ste 240, Columbus, OH 43231-5001. After receipt, Apelles must stop all contact except to confirm they are ceasing or to notify you of specific legal action. Each call after a properly delivered cease request may be a standalone FDCPA violation worth up to $1,000.
Can Apelles LLC report my debt to credit bureaus
Yes, Apelles can report valid debts. If you dispute the debt in writing, the entry must be marked as disputed during investigation. Inaccurate or unverifiable reporting after a written dispute may be a separate FCRA violation with its own statutory damages.
What to Do Before Apelles LLC Contacts You Again
Gather every document from Apelles: letters, envelopes, voicemails, and any credit bureau entries showing the account. Those materials are where Apelles’s documented violations most commonly appear. The Wood Firm PLLC takes these cases on contingency, with no upfront cost to you. Call +1-844-638-1122 to talk through what you have.
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.
