If ConServe is calling about a debt you do not recognize, you are not alone. ConServe holds federal contracts with the Department of Education and the IRS. Even so, it has drawn over 1,100 complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Federal law gives you specific rights when a collector’s calls or letters cross the line.
ConServe (Continental Service Group, Inc.) is not a typical debt collector. It is a U.S. Department of Education and IRS private collection contractor that has operated since 1985. That government affiliation gives its calls an appearance of authority. It does not exempt ConServe from the FDCPA, the TCPA, or the FCRA.
If ConServe has crossed the line with you, call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency. ConServe pays our fees if we win.
Also searched as: ConServe debt collection, Continental Service Group, ConServe collections, ConServe student loan, ConServe ARM, and conserve-arm.com.
Key Takeaways
- ConServe (Continental Service Group, Inc.) operates from 200 Cross Keys Office Park, Fairport, NY 14450. It was founded in 1985 and is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. Its CEO is Mark E. Davitt.
- ConServe is a U.S. Department of Education and IRS private collection contractor that specializes in student loans and government debt. It runs call centers in Rochester, NY and Phoenix, AZ.
- ConServe has drawn 1,100+ BBB complaints and 158+ CFPB complaints. We have not confirmed a citable case source for this page, so none are named here.
- You may be entitled to up to $1,000 per FDCPA violation. Illegal robocalls under the TCPA can add $500 to $1,500 per call, and ConServe pays your attorney fees if we win.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is ConServe?
ConServe (Continental Service Group, Inc.) is a debt collection agency. It is headquartered at 200 Cross Keys Office Park, Fairport, New York 14450. Mark E. Davitt founded the company in 1985. He later served as president of ACA International, the collection industry’s trade association. Its website is conserve-arm.com.
ConServe has been BBB-accredited since September 4, 2014, and it carries an A+ rating. It operates call centers in the Rochester, NY area and in Phoenix, Arizona. The company says all employees are based in the United States.
What sets ConServe apart from most collectors is its government contractor status. It holds contracts with the Department of Education to collect defaulted federal student loans. It also holds an IRS contract to collect delinquent tax debt. That government tie can make its calls sound more official than an ordinary collection call.
Despite the A+ BBB rating, ConServe has accumulated over 1,100 BBB complaints and 158+ CFPB complaints. A high complaint volume alongside a strong rating is common among large, active collectors. Treat it as a starting point for research, not a verdict on your own account.
Why Is ConServe Calling You?
ConServe is calling because a creditor has assigned an account to it for collection. Based on the company’s specialties, your debt is most likely one of the following.
Federal student loans. If you defaulted on a federal student loan, the Department of Education may have assigned your account here. Verify this through the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at studentaid.gov.
IRS tax debt. ConServe is one of the few private agencies authorized to collect delinquent federal tax debt. You should have received IRS Notice CP40 first, before any legitimate contact from ConServe on an IRS account.
University or college debt. ConServe collects tuition balances, fees, and institutional loans directly for some colleges and universities.
Private student loans. ConServe also collects for private lending institutions.
Do not pay before verifying the debt. Request debt validation in writing first. Learn what to do when a debt collector contacts you.
Whether You Owe the Debt or Not, We Can Help You
Federal law protects you from abusive debt collection tactics. You may be entitled to:
- Up to $1,000 in statutory damages per FDCPA violation
- $500 to $1,500 per illegal robocall under the TCPA
- Attorney fees paid by ConServe if we win your case
We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.
FREE Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Has ConServe Been Sued?
We have seen references to federal litigation involving ConServe. At the time this page was written, we could not confirm a citable, linkable source for any specific case. Rather than name unverified cases, we are leaving them out.
What is confirmed is the complaint volume: 1,100+ BBB complaints and 158+ CFPB complaints against the company. If you have a letter, voicemail, or call log from ConServe that concerns you, save it. Our firm can review it and tell you whether it points to a violation.
Is ConServe a Scam?
No. ConServe is one of the more established collection agencies in the country. It has operated since 1985, holds Department of Education and IRS contracts, and carries an A+ BBB rating.
Legitimate government contractors can still violate federal consumer protection law. A high complaint count alongside a strong BBB rating tells you something important. ConServe’s marketing does not always match every consumer’s experience with its collectors.
What Phone Numbers Does ConServe Use?
ConServe collectors have called consumers from the following numbers.
(800) 724-7500 – primary toll-free line
☎8007247500
☎1-800-724-7500
☎800.724.7500
☎(800) 724-7500
☎800-724-7500
(866) 467-4300 – frequently searched toll-free number
☎8664674300
☎1-866-467-4300
☎866.467.4300
☎(866) 467-4300
☎866-467-4300
(866) 524-1166 – additional toll-free line
☎8665241166
☎1-866-524-1166
☎866.524.1166
☎(866) 524-1166
☎866-524-1166
(585) 421-1000 – Fairport, NY headquarters
☎5854211000
☎1-585-421-1000
☎585.421.1000
☎(585) 421-1000
☎585-421-1000
(585) 421-1011 – Fairport office secondary line
☎5854211011
☎1-585-421-1011
☎585.421.1011
☎(585) 421-1011
☎585-421-1011
(585) 598-6191 – additional Rochester-area number
☎5855986191
☎1-585-598-6191
☎585.598.6191
☎(585) 598-6191
☎585-598-6191
(866) 633-7945 – number tied to prior court filings
☎8666337945
☎1-866-633-7945
☎866.633.7945
☎(866) 633-7945
☎866-633-7945
Document every call. Note the date, time, and number that called you. Automated calls to your cell phone without your consent may be separate TCPA violations worth $500 to $1,500 each. Check how many times a collector can legally call you per day.
How Do You Stop ConServe From Calling?
Verify Your Loan Type First
Check the National Student Loan Data System to see whether your loan is federal or private. This distinction shapes your rights. Federal loans allow wage garnishment without a lawsuit but also offer rehabilitation programs. Private loans require a lawsuit before garnishment.
Request Debt Validation
Send a certified letter to ConServe within 30 days of first contact. Mail it to 200 Cross Keys Office Park, Fairport, NY 14450. Ask for the original creditor, loan origination date, itemized balance, and a copy of the promissory note. See our debt validation guide.
Do Not Acknowledge the Debt by Phone
For student loans, a verbal acknowledgment over the phone can affect federal rehabilitation eligibility. It may also restart the statute of limitations on a private loan. Demand all communication in writing. Review what to say and not say to a collector.
Send a Cease-and-Desist Letter
Send this by certified mail to the Fairport address above. If ConServe keeps calling after it receives your letter, every later call may be a documented federal violation.
Call an Attorney
Call +1-844-638-1122. The Wood Firm PLLC works to stop unwanted contact within 48 hours.
Can ConServe Garnish Your Wages?
Federal student loans: yes, without a lawsuit. The Department of Education can authorize administrative wage garnishment without filing suit first. This can reach up to 15% of your disposable pay. This power is unique to federal student loans.
Private student loans: no, not without a lawsuit. For a private student loan, ConServe must sue you first. It must also win a judgment and get a court order before it can garnish your wages.
IRS tax debt: The IRS has its own garnishment powers separate from ConServe. As an IRS contractor, ConServe’s role is to facilitate payment, not to initiate a levy on its own.
If ConServe threatens wage garnishment, ask whether the debt is federal or private. A garnishment threat on a private loan may be a federal violation. This is true if it is made without mentioning a lawsuit or judgment. Learn about garnishment rules.
What Should ConServe Tell You About Loan Rehabilitation?
If ConServe is collecting a defaulted federal student loan, it owes you certain information. It must tell you about the loan rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation lets you make 9 on-time payments over 10 months to remove the default. This is often the best option for a federal loan borrower.
If ConServe pushes you toward an immediate lump-sum payment, watch for a gap. If it never mentions rehabilitation, income-driven repayment, or consolidation, that omission may be worth reviewing with an attorney.
How Do You Remove ConServe From Your Credit Report?
- Confusing balance information: if a ConServe letter shows an interest figure that conflicts with what is reporting to the bureaus, dispute the reported balance as inaccurate.
- Federal loan rehabilitation: completing rehabilitation removes the default notation from your credit report. The original late payments still remain.
- Validation failure: if ConServe cannot produce the promissory note, dispute the account with the credit bureaus.
- Pay-for-delete: negotiate a written deletion agreement before you pay anything.
Inaccurate reporting gives you a separate FCRA claim. Learn about your credit reporting rights.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps
ConServe may cross a legal line in several ways. It might make robocalls without consent, or keep calling after a cease-and-desist letter. It might make an unauthorized bank withdrawal, or push immediate payment without explaining rehabilitation. Each of these can support a claim under the FDCPA, FCRA, or TCPA.
In our practice, we have found that consumers rarely realize a cease-and-desist letter has real teeth. Once ConServe has it in hand, the calculus changes fast.
The Wood Firm PLLC has never represented a creditor or collector. You pay nothing up front, and we work to stop contact within 48 hours. Learn about how we work for you and why clients choose us. Read the attorney profile.
Has ConServe Violated Your Rights?
Whether You Owe the Debt or Not, We Can Help You
Free Consultation – No Upfront Costs – ConServe Pays Our Fees
Frequently Asked Questions About ConServe
Is ConServe legitimate or a scam?
ConServe is legitimate. It has operated since 1985, is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating, and holds federal contracts. Even so, 1,100+ BBB complaints show that contractor status does not prevent FDCPA violations.
Why is ConServe calling me?
Most likely it is a defaulted student loan, federal or private, IRS tax debt, or a university balance. Verify a federal loan through studentaid.gov. For IRS debt, check whether you received Notice CP40.
Can ConServe garnish my wages without suing me?
For federal student loans, yes, through administrative garnishment without a lawsuit. This can reach up to 15% of disposable pay. For private loans, no. ConServe must sue and win a judgment first.
What is student loan rehabilitation?
It is a federal program that removes default status after 9 on-time payments over 10 months. ConServe should tell you about this option. If it pressures immediate full payment instead, document that.
What phone numbers does ConServe use?
(800) 724-7500, (866) 467-4300, (866) 524-1166, (585) 421-1000, (585) 421-1011, (585) 598-6191, and (866) 633-7945. Document every call you receive.
How do I stop ConServe from calling?
Send a cease-and-desist letter by certified mail to 200 Cross Keys Office Park, Fairport, NY 14450. If calls continue after ConServe receives it, each one may be a documented FDCPA violation.
Can I sue ConServe?
Yes, if it has violated federal law. FDCPA violations carry up to $1,000 in statutory damages. TCPA robocall violations carry $500 to $1,500 per call. ConServe pays your attorney fees if a violation is proven.
What Should You Do Next?
ConServe is a government contractor with over 1,100 BBB complaints on file, alongside its A+ rating. If its calls, letters, or tactics feel wrong, treat that complaint pattern as a reason for a case review. It is not, on its own, a reason to assume the worst.
The Wood Firm PLLC has handled consumer protection cases exclusively for years. We work on contingency and do not bill you unless ConServe pays. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. Browse our list of collection agencies, review our practice areas, or file a complaint with the CFPB.
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.
