If your phone keeps ringing from a Colorado number and the caller from The Advantage Group turned aggressive, talked over you, and threatened to “destroy your credit,” you’re not imagining the pressure. When they also call your mother or your workplace, that pattern may cross into a federal law violation.
Key Takeaways
- The Advantage Group is a real, Thornton, Colorado-based third-party debt collection agency.
- They cannot discuss your debt with family, friends, or your employer under the FDCPA.
- They cannot garnish wages or “destroy your credit” without first suing and winning a judgment.
- Calling repeatedly or contacting third parties about your debt may violate federal law.
- You may be entitled to statutory damages, up to $1,000 per violation, plus attorney fees.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is The Advantage Group?
The Advantage Group is a third-party debt collection agency based at 500 E. 84th Ave. #C-6, Thornton, CO 80229. We haven’t independently confirmed a specific founding date or complaint count, so we won’t repeat unverified figures here, but if you’re hearing from them, the FDCPA protections below still apply.
Main line:
☎3032881455
☎1-303-288-1455
☎303.288.1455
☎(303) 288-1455
☎303-288-1455
Toll-free line:
☎8008644358
☎1-800-864-4358
☎800.864.4358
☎(800) 864-4358
☎800-864-4358
Why Is The Advantage Group Calling You?
Most calls trace back to an unpaid account the agency is trying to collect for a creditor. That doesn’t give them free rein, though. Federal law limits how often they can call, what they can say, and who else they’re allowed to contact about it.
Why Is Third-Party Contact Such a Serious Problem?
A recurring complaint pattern against collectors generally involves contacting people other than the debtor, and this isn’t a minor courtesy issue. The FDCPA allows a collector to contact a third party only to obtain your location information, such as a phone number, address, or workplace.
They cannot legally:
- Tell your family members that you owe a debt
- Tell your employer that you owe money
- Discuss the amount owed with anyone but you
- Call the same relative or friend more than once
- Leave a voicemail revealing they’re a debt collector
- Ask someone to relay a message about the debt
If The Advantage Group called your family or your employer and discussed your account, that call likely violated federal law. Third-party disclosure cases often lead to statutory damages because the violation is clear and the harm, embarrassment, strained relationships, workplace trouble, is real.
What Does an Illegal Third-Party Call Sound Like?
A typical violation looks like this: a collector calls your mother and tells her about your “unpaid debt of $3,500,” asks her to have you call back, and implies legal action is coming. A single call like that can violate the FDCPA several times over, once for disclosing the debt, once for naming the amount, and once for pressuring a third party to intervene. Each of those may be worth up to $1,000 in statutory damages on its own.
Can The Advantage Group Garnish Your Wages or Sue You?
No, not without suing you first and winning in court. Wage garnishment requires a judgment; a bare threat of “destroying your credit” or garnishing wages with no lawsuit filed is an empty threat. Learn more about whether a collection agency can threaten to garnish your wages.
If they’ve also called your workplace, see whether a collection agency can call your job for what’s actually allowed. They can sue if the debt is still within your state’s statute of limitations, typically three to six years depending on the state and debt type. See how many years it takes for a judgment to go away for more detail. Arrest is never on the table for unpaid consumer debt, and any threat of it is a clear FDCPA violation.
What Should You Do if They’re Harassing You?
A few concrete steps protect your rights whether or not you dispute the debt itself.
- Document every call: date, time, what was said, and any threats made.
- Request written validation of the debt before discussing payment.
- Send a cease and desist letter if the calls continue.
- Note whether they contacted anyone else about your account.
- Contact a consumer protection attorney if the calls involve your family or employer.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act sets clear boundaries on what any collector, including The Advantage Group, can and cannot do while pursuing a debt. Our rundown of the top FDCPA violations to know your rights against debt collectors covers the most common ones we see.
How Do You Stop Calls From The Advantage Group?
You have several options, and they aren’t mutually exclusive.
- Send a written cease communication request: a certified letter can require them to stop contacting you.
- Dispute the debt: if the balance looks wrong or isn’t yours, send a validation request within 30 days of first contact.
- File a complaint: report harassing behavior to the CFPB, the FTC, or the Colorado Attorney General’s consumer protection office.
- Pursue legal action: a violation of the FDCPA can support a lawsuit for statutory damages and attorney fees.
Find out how many times a debt collection agency can call you per day and what crosses the line into harassment.
How Do You Request Validation and Stop Third-Party Contact?
The Advantage Group must validate the debt if you request it within 30 days of first contact. You can also explicitly prohibit further third-party contact in that same letter. Send it by certified mail and keep the receipt.
Ask for the original creditor’s name, the original and current balance, proof you owe the debt, and proof they’re authorized to collect it. State plainly that they may not contact your family, friends, employer, or any other third party about the debt, and note that such contact may violate FDCPA § 1692c(b). If they’ve already contacted third parties, ask for the names, dates, and what was disclosed.
When Should You Call a Lawyer About The Advantage Group?
Most people can send a validation letter on their own. Reach out to an attorney if any of the following happened.
- They contacted your family or employer and discussed your debt.
- They’re calling multiple times a day despite a validation request or a stop request.
- They threatened arrest, immediate garnishment, or another action they can’t legally take.
- They ignored your validation request and kept collecting.
- You’ve actually been sued and need to respond by the court’s deadline.
If you’re dealing with a different agency instead, our pages on Asset Acquisition Group harassment, Revenue Group debt collection harassment, and Central Management Group LLC cover those companies specifically.
How Does The Wood Firm PLLC Stop The Advantage Group’s Harassment?
In our practice, we see the same pattern repeatedly: a collector calls a relative or an employer, discloses the debt, and leaves the consumer embarrassed and unsure of their rights. When we take a case like this, we review the call pattern, confirm whether third parties were contacted, and pursue compensation where the law was broken.
The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency, so you pay nothing upfront, and if we win, The Advantage Group pays our attorney fees while you keep any damages awarded. Attorney Jeff Wood has practiced consumer protection law for over 15 years, with a network of Of Counsel attorneys licensed across 14 states.
What Happens When You Call Us?
We’ll review whether The Advantage Group’s calls to you, your family, or your employer crossed a legal line, and outline your options at no cost. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Advantage Group
Can The Advantage Group legally call my family or employer about my debt?
No, they can contact a third party only to get your location information. Discussing the debt, naming the amount owed, or asking a relative to relay a message may violate FDCPA § 1692c(b). Document who they called, what was said, and when.
How many times can The Advantage Group call me per day?
The FDCPA doesn’t set an exact number, but courts look at patterns like multiple daily calls, especially after you’ve requested validation or asked them to stop. Document each call as evidence.
What if The Advantage Group threatens to garnish my wages without suing me first?
No, that threat is likely false. They cannot garnish wages without first suing you and winning a court judgment, so an immediate garnishment threat may violate the FDCPA’s ban on false threats.
Can they sue me for this debt?
Yes, if the debt is still within your state’s statute of limitations, typically three to six years. If that period has expired, they generally cannot win a lawsuit, though they may still attempt to collect.
What should I do if The Advantage Group called my workplace?
Document who at your workplace took the call and what was said. If they disclosed that you owe a debt, that’s likely a violation, so send written notice prohibiting workplace contact and consider contacting an attorney.
Can I sue The Advantage Group for contacting my family?
Yes, if they discussed your debt with a family member. Third-party disclosure violations can carry statutory damages up to $1,000, plus actual damages and attorney fees if you win.
Where do I report The Advantage Group?
File a complaint with the CFPB, the FTC, or the Colorado Attorney General’s consumer protection office, and include documentation of any third-party contact, excessive calling, or false threats. A complaint with the Better Business Bureau can also add to the public record on a collector’s practices.
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.
