Is Absolute Resolutions Investments, LLC Hurting Your Credit?

Absolute Resolutions Investments, LLC (ARI) is one of the most active debt buyers in the country. Since 2001, their Bloomington, Minnesota operation has purchased charged-off credit card, retail card, and personal loan portfolios from banks including Citibank, Synchrony Bank, First National Bank of Omaha, and SoFi. They are also known as Absolute Resolutions Corporation (ARC).

ARI files collection lawsuits aggressively, filing over 2,000 in Georgia alone between 2019 and 2023. However, multiple consumer defense attorneys across several states document that ARI frequently files those lawsuits without proper documentation proving they own the debt.

That documentation gap has resulted in dismissed cases, eliminated debts, and paid counterclaims in documented consumer wins. This guide covers who ARI is, their documented patterns, and how to respond.

Who Is Absolute Resolutions Investments?

Absolute Resolutions Investments, LLC is a debt buyer founded in 2001 and headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. They operate under two BBB profiles, one as ARI and one as Absolute Resolutions Corporation. The company has 50-57 employees and purchases distressed consumer receivable portfolios directly from original creditors.

The CFPB has recorded over 600 complaints against ARI, with the top complaint category being attempts to collect debt not owed. A significant portion of those complaints involve identity theft or fraud. The company has 200 federal PACER cases on record and has filed lawsuits in the thousands at the state court level.

The Documentation Gap Problem

Multiple consumer defense attorneys in Michigan, Georgia, New York, Florida, and Texas have independently documented the same pattern: ARI files collection lawsuits without attaching the chain of assignment documentation that proves they legally own the debt they are suing to collect.

When a credit card debt is bought and sold multiple times, the paperwork documenting each transfer can become difficult to locate. ARI’s lawsuits have been dismissed and debts eliminated in documented cases where they could not produce the original creditor agreement, the assignment documentation, or the payment history showing the amount owed.

In several Michigan cases documented by a consumer law firm, ARI’s attorney Stenger & Stenger filed suit without proof, the consumer filed a counterclaim, and the entire debt was negotiated away before the first pretrial.

If ARI sues you, do not assume they can prove their case. Respond to the summons and require them to produce documentation.

How ARI Files Lawsuits: Know the Law Firm

ARI files collection lawsuits using Stenger & Stenger, P.C. in most states. In Georgia, they also use Lloyd & McDaniel, PLC. Previously in Florida, Federated Law Group filed on their behalf. In New York, Pressler Felt and Warshaw and Abrahamsen Gindin have been documented filers.

If you receive a summons and see the names Preston Nate, Joe Jammal, or Joshua Stiers on the filing, that is an ARI lawsuit through Stenger & Stenger. Knowing who is actually suing you is the first step to mounting an effective response.

The Norton Class Action

In 2018, a class action was filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin naming Absolute Resolutions Corporation, Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC, and Central Portfolio Control Inc. as defendants (Norton v. Central Portfolio Control Inc. et al., Case No. 18-cv-787). The complaint alleged FDCPA violations affecting a class of consumers. This case reflects ARI’s documented exposure to class-level FDCPA litigation.

What ARI Cannot Do Under Federal Law

Based on their documented practices:

• File a lawsuit to collect a debt they cannot prove they own: ARI frequently files without proper assignment documentation. The burden of proof in a collection lawsuit is on ARI, not the consumer. Requiring them to produce documentation is a documented winning defense.
• Attempt to collect debts not owed: The top CFPB complaint category. Over 600 complaints document this pattern, with a significant share involving identity theft.
• Sue on time-barred debts: The FDCPA prohibits threatening or filing a lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired. Minnesota has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts, but the relevant state is where you reside.
• Violate the FDCPA in collection communications: The Norton class action and documented FDCPA cases reflect ongoing legal exposure for ARI’s collection practices.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written validation request by certified mail immediately. Request the name of the original creditor, the account number, the date of charge-off, the purchase price ARI paid for the portfolio, and the full chain of assignment from the original creditor to ARI.

ARI’s BBB complaint responses frequently state that consumer complaints are “the first requests for debt validation” they have received, suggesting prior validation requests may not always be processed correctly. Certified mail with return receipt is essential to confirm delivery.

If ARI purchased your debt from a portfolio of Citibank, Synchrony, First National Bank of Omaha, SoFi, WebBank, or Department Stores National Bank accounts, confirm which specific account is claimed and when the last payment was made before engaging.

How to Check Your Credit Report for ARI Entries

Search all three credit reports for “Absolute Resolutions Investments,” “Absolute Resolutions Corp,” and “ARI-RES.” Confirm the original creditor is identified and the balance matches what the original creditor recorded at charge-off. ARI purchases portfolios, so the balance should reflect charge-off amounts, not any interest or fees added after purchase without a contractual basis.

How Long Can ARI Legally Pursue the Debt?

Minnesota has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts. The relevant statute is the state where you currently reside. Confirm your state’s specific limit and the date of last account activity before engaging with or paying ARI on any older account.

Your Options for Resolving an ARI Account

• Respond to any lawsuit summons immediately: ARI files thousands of lawsuits and pursues default judgments against consumers who do not respond. Responding forces ARI to prove their case.
• Request the full chain of assignment documentation: ARI’s documented inability to produce this paperwork has resulted in dismissed cases and eliminated debts in multiple states. Requesting it before they file gives you leverage on any settlement.
• Check the statute of limitations before paying: ARI purchases old charged-off accounts. Confirm the last payment date and your state’s limitation period before treating any ARI demand as collectable.
• File a counterclaim if ARI sues without documentation: Multiple documented consumer wins involve counterclaims filed when ARI could not prove ownership. A consumer attorney experienced in FDCPA litigation can evaluate this at no upfront cost in most cases.

How to Contact Absolute Resolutions Investments

• Address: Absolute Resolutions Investments, LLC, 8000 Norman Center Drive, Suite 350, Bloomington, MN 55437
• Phone: (800) 713-0670

Bottom Line

Absolute Resolutions Investments is one of the most prolific debt-buying collectors in the country with over 600 CFPB complaints and 200 federal PACER cases. Their most exploitable documented weakness is filing lawsuits without proper chain of assignment paperwork, which has resulted in dismissed cases and eliminated debts in documented consumer wins across multiple states.

If ARI sends you a collection notice, request written validation immediately. If they file a lawsuit, respond. Requiring them to produce the documentation showing they own the debt is the single most important step in defending any ARI collection action.