Access Receivables Management: What to Do If They Contact You

If Access Receivables Management (ARM) has appeared on your credit report or is calling you, two specific complaint patterns are worth knowing upfront.

A documented BBB complaint describes ARM leaving a voicemail at a consumer’s spouse’s workplace, to his boss, giving the consumer’s name and a case number. Another describes ARM emailing a minor employee’s personal address demanding payment of a $70,000 debt owed by that person’s former employer.

Both are documented FDCPA violations. ARM is not known for filing lawsuits against consumers, but their contact methods have crossed legal lines in documented cases.

This guide walks through who ARM is, why they’re contacting you, and how to respond.

Who Is Access Receivables Management?

Access Receivables Management, Inc. is a debt collection agency founded in 1999 and based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The company is owned by Debbie Gillespie and led by President Tom Gillespie. ARM operates under the parent company DTG Holdings, Inc. and is licensed by the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation. The company is BBB-accredited since 2012.

ARM has accumulated 18 federal court cases as a defendant, was named in a 2018 class action alleging FDCPA and TCPA violations, and has a 2.0 star Google Review rating. Their LinkedIn page describes themselves as delivering collections with “low if no complaints.”

Why ARM Is on Your Credit Report

Access Receivables Management specializes in a specific set of industries:

• Commercial and B2B collections: Business-to-business debt is a core focus for ARM. If a company owes money to another company, ARM may pursue individuals connected to that business.
• Insurance: Insurance-related receivables and unpaid premiums.
• Telecommunications: Phone, internet, and cable service balances.
• Government agencies: Unpaid taxes, fees, and government-issued charges.
• Healthcare: Medical and hospital account balances.
• Higher education: Tuition and student account debts.

The commercial and B2B focus is important. If you’re being contacted by ARM about a debt you’ve never heard of, it may be a business debt from a company you were once associated with, not a personal consumer debt.

ARM’s Documented Third-Party Contact Violations

Two BBB complaints document ARM contacting people who weren’t the actual debtor. In one case, ARM left a voicemail at a consumer’s spouse’s workplace that disclosed the consumer’s name and a case number to his boss. In another, ARM emailed a former employee’s personal address demanding payment of a $70,000 business debt from a company they no longer worked for.

Both are potential FDCPA violations. Debt collectors cannot disclose debt information to third parties other than the consumer, their spouse, or their attorney. Document any contact ARM makes with your employer, family members, or colleagues, and consult a consumer protection attorney if it happens.

The Oral Dispute Issue

A documented case describes an ARM collector telling a consumer that he could only dispute the validity of a debt in writing. Under the FDCPA, consumers can dispute debts orally or in writing. Telling a consumer that disputes must be in writing is a misrepresentation that restricts the consumer’s rights.

If ARM has told you that you must dispute in writing, that’s not accurate. Oral disputes are valid, though written requests (sent by certified mail) provide a stronger paper trail.

What ARM Cannot Do Under Federal Law

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to ARM. Under federal law, they cannot:

• Disclose your debt to third parties: Including voicemails to employers, calls to family members, or emails to former colleagues.
• Threaten arrest or jail: Consumer debt is not a criminal matter.
• Call at odd hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
• Contact you at work after you say stop: Written cease-contact requests must be honored.
• Misrepresent your right to dispute: Both oral and written disputes are valid.
• Use harassing language: Profanity and repeated calls meant to annoy violate the law.

Maryland also has the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act, which provides additional state-level protections. File federal complaints at consumerfinance.gov and state complaints with the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation at 410-230-6100.

Consumer vs. Commercial Debt: Why It Matters

If ARM is collecting on a business debt, the FDCPA may not apply in the same way. The FDCPA protects consumers on personal debts but provides more limited coverage for business debts.

If ARM is contacting you as an individual about a company’s debt, or is trying to hold you personally liable for a business obligation, the situation is more complex. Consult a consumer protection attorney about whether personal liability even exists for the underlying debt before engaging.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Don’t pay or admit the debt is yours until you’ve verified it. Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Ask for the original creditor, the amount owed, and documentation showing the debt is your personal obligation rather than a business debt you may not be responsible for.

For consumer debts, also request an itemized breakdown of all charges and the date of original delinquency.

How to Check Your Credit Report for ARM Errors

Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct? Is the account date accurate? Is it listed under the right original creditor? Is it a personal account or a commercial account that shouldn’t appear on your personal credit report?

Commercial debts generally should not appear on personal credit reports. If ARM is reporting a business debt on your personal report, dispute it immediately.

How Long Can ARM Legally Pursue the Debt?

Maryland has a 3-year statute of limitations on open accounts and written contracts. If you no longer live in Maryland, the relevant state is typically where you currently reside.

Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the clock, so check the original delinquency date before responding.

The Lawsuit Risk With ARM

Multiple attorney sources confirm that Access Receivables Management is not known for filing lawsuits against consumers. They do offer pre-legal and legal services to their commercial clients, but consumer-facing litigation appears rare. If ARM has threatened to sue you or garnish your wages, document the threat and consult a consumer protection attorney. Empty threats are FDCPA violations.

Your Options for Resolving an ARM Account

Once you’ve verified the debt, consider these paths:

• Clarify whether it’s consumer or commercial debt: If ARM is pursuing you for a business debt, determine whether you have any personal liability before engaging.
• Negotiate a settlement: Get any agreement in writing before paying.
• Request a pay-for-delete: Ask whether ARM will remove the account in exchange for payment. Get it in writing.
• Dispute if inaccurate: If the debt was already paid or doesn’t belong to you, dispute with the credit bureaus.

How to Contact Access Receivables Management

Handle all communication in writing whenever possible. Here’s how to reach them:

• Address: Access Receivables Management, Inc., 11350 McCormick Rd, EPIII, Ste 800, Hunt Valley, MD 21031
• Phone: (877) 276-8600

Bottom Line

ARM’s documented third-party contact violations, including leaving debt information with a consumer’s boss and emailing former employees about company debts, give consumers specific leverage when engaging with them.

Document any third-party contact immediately, clarify whether the debt is personal or commercial, and consult a consumer protection attorney if ARM has disclosed your debt information to anyone other than you.