American Profit Recovery: What to Do If They Contact You

If American Profit Recovery (APR) has appeared on your credit report or is calling you, the debt could trace to an unusually wide range of creditors. APR is a Farmington Hills, Michigan agency with an unusually diverse client base that includes not just medical and dental offices but also veterinary clinics, landscaping companies, funeral services, and restoration contractors.

If you receive a collection notice from a company you don’t recognize in one of these industries, verify it before assuming it’s fraudulent. APR is not known for filing lawsuits against consumers, which gives you time to verify and respond methodically.

This guide covers who APR is, what their complaint record shows, and how to respond.

Who Is American Profit Recovery?

American Profit Recovery, Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency founded in 2003 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with a secondary office in Franklin, Massachusetts. The company employs approximately 60 people and focuses primarily on the Detroit and Eastern Michigan region, though they collect nationally.

APR holds a B+ BBB rating and has accumulated 58 CFPB complaints and 30+ federal civil cases. Multiple consumer attorneys confirm that APR is not known for filing lawsuits against individual consumers.

Why APR’s Client Mix Is Unusual

Most collection agencies we’ve covered specialize in healthcare, telecom, or financial institution debt. APR’s confirmed client types are notably broader:

• Medical and dental providers: Standard healthcare collections.
• Banks and credit unions: Consumer banking balances.
• Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals: Pet care debt.
• Landscaping and lawn care companies: Service contract balances.
• Funeral services: End-of-life service balances.
• Restoration and trades companies: Contractor and damage restoration invoices.
• Educational institutions: Tuition and student-related debts.
• Commercial and B2B accounts: Business-to-business invoices.

The unusual categories, particularly veterinary and funeral debt, mean consumers sometimes receive APR letters for debts they don’t immediately associate with traditional collection activity. A letter about an unpaid vet bill or landscaping invoice from APR is legitimate, not a scam, if the details match a real account.

The Closed Bank Account Debt Issue

A documented CFPB complaint describes a consumer who closed a bank account and later received an APR collection notice about a debt tied to that account. Multiple companies had attempted to process payments through the closed account after it was shut down. Those failed transactions created a balance that was then referred to APR.

If APR is contacting you about a debt tied to a bank account you closed, pull your bank records for that account. Confirm what transactions were attempted after closure, whether those transactions were authorized, and whether the resulting balance is your legal liability. Contact the original creditor and your bank for documentation before engaging with APR.

The Documentation Issue

A documented complaint describes APR sending vendor invoices in response to a debt validation request. Vendor invoices showing charges from the original creditor do not constitute full validation under the FDCPA. Proper validation should include the original creditor’s name, the account number, the amount at the time of referral, and documentation showing APR’s authority to collect.

If APR sends you invoices or statements in response to a validation request and those documents do not clearly identify you as the debtor, the original creditor, and APR’s authorization, that response may be inadequate. Document the deficiency and file a complaint with the CFPB.

What APR Cannot Do Under Federal and Michigan Law

The FDCPA applies to APR. Under federal law, they cannot:

• 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.
• Send inadequate validation documentation: Vendor invoices alone do not constitute proper validation.
• Use harassing or abusive language: Documented in multiple APR CFPB complaints.
• Collect on debts from closed bank accounts without establishing liability: A documented complaint pattern.

Michigan also regulates collection agencies under the Michigan Occupational Code. Michigan residents can file complaints with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). File federal complaints at consumerfinance.gov.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Do not pay or admit the debt is yours until you have verified it. Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Ask for the original creditor’s name and contact information, the account number, the amount at referral, and documentation showing APR’s authority to collect.

For unusual categories like veterinary or funeral debt, also verify the original provider confirms the balance and that no insurance or third-party coverage should have applied.

How to Check Your Credit Report for APR Errors

Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct? Is the original creditor accurately identified? Any inaccuracy is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.

How Long Can APR Legally Pursue the Debt?

Michigan has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts and open accounts. Massachusetts also has a 6-year limit. If you no longer live in either state, the relevant limit is typically where you currently reside. Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the clock.

Your Options for Resolving an APR Account

Once you have verified the debt, consider your options:

• Go to the original creditor: For veterinary, funeral, or contractor debts, contacting the original provider directly sometimes resolves billing disputes faster than negotiating with APR.
• Negotiate a settlement: APR may accept reduced amounts. Get any agreement in writing before paying.
• Request a pay-for-delete: Ask whether APR will remove the account in exchange for payment. Get it in writing first.
• Dispute if inaccurate: If the closed account debt isn’t your liability or documentation is inadequate, dispute with the credit bureaus.

How to Contact American Profit Recovery

Handle all communication in writing whenever possible:

• Michigan address: American Profit Recovery, Inc., 34505 W. 12 Mile Rd., Suite 333, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
• Massachusetts address: 31 Hayward St., Suite 2A-213, Franklin, MA 02038
• Phone: (800) 711-0023

Bottom Line

APR is a regional Michigan collector with an unusually broad client base that includes veterinary clinics, funeral homes, and landscaping companies. An APR letter about one of these debts may look unfamiliar but is likely legitimate if the account details match.

Verify the debt, push back if validation documentation is inadequate, and use Michigan’s state-level complaint channel alongside the CFPB if APR crosses the line.