Audit Systems Inc on Your Credit Report: What to Know

If Audit Systems Inc (ASI) has appeared on your credit report or is calling you, two specific complaint patterns are worth knowing before you engage.

Multiple consumers report ASI calling without identifying themselves and asking to verify personal information. ASI has also been documented refusing to provide payment receipts or invoices unless the consumer pays the full balance.

This guide covers who ASI is, their documented patterns, and how to respond.

Who Is Audit Systems Inc?

Audit Systems, Inc. is a third-party contingency debt collection agency founded in 1975 in Clearwater, Florida, with a secondary location in Largo. ASI is not BBB-accredited and does not purchase debt outright.

ASI has accumulated 11 CFPB complaints and roughly 5 BBB complaints in recent years, low for a 50-year-old national collector. However, they have been named in over 50 federal civil cases, most alleging FDCPA violations including excessive calling and improper workplace contact.

Why ASI Is on Your Credit Report

Audit Systems primarily collects for two sectors:

• Healthcare providers: Hospital bills, physician groups, medical equipment charges, and clinic balances.
• Financial services: Credit card debt, bank account balances, and consumer loans.

Medical debt is the more dominant category based on complaint patterns. If you’ve never received medical services or done business with a Florida-based financial institution, an ASI account on your report is worth scrutinizing.

The Caller Identification Problem

A documented BBB complaint describes ASI calling consumers, asking them to verify personal information, and refusing to identify the company or explain the purpose of the call.

One consumer wrote: “They continue to contact me by phone, despite my repeated requests for them to stop. I have received multiple calls from this company, but they refuse to provide me with the name of their organization or any verifiable details about their business.”

Under the FDCPA, debt collectors must identify themselves and disclose that the call is an attempt to collect a debt. Requesting personal information without that disclosure is a specific FDCPA violation. Document every call with date, time, and what was or was not said.

The Receipt and Invoice Issue

A consumer review documents ASI refusing to provide a receipt for payments made or an invoice to pay off a debt unless the consumer paid the full balance. The review specifically noted that ASI “wants to charge large amounts to pay off your balance.”

Under the FDCPA, debt collectors must provide written validation of a debt when requested. Refusing to provide payment documentation or receipts may violate this requirement. If ASI is refusing to confirm what you owe or acknowledge payments you’ve made, send a written debt validation request and keep a copy of everything.

What ASI Cannot Do Under Federal Law

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

• Fail to identify themselves: Every collection contact must disclose they are a debt collector attempting to collect a debt.
• 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.
• Call excessively: Courts have found 7-10+ calls per day can constitute harassment.
• Collect on time-barred debts without disclosure: A documented complaint pattern with ASI.
• Refuse to provide receipts or validation: Documentation of what you owe and payments made is your right.

Florida also has its own Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) which provides additional state-level protections. Florida consumers can file complaints with both the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov and the Florida Attorney General’s office.

Medical Equipment Debt Disputes

A documented BBB complaint describes ASI collecting on a debt for a CPAP machine that the consumer repeatedly tried to return. The original provider was unreachable, and the consumer couldn’t complete the return despite multiple attempts.

If your ASI account involves medical equipment, verify directly with the original provider whether the equipment was properly returned or whether billing was completed correctly before the account was referred to collections. Equipment return disputes are particularly common in medical billing and often involve documentation errors at the provider level.

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 with itemized breakdown, and the date of original delinquency.

For medical debts, also request an itemized bill and confirmation that your insurance was properly billed. For equipment-related debts, ask for documentation showing the equipment was never returned.

Medical Debt Credit Reporting Rules Apply

If your ASI account involves a medical bill, specific credit reporting protections apply. All three major credit bureaus voluntarily agreed to these changes in 2022 and 2023:

• Medical debts under $500 are not reported on credit reports at all.
• Paid medical collections are removed from credit reports entirely.
• Unpaid medical debt has a one-year waiting period before it can be reported.

If your ASI account falls into any of these categories and is still showing on your credit report, dispute it immediately.

How to Check Your Credit Report for ASI 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? Does it appear more than once?

Any inaccuracy is grounds for a dispute. File disputes directly with each credit bureau.

How Long Can ASI Legally Pursue the Debt?

Every state has a statute of limitations on debt. Florida has a 5-year statute of limitations on written contracts and open accounts. If you no longer live in Florida, the relevant state is typically where you currently reside.

Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the clock. Given ASI’s documented pattern of calling on time-barred debts, check the original delinquency date carefully before responding.

Your Options for Resolving an ASI Account

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

• Go to the original creditor: For equipment or billing disputes, resolving the issue directly with the original provider often works better than negotiating with ASI.
• Pay in full with written confirmation: Given ASI’s documented refusal to provide receipts, get written confirmation of any payment and its effect on the account before sending money.
• Negotiate a settlement: ASI may accept a reduced amount on older accounts. Get any agreement in writing before paying.
• Dispute if inaccurate: If medical debt reporting rules apply or the account contains errors, dispute with the credit bureaus.

If ASI Files a Lawsuit

ASI can sue on debts within the statute of limitations. If they win a judgment, they may be able to garnish wages, levy bank accounts, or place liens. Florida law limits garnishment on certain income types.

If you are sued, do not ignore the complaint. Respond within the deadline. Consult a consumer protection attorney. Many offer free consultations.

How to Contact Audit Systems Inc

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

• Clearwater address: Audit Systems, Inc., 3696 Ulmerton Rd, Suite 200, Clearwater, FL 33762
• Largo address: Audit Systems, Inc., 1301 Seminole Blvd, Suite 157, Largo, FL 33770
• Phone: (800) 741-1969

Bottom Line

ASI’s most distinctive issues involve what they don’t do: identify themselves on calls, provide receipts for payments, and stop calling on time-barred debts. These aren’t just frustrating, they’re potential FDCPA violations worth documenting and reporting.

Florida’s additional state-level consumer protections also give you an extra complaint channel if ASI crosses the line.