If Clear Recovery or Merchants Credit Adjusters has appeared on your credit report or is calling you, these are two names for the same Omaha-based agency founded in 1919.
The name confusion is itself a documented problem: consumers have reported voicemails where the caller sometimes says “Clear Recovery,” sometimes “Merchants Credit,” and sometimes leaves only background noise with no identification at all.
The most serious documented complaint involves the agency garnishing a minor child’s bank account for a parent’s debt. This guide walks through who they are, why they’re contacting you, and how to respond.
Who Is Clear Recovery?
Clear Recovery, Inc. operates as Merchants Credit Adjusters, Inc. from the same Omaha address. Both names share the same phone number and both are operated by Clear, Inc. Clear Recovery is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and collects on behalf of original creditors rather than purchasing debt outright.
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Why Two Names for the Same Company
Clear Recovery and Merchants Credit Adjusters are the same entity operating under different names. Consumers have reported receiving voicemails that sometimes say “Clear Recovery,” sometimes say “Merchants Credit,” and in some cases leave only background noise without any identifying information at all.
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors must identify themselves and disclose that the communication is an attempt to collect a debt. Leaving voicemails without this identification is a potential FDCPA violation. If you’ve received calls or voicemails from either name without proper identification, document them.
Why Clear Recovery Is on Your Credit Report
Clear Recovery serves a notably broad range of clients for a regional agency:
- Healthcare providers: OB/GYN practices, urology clinics, hospitals, and other medical providers. They also handle early-out billing programs before debts formally go to collections.
- Financial institutions: Banks, credit unions, credit cards, and consumer loans.
- Retail creditors: Furniture stores including Nebraska Furniture Mart (a Berkshire Hathaway company).
- Government agencies: Restaurant taxes, false alarm fines, EMS charges, and other municipal accounts.
- Utility companies: Gas, electric, water, and waste management accounts.
The government collections specialty is unusual among agencies we’ve covered. If your account traces to a municipal fine, EMS bill, or government fee from the Omaha or broader Nebraska area, Clear Recovery may be pursuing it.
The Wrong Account Garnishment
A documented BBB complaint describes Clear Recovery and their affiliated law firm garnishing a minor child’s bank account for a parent’s debt. The reviewer wrote: “My name, nor any of my information is attached to her account.”
Garnishing an account that doesn’t belong to the judgment debtor is a serious legal error and a potential FDCPA violation. If Clear Recovery or their law firm has garnished or attempted to garnish an account belonging to someone other than you, consult a consumer protection attorney immediately. This type of error can be challenged in court and may entitle the account holder to damages.
What Clear Recovery Cannot Do Under Federal Law
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to Clear Recovery and Merchants Credit Adjusters. Under federal law, they cannot:
- Fail to identify themselves: Every 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.
- Garnish accounts not belonging to the debtor: A documented complaint.
- Leave blank or background-noise voicemails: Proper identification is required.
- Continue calling for years without identification: A documented myFICO complaint describes exactly this pattern.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information. File complaints at consumerfinance.gov if Clear Recovery or Merchants Credit Adjusters violates your rights. Nebraska residents can also contact the Nebraska Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Medical and Government Debt Reporting Rules
If your Clear Recovery account involves a medical bill, specific 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.
For government debts such as EMS charges or municipal fines, these medical debt protections don’t apply. Verify directly with the relevant government agency if you dispute the charge.
Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything
Don’t pay or admit the debt is yours until you’ve verified it. Given the name confusion between Clear Recovery and Merchants Credit Adjusters, specifically confirm which entity sent any letters you’ve received and that the company contacting you is actually Clear Recovery Inc. operating on behalf of a creditor you recognize.
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. If the debt involves a retail or government account, ask for the specific account details.
How to Check Your Credit Report for Clear Recovery 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 the account appear under both Clear Recovery and Merchants Credit Adjusters as separate entries for the same debt?
Duplicate reporting under both operating names is possible. Any inaccuracy is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.
How Long Can Clear Recovery Legally Pursue the Debt?
Nebraska has a 5-year statute of limitations on both written contracts and open accounts. If you no longer live in Nebraska, the relevant state is typically where you currently reside.
Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the clock. Check the original delinquency date before responding.
Your Options for Resolving a Clear Recovery Account
Once you’ve verified the debt, consider these paths:
- Go to the original creditor: Because Clear Recovery collects on behalf of creditors rather than owning debt, resolving billing errors directly with the original provider often works faster.
- Negotiate a settlement: Clear Recovery may accept a reduced amount on older accounts. Get any agreement in writing.
- Request a pay-for-delete: Ask whether they will remove the account in exchange for payment. Get it in writing before paying.
- Dispute if inaccurate: If the debt was already paid, belongs to someone else, or the reporting contains errors, dispute with the credit bureaus.
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If Clear Recovery Files a Lawsuit
Clear Recovery uses an affiliated law firm to pursue judgments. Multiple consumers report receiving lawsuit paperwork through attorneys without being properly served, or receiving garnishments without prior notice of a lawsuit. If you are sued, do not ignore the complaint. Respond within the deadline.
If you’ve been garnished without receiving lawsuit paperwork, consult a consumer protection attorney about challenging the garnishment. Nebraska allows consumers to challenge improper service.
How to Contact Clear Recovery
Handle all communication in writing whenever possible. Here’s how to reach them:
- Address: Clear Recovery, Inc., 4005 S 148th St, Omaha, NE 68137
- Phone: (402) 391-3933
Bottom Line
Clear Recovery’s most distinctive issues involve the confusion between their two operating names and the documented cases of garnishing accounts without proper notice. Their 100-year operating history doesn’t make these issues less serious.
Verify who is actually contacting you, confirm the debt before paying, and document any calls that don’t properly identify the company. If your account involves a garnishment on the wrong account or without proper service, consult a consumer protection attorney immediately.
Brooke Banks is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt, and smart money management. She helps readers understand their rights, build better credit, and make confident financial decisions with clear, practical advice.