Is Evergreen Professional Recoveries Hurting Your Credit?

If Evergreen Professional Recoveries (EPR) has appeared on your credit report or is calling you repeatedly from different phone numbers, they are a Bothell, Washington collection agency focused primarily on healthcare and government accounts.

Multiple documented complaints describe EPR calling 2 to 3 times per day and leaving extended voicemails without identifying themselves as a debt collector, both of which are FDCPA violations.

EPR also has an in-house legal department and attorney network, meaning they do pursue lawsuits in some cases. This guide covers who EPR is, their complaint patterns, and how to respond.

Who Is Evergreen Professional Recoveries?

Evergreen Professional Recoveries, Inc. (EPR) is a third-party debt collection agency founded in the mid-1990s and headquartered in Bothell, Washington.

The company is BBB-accredited and operates a full-service collection platform that includes third-party collections, medical billing, pre-collection notification, online check verification, collection training, and an in-house legal department with an attorney network service.

EPR has accumulated 150+ CFPB complaints and 11 federal civil cases. Their complaint volume is moderate, but their in-house litigation capability makes them more prepared to sue than most small regional debt collectors.

Why EPR Is on Your Credit Report

EPR accepts accounts from a specific set of client types:

• Healthcare providers: Hospitals, clinics, and physician practices. Medical debt is their primary business, and they also provide medical billing services to healthcare clients.
• Government agencies and courts: Municipal fines, court fees, and government-issued debts. A documented BBB review describes EPR collecting on a speeding ticket.
• Financial institutions: Banks and lending institutions.
• Retail lenders: Consumer financing balances.
• Colleges and universities: Tuition and student account balances.

If you live outside Washington state and have no connection to any of these client types, verify the account immediately for identity or skip-tracing errors.

The Multiple Phone Number Robocall Pattern

The dominant complaint pattern against EPR involves robocalling from multiple phone numbers daily without identifying themselves as a debt collector. Multiple documented BBB complaints describe EPR calling repeatedly, sometimes 2 to 3 times per day, using different phone numbers and leaving automated voicemails that do not identify the caller as a debt collector attempting to collect a debt.

A documented myFICO forum post describes EPR calling 2 to 3 times daily and leaving 10-minute voicemails on a $1,700 medical bill. When the consumer moved and got a new phone number, EPR obtained the new number through skip tracing and resumed calls.

Under the FDCPA, every communication from a debt collector must include a disclosure that the contact is from a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Voicemails without this disclosure are FDCPA violations. Under Regulation F, more than 7 calls within 7 days on the same debt violates the frequency limit.

The Incorrect Balance Federal Case

In DeFalico v. Evergreen Professional Recoveries (E.D. Wisconsin, 2017), EPR sent a consumer two collection documents (Exhibit B and Exhibit C) in the same communication package that stated two different balances for the same auto deficiency debt. The court found that EPR failed to state the amount of the debt in a non-confusing manner, a violation of the FDCPA requirement to clearly disclose the amount owed. The court also found EPR had potentially added charges not expressly authorized by the original debt agreement.

If you receive EPR correspondence with conflicting balance amounts, or a balance that is higher than what you believe was owed at charge-off, preserve all documents and file a CFPB complaint.

Validation Forced Account Closure

A documented consumer success story describes EPR repeatedly calling about an old medical bill they claimed was valid. A consumer protection attorney demanded proper debt validation on the consumer’s behalf. When EPR could not provide adequate documentation, they dropped the claim entirely. The CFPB complaint filed during that process supported the outcome.

Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. If EPR cannot provide original creditor documentation, adequate itemization, and authority to collect, they must cease collection activity.

What EPR Cannot Do Under Federal Law

The FDCPA applies to Evergreen Professional Recoveries. Under federal law, they cannot:

• Leave voicemails without identifying as a debt collector: A documented multiple-BBB-complaint pattern.
• Call more than 7 times within 7 days: A documented complaint showing 2 to 3 daily calls.
• Send contradictory balance statements: Subject of the 2017 DeFalico federal case.
• Add charges not authorized by the original debt agreement: Also covered in DeFalico.
• Continue calling after a cease-contact request: Must stop except to confirm receipt or notify of legal action.
• Use skip tracing to resume calls after consumer provides no-contact notice: A documented complaint pattern.

File complaints at consumerfinance.gov. Washington residents can also file with the Washington Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Medical Debt Reporting Rules Apply

Because EPR focuses primarily on healthcare, specific credit reporting protections apply. Medical debts under $500 are not reported, paid medical collections are removed, and unpaid medical debt has a one-year waiting period before reporting. If your EPR account falls under any of these categories, dispute it immediately.

How to Check Your Credit Report for EPR Errors

Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct and does it match a single consistent amount? Is the original creditor accurately identified? Any inaccuracy, including conflicting balance figures, is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.

How Long Can EPR Legally Pursue the Debt?

Washington has a 6-year statute of limitations on most consumer debts. If you no longer live in Washington, the relevant state is typically where you currently reside.

Your Options for Resolving an EPR Account

Once you have verified the debt, consider your options:

• Go to the original healthcare provider: Contact the hospital or clinic directly. Many offer financial assistance programs EPR cannot offer.
• Demand complete debt validation: EPR has dropped claims when they could not produce adequate documentation.
• Negotiate a settlement: Settlement starting points documented by SoloSuit begin around 60 percent of the balance. Get any agreement in writing before paying.
• Dispute if inaccurate: If the balance is inconsistent across EPR documents or the debt falls under medical reporting rules, dispute with the credit bureaus.

How to Contact Evergreen Professional Recoveries

Handle all communication in writing whenever possible:

• Address: Evergreen Professional Recoveries, Inc., 12100 NE 195th St, Suite 325, Bothell, WA 98011
• Phone: (800) 241-1305

Bottom Line

EPR’s most consistent violation is robocalling without identifying themselves as debt collectors, often from multiple numbers daily. Their 2017 federal case for contradictory balance statements is a specific issue to watch for in any EPR collection letter.

Demand written debt validation, document every call across every number EPR uses, and verify the balance is consistent before paying anything.