First Collection Services on Your Credit Report: What to Know

First Collection Services has operated out of Little Rock, Arkansas collecting banking, medical, telecommunications, and utility debts. If their name appears on your credit report, the underlying account is most likely from one of those four categories.

Arkansas provides consumers two complaint avenues beyond the CFPB: the Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies, which licenses and regulates collectors in the state, and the Arkansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. This guide covers who First Collection Services is and how to respond.

Who Is First Collection Services?

First Collection Services (FCS) is a third-party debt collection agency headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. They collect for banking institutions, medical providers, telecommunications companies, and utility providers.

Arkansas requires all debt collection agencies operating in the state to be licensed and regulated by the Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies (ASBCA). In addition to the federal FDCPA, Arkansas has its own Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (AFDCPA) that mirrors and reinforces federal protections for Arkansas consumers.

Arkansas Debt Collection Protections

Arkansas consumers dealing with First Collection Services have three complaint avenues. The CFPB handles federal FDCPA complaints and forwards them to the collector. The Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies at (501) 682-4500 handles licensing complaints and can take action against collectors operating improperly in the state. The Arkansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800) 482-8982 handles state-level AFDCPA complaints.

Filing with the ASBCA is worth considering if FCS has engaged in conduct that violates Arkansas licensing requirements, including operating without proper bonding or using prohibited collection methods.

Medical Debt Reporting Rules Apply

Because First Collection Services collects for medical providers, current CFPB medical debt reporting rules apply to any healthcare account they report. Medical debts under $500 cannot appear on any consumer credit report. Any medical debt must also go through a one-year waiting period before being reported to credit bureaus, regardless of the balance.

If FCS has reported a medical balance under $500, or a balance less than one year past due, that entry is immediately disputable with all three bureaus without waiting for FCS’s response.

Telecom and Utility Account Verification

First Collection Services collects for telecommunications and utility providers. These account types are frequently disputed because billing errors, early termination fee calculations, and equipment return credits are often not reflected in the balance at the time of referral to collections.

If FCS is collecting a telecom or utility balance, request the final account statement from the original provider and compare it against what FCS claims. Early termination fees in particular require confirmation that the original service agreement authorized that specific charge.

What FCS Cannot Do Under Federal and Arkansas Law

Based on applicable law for Arkansas-based collectors:

• Report medical debts under $500 or less than one year past due: Current CFPB rules prohibit both. Dispute immediately without waiting for FCS’s response.
• Use false or misleading representations to collect: FDCPA Section 1692e applies to all FCS communications.
• Harass or abuse consumers during collection calls: Both the FDCPA and Arkansas AFDCPA prohibit harassment, abusive language, and repeated calls intended to annoy.
• Report inaccurate information to credit bureaus: FCRA furnisher obligations apply to all FCS account types.
• Continue collecting after a written cease request without taking specific legal action: FDCPA Section 1692c(c) requires cessation of contact after a written cease request except to confirm receipt or notify of a specific legal action.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Request the original creditor’s name, the account number, the balance at the time of referral, and an itemized breakdown of any fees or interest added since referral.

For medical accounts, compare the claimed balance against your insurer’s explanation of benefits. For telecom and utility accounts, request the final account statement from the original provider and verify any early termination or equipment fees are contractually authorized.

Arkansas has a 5-year statute of limitations on written contracts. The relevant statute is the state where you currently reside.

How to Check Your Credit Report for FCS Entries

Search all three credit reports for “First Collection Services” and “FCS.” Confirm the original creditor is identified and the balance matches what the original creditor recorded at referral. For medical entries, check whether the balance is under $500 or less than one year old before engaging with FCS at all.

Your Options for Resolving an FCS Account

• Dispute medical entries under $500 or under one year old immediately: Current CFPB rules make both disputable without waiting for FCS’s response.
• Compare telecom and utility balances against the original provider’s final statement: Billing errors and unapplied credits are common at the time of referral for these account types.
• File with the Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies for licensing violations: The ASBCA at (501) 682-4500 handles complaints specific to Arkansas-licensed collectors.
• File with the Arkansas AG for state AFDCPA violations: The Consumer Protection Division at (800) 482-8982 handles state-level complaints independently of the CFPB.

How to Contact First Collection Services

• Address: First Collection Services, 10925 Otter Creek East Boulevard, Little Rock, AR 72103
• Phone: (800) 844-2036 or (501) 455-1658

Bottom Line

First Collection Services collects banking, medical, telecom, and utility debts from their Little Rock, Arkansas headquarters. Arkansas consumers have state-level complaint avenues beyond the CFPB, including the Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies and the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Before paying anything FCS claims, confirm the account type and verify the balance against the original provider’s records. For any medical account under $500 or less than one year past due, dispute with all three bureaus immediately.