Phillips & Cohen Associates on Your Credit Report: What to Know

Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd. (PCA) is a Wilmington, Delaware collection agency founded in 1997 that describes itself as a pioneer and global leader in deceased account care. The agency has accumulated more than 380 federal lawsuits and was investigated by the Federal Trade Commission for its practices in collecting debts from relatives of deceased debtors.

Documented complaints include contacting grieving family members without specifying what the debt is or who the original creditor is, pursuing a widow for her deceased husband’s debt after the estate claims period had expired, and continuing collection against an identity theft victim after confirming the fraud.

Who Is Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd.?

Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd. is a third-party debt collection agency founded in 1997 and headquartered at 1002 Justison Street in Wilmington, Delaware. PCA is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and works with over 70 of the world’s largest creditors across banking and finance, retail, utilities, telecommunications, and government sectors.

PCA’s specialty is deceased account care, which it pioneered. The agency also handles pre- and post-charge-off credit card collections, business card collections, consumer retail debt, debt management, and cease-and-desist collections.

Who Does Phillips & Cohen Collect For?

PCA works with major financial institutions, retailers, utility companies, and government entities. Confirmed clients from court records and published sources include:

• Capital One: A 2017 FDCPA case specifically names Capital One as a documented PCA client.
• Banking and finance, utilities, telecoms, and retail: These sectors appear in PCA’s published creditor partnership descriptions.

The FTC Investigation and Documented Cases

The FTC investigated PCA for collecting debts from relatives of deceased debtors, focusing on whether PCA was pressuring family members with no legal obligation to pay.

A documented federal case alleged PCA harassed a widow for her deceased husband’s debt after the estate claims window had expired. A documented 2008 case describes PCA continuing a collection campaign of harassment and intimidation against identity theft victims even after confirming the debt was fraudulent.

Documented BBB Complaint Patterns

PCA’s BBB complaint record surfaces specific documented issues tied to its deceased account collection practices.

• Contacting family members without specifying the debt or creditor: A documented BBB complaint describes receiving a letter addressed to the Estate of a recently deceased family member seeking an executor authorized to pay outstanding bills, without naming the creditor, specifying the debt amount, or providing any information about the alleged obligation.
• Directing family members to a non-functional portal: The same complaint describes PCA directing the recipient to Estate-Serve.com, where entering the provided reference number and PIN returned a Security Error stating the account was not active.
• Refusing to provide information on calls: The documented complaint describes PCA refusing to confirm the deceased’s name or provide any debt details by phone, while attempting to obtain the family member’s personal information.
• Contacting living people addressed as deceased: Multiple consumer complaints describe receiving letters addressed to the Estate of a person who is still alive or who had no outstanding debts at death.

What Phillips & Cohen Cannot Do Under Federal Law

• Pursue debts after the probate claims window has closed: The documented widow case establishes PCA has collected on estate debts after the legally enforceable period expired.
• Continue collecting after confirming identity theft: The 2008 case documents PCA continuing aggressive collection after confirming fraud, a violation of FDCPA Section 1692e.
• Imply family members are personally obligated to pay a deceased relative’s debts: Spouses, children, and executors generally have no personal liability for a decedent’s debts unless they were co-signers. Seeking an executor authorized to pay can imply an obligation that does not exist.
• Refuse to provide debt details on a validation request: PCA must identify the original creditor and the debt amount when asked.
• Contact living people addressed as deceased: Sending letters addressed to the Estate of a living person is a documented PCA complaint pattern and a potential FDCPA Section 1692e violation.

Important Context for Family Members of Deceased Debtors

If you received a PCA letter about an estate, your personal obligation depends on whether you were a co-signer or joint account holder. Being a spouse, child, or executor does not make you personally responsible for the decedent’s debts from your own funds.

Send PCA a certified validation letter demanding the original creditor’s name and account number, full itemized balance, written confirmation the claim was filed within your state’s probate claims window, and documentation that the deceased was the account holder.

How to Check Your Credit Report

Pull all three reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and look for Phillips & Cohen Associates or PCA as the furnisher. A PCA entry on a living consumer’s credit report likely relates to a credit card or consumer debt account, not an estate matter.

If PCA is reporting a deceased person’s debt on a living family member’s credit report without that family member being a co-signer, dispute the entry immediately with all three bureaus as not your account.

How Long Can PCA Legally Pursue the Debt?

Delaware allows three years on most consumer debts. Estate claim windows vary significantly by state, typically ranging from three months to two years from the date of death or notice to creditors.

Your Options for Resolving the Account

• Verify whether you have any personal legal obligation: Family members receiving PCA letters should confirm with a probate or consumer attorney whether they have personal liability before responding or providing personal information.
• Check whether the estate claims window has closed: The documented widow case shows PCA has pursued collection after this window expired. If the decedent died more than a year ago, the window may have closed in your state.
• Send a written validation demand for all account details: PCA must identify the original creditor, the amount, and the basis for the claim before any payment or acknowledgment.
• Dispute any PCA entry on a living consumer’s personal credit report without co-signer status: This is not your debt and should not appear on your report.

How to Contact Phillips & Cohen Associates

Handle all communication in writing. Send disputes by certified mail with return receipt requested:

• Address: Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd., 1002 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
• Phone: (888) 608-1766

Bottom Line

Phillips & Cohen Associates is a global deceased account specialist with more than 380 federal lawsuits, an FTC investigation into its estate collection practices, and documented complaints for contacting grieving family members about unspecified debts, directing them to non-functional portals, and pursuing collection after the estate claims window had closed.

If you received a PCA letter about a deceased family member’s debt, confirm whether you have any personal legal obligation before responding. Most family members do not.

If a PCA account is on your personal credit report and you were not a co-signer or joint account holder, dispute the entry with all three bureaus immediately.