Scott & Associates on Your Credit Report: What to Know

Scott & Associates, P.C. is a debt collection law firm with offices in more than 10 states that files thousands of collection lawsuits annually against consumers. Founded in 2000 and based in Carrollton, Texas, they openly describe their business model: “We perform pre-suit collections and file lawsuits to enforce our client’s claims.”

A 2011 federal court found S&A violated the FDCPA by contacting consumers after receiving cease-and-desist letters and attorney representation notices across five separate cases. A documented CFPB complaint shows S&A threatening suit on a time-barred debt while a representative told a consumer they had “never heard of a Statute of Limitations.” This guide covers who they are and how to respond.

Who Is Scott & Associates?

Scott & Associates, P.C., also known as Michael J. Scott, P.C., is a creditors’ rights law firm founded in 2000 with 135 employees and $9.8 million in annual revenue. They collect credit card debt, medical debt, student loans, auto deficiencies, and small business debt for national banks, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Midland Credit Management, and other creditors.

The BBB has recorded 26 complaints in three years and the CFPB has closed 48 complaints. Over 60 federal cases name them as a defendant. Texas has a 4-year statute of limitations on written contracts and credit card debt.

The 2011 Federal Pattern: Ignoring Attorney Representation

In a 2011 Northern District of Texas case, a federal court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order finding Scott & Associates violated the FDCPA. The attorney in the case had represented plaintiffs in five additional cases against S&A with the same documented pattern: each consumer had sent a cease-and-desist letter and notice of attorney representation to S&A, and in each case S&A communicated with the consumer directly to collect a debt after receiving those letters.

FDCPA Section 1692c(a)(2) prohibits contacting a consumer directly once a collector knows they are represented by an attorney. Doing so across six separate documented cases reflects a systematic compliance problem, not an isolated error. If you have retained an attorney and S&A has subsequently contacted you directly, document every communication with date and content.

Threatening Lawsuits on Time-Barred Debt

A documented CFPB complaint describes a consumer whose credit card debt was beyond Texas’s 4-year statute of limitations. When the consumer contacted S&A and explained the debt was legally uncollectible, a representative stated: “I’ve never heard of a Statute of Limitations.

All debts can be collected until payment is made.” S&A continued sending threatening lawsuit letters after the consumer sent a certified letter explaining the expired statute.

Threatening to file a lawsuit on a time-barred debt is a specific FDCPA violation under Section 1692e(5). Texas’s 4-year statute of limitations on credit card debt is one of the shorter state limits. If S&A is contacting you about an older account, confirm the date of your last payment before engaging. If the statute has expired, document any lawsuit threat immediately.

Proceeding With a Lawsuit After Accepting Settlement Payment

A documented October 2025 BBB complaint describes a consumer who called S&A to settle a debt for $664. The S&A representative confirmed the lawsuit would be dismissed once payment cleared. The consumer paid the same day.

The money cleared the consumer’s bank account on October 6, 2025. A lawsuit appeared in court records shortly after with new terms the representative had never mentioned. The consumer had recorded the original call.

A separate documented BBB complaint describes S&A accepting a payment arrangement for dismissal of a lawsuit, then proceeding with the lawsuit anyway and obtaining a judgment. Any settlement agreement with Scott & Associates must be in writing before payment clears.

A verbal agreement, even a recorded one, creates a dispute the consumer must prove in court. Written confirmation of settlement terms and lawsuit dismissal before payment is the only reliable protection.

Confirmed Clients and Account Types

S&A collects for national banks, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Midland Credit Management, NCB Management Services, and Credit Corp Solutions, among others. If S&A is collecting a debt that was purchased by a debt buyer such as Portfolio Recovery or Midland, request the complete chain of assignment documentation showing how the debt buyer legally came to own your original account.

What S&A Cannot Do Under Federal and Texas Law

Based on their documented record:

• Contact a consumer directly after receiving a cease-and-desist and attorney representation notice: The 2011 federal case documents this pattern across six plaintiffs. FDCPA Section 1692c(a)(2) prohibits this.
• Threaten a lawsuit on a time-barred debt: A documented CFPB complaint. Texas’s 4-year SOL on credit card debt is strictly enforced. FDCPA Section 1692e(5) prohibits threatening action that cannot legally be taken.
• Proceed with a lawsuit after accepting a settlement payment: Two documented BBB complaints. Get all settlement terms in writing before payment clears.
• Use false statements about the law to pressure payment: A documented CFPB complaint shows a representative falsely claiming statutes of limitations do not exist. FDCPA Section 1692e(10) prohibits deceptive means to collect a debt.

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 charge-off, and complete chain of assignment documentation if the debt was purchased. Confirm the date of last payment and compare it against Texas’s 4-year statute of limitations before responding to any lawsuit threat.

Your Options Before Paying or Responding

Given S&A’s documented litigation volume and complaint history, several steps matter before engaging:

• Respond to any summons before the Texas court deadline. S&A files thousands of lawsuits annually. Consumer attorneys in Texas specifically note that most judgments against consumers occur because they did not respond. Filing an Answer preserves all your defenses.
• Get every settlement agreement in writing before payment clears. The October 2025 BBB complaint shows a verbal settlement not honored and a lawsuit filed anyway. Written terms signed before payment is the only enforceable form.
• Document every contact after a cease-and-desist or attorney representation notice. The 2011 federal case established this as a systematic S&A pattern. Each post-notice contact is a separate FDCPA violation.
• File with the Texas AG in addition to CFPB. The Texas Debt Collection Act and Texas AG’s Consumer Protection Division accept complaints at (800) 621-0508.

How to Contact Scott & Associates

• Address: Scott & Associates, P.C., 1120 Metrocrest Drive, Carrollton, TX 75006
• Mailing address: P.O. Box 113297, Carrollton, TX 75011
• Phone: (866) 298-3155 or (972) 488-6677

Bottom Line

Scott & Associates files thousands of collection lawsuits annually and has a documented 2011 federal finding for contacting consumers after receiving cease-and-desist letters and attorney representation notices across six separate cases. They have also been documented threatening lawsuits on time-barred debt and proceeding with litigation after accepting settlement payments.

Respond to any summons before the deadline. Get every settlement in writing before paying. If they have contacted you after receiving your attorney’s representation notice, document every instance.