Smith, Rouchon, and Associates: What to Do If They Contact You

Smith, Rouchon & Associates, Inc. (SRA) has collected debts for hospitals, retailers, utilities, and financial institutions from their Jackson, Mississippi office since 1979, operating across 33 states. Their confirmed client St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson was the subject of a 2021 investigative journalism report documenting nearly 1,000 lawsuits SRA filed against the hospital’s patients in a two-year period.

That investigation found SRA routinely adding a 33% attorney fee to patient balances, charging 8% interest, and filing in justice court where most defendants never appeared and default judgments were granted within minutes. This guide covers who they are and how to respond.

Who Is Smith, Rouchon & Associates?

Smith, Rouchon & Associates, Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency BBB accredited since 1985 with 43 CFPB complaints from Mississippi consumers on record. They collect for medical providers, retailers, banks, utilities, and telecom companies.

Mississippi has a 3-year statute of limitations on open accounts including medical debt. Medical debt CFPB rules apply to every healthcare account they report.

The St. Dominic Investigation: 1,000 Lawsuits in Two Years

A 2021 investigation by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting found SRA filed nearly 1,000 lawsuits against St. Dominic Hospital patients in Hinds County between 2018 and 2020. The investigation documented SRA routinely adding a 33% attorney fee on top of the original patient balance, charging 8% interest, and demanding full court costs from patients.

SRA filed primarily in justice court, which handles cases under $3,500 and where judges are not required to have law degrees. Hearings moved quickly and few defendants attended. Most consisted of an attorney listing a debt while the judge approved a default judgment without the patient present or aware.

A documented case describes a patient named Cooper who paid SRA’s attorneys in person and received a handwritten receipt. SRA proceeded with the lawsuit anyway and obtained a default judgment against her. She only discovered it years later when she found the judgment on her credit report. Paying SRA does not automatically resolve a pending lawsuit. If SRA has filed a lawsuit, confirm the case status with the court directly.

Validated Debt Not Marked as Disputed on Credit Reports

A documented CFPB complaint describes a consumer who sent two certified validation letters to SRA. Each was confirmed received by signature and timestamp. SRA called after the first letter to discuss the debt but never sent written verification and never marked the account as disputed with credit bureaus.

Under FDCPA Section 1692g(b), once a consumer disputes a debt in writing, the collector must cease collection and mark the account as disputed until verification is provided. Continuing to report an account as valid after receiving a written dispute without marking it as disputed is a specific documented SRA violation.

Daily Voicemails and Workplace Calls

Multiple documented CFPB complaints describe SRA leaving 2 to 3 voicemails daily demanding contact before end of day and calling consumers at their workplaces repeatedly. One consumer stated SRA called their job three times weekly and they were at risk of losing their employment.

FDCPA Section 1692c(a)(3) prohibits calling a workplace after being told the consumer cannot receive personal calls there. Regulation F limits calls to seven within any seven-day period per account. Log every workplace call with the date, time, and what was said before filing a CFPB complaint.

The 33% Attorney Fee Addition

The investigative report confirmed SRA’s practice of adding a 33% attorney fee to the original balance before filing suit. This means a $1,000 hospital bill becomes a $1,330 lawsuit demand before interest and court costs are added.

FDCPA Section 1692f(1) prohibits collecting amounts not authorized by the original agreement or permitted by law. Before engaging on any SRA demand, confirm whether the 33% attorney fee addition is authorized under your original patient financial agreement with the provider.

Medical Debt Reporting Rules Apply

SRA collects heavily for healthcare providers. Medical debts under $500 cannot appear on any consumer credit report. Any medical debt must wait one full year past the date of first delinquency before being reported.

Mississippi’s 3-year statute of limitations on open accounts is one of the shorter limits in the country. Confirm the date of last payment before engaging on any older SRA medical account.

What SRA Cannot Do Under Federal Law

• Proceed with a lawsuit after a consumer has paid: The documented Cooper case shows SRA obtaining a default judgment after a consumer paid and received a receipt. Confirm case dismissal with the court after any payment.
• Fail to mark disputed accounts on credit reports after receiving certified validation requests: A documented CFPB complaint with certified mail receipts. FDCPA Section 1692g(b) requires disputed status marking.
• Call a workplace after being told personal calls are not allowed: A documented complaint pattern. FDCPA Section 1692c(a)(3) prohibits this.
• Add fees not authorized by the original agreement: The 33% attorney fee addition documented in the investigative report. FDCPA Section 1692f(1) prohibits unauthorized amounts.
• Report medical debts under $500 or less than one year past due: Current CFPB rules prohibit both outright.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Request the original provider’s name, the service date, an itemized bill, and a breakdown of every fee SRA is adding beyond the original balance. Confirm whether any attorney fee addition is authorized by your original patient agreement.

Mississippi has a 3-year statute of limitations on open accounts. Confirm the date of last payment before responding to older accounts.

How to Find SRA on Your Credit Report

Check your credit reports for “Smith Rouchon” and “SRA.” If a judgment appears that you were unaware of, contact the court where it was filed immediately. A judgment can persist beyond the normal 7-year credit reporting window if it has been renewed.

Your Options Before Paying or Responding

• Confirm lawsuit status with the court directly if SRA has filed: The Cooper case shows SRA proceeding with a lawsuit after payment. Court records confirm whether a case has been dismissed.
• Send certified validation requests and retain every delivery receipt: The documented CFPB complaint shows SRA receiving letters and not marking accounts as disputed. Delivery receipts are your primary evidence.
• Log every workplace call with date, time, and specific impact: The documented complaint describes near job loss from SRA’s calls. Each call after a stop request is actionable.
• File with the Mississippi AG in addition to CFPB: The Mississippi Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division accepts complaints at (601) 359-4230.

How to Contact Smith, Rouchon & Associates

• Jackson address: Smith, Rouchon & Associates, Inc., 1456 Ellis Avenue, Jackson, MS 39204
• Florence address: 1110 Bradshaw Drive, Florence, AL 35630
• Phone: (800) 391-8018

Bottom Line

Smith, Rouchon & Associates filed nearly 1,000 lawsuits against one hospital’s patients in two years, added a 33% attorney fee to every balance, and obtained default judgments against patients who had already paid and patients who were never properly notified. Documented CFPB complaints confirm SRA failing to mark disputed accounts and making repeated workplace calls.

If SRA has filed a lawsuit, verify the case status with the court regardless of whether you have paid. If they are calling your workplace, document every call and file a CFPB complaint immediately.