Your Rights with Wakefield Associates | USAC

Wakefield Associates Is Contacting You — Here’s What You Can Do

If Wakefield Associates has been calling, writing, or showing up on your credit report, the first thing to know is this: federal law is on your side, and you have more options than they’re going to tell you about.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) sets strict rules about when debt collectors can contact you, what they have to prove, and what happens when they cross the line. This page walks through who Wakefield is, what the FDCPA lets them do (and forbids them from doing), and the practical next steps you can take today.

Who is Wakefield Associates?

Wakefield Associates — full corporate name Wakefield & Associates, Inc. — is a national third-party debt collection agency headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 1946, the firm operates eighteen offices and collects primarily on medical debt, property management, education, commercial accounts, and financial services accounts.

In 2025, Wakefield combined with Revco Solutions but continues to use the Wakefield name on existing collection files.

Where they’re based

• 10800 E. Bethany Drive, Suite 450, Aurora, CO 80014
• 3033 S. Parker Road, Suite 1010, Aurora, CO 80014

Phone numbers you may have seen

• 1-800-864-3870 (main customer-facing line)
• 1-303-537-2900 (Colorado headquarters)

Wakefield is a real, licensed collection agency — not a scam. But the Better Business Bureau lists them as not accredited with a substantial complaint history, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) public complaint database holds hundreds of Wakefield entries, most commonly for failure to validate disputed debts, attempts to collect disputed amounts, and continued contact after written cease-and-desist requests.

What the FDCPA says Wakefield can — and cannot — do

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692 through 1692p, is the federal law governing third-party debt collectors like Wakefield. The CFPB implements it through Regulation F (12 CFR Part 1006). Most people have never heard of either. They’re worth knowing.

When they can call you (FDCPA § 1692c(a))

• Only between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. in your local time zone.
• Not at work if you’ve told them — orally or in writing — that your employer doesn’t allow such calls.
• Not directly, if they know you have a lawyer for this debt. They have to go through your attorney.

Who they can talk to about your debt (FDCPA § 1692c(b))

• Not your spouse (unless co-debtor or you’ve consented), not your employer, not your neighbors, not your adult children.
• The only people they can speak with without your permission are your attorney, the credit bureaus, the original creditor, and their own attorney.

What’s flat-out prohibited (FDCPA §§ 1692d, 1692e, 1692f)

• Obscene or abusive language, or repeat calls intended to harass (§ 1692d).
• Threats of arrest, criminal prosecution, or wage garnishment they don’t intend or can’t legally pursue (§ 1692e).
• Misrepresenting the amount, character, or legal status of the debt (§ 1692e).
• Pretending to be a lawyer, government official, or credit bureau (§ 1692e).
• Adding interest, fees, or charges not authorized by the original contract or state law (§ 1692f) — the same kind of conduct alleged in an ongoing federal class action against Wakefield in the Middle District of Florida (Hernandez v. Wakefield & Associates, LLC, Case No. 8:24-cv-00897-WFJ-NHA).
• Sending postcards or otherwise signaling on the envelope that the contents are about a debt (§ 1692f).

Your right to make them prove the debt (FDCPA § 1692g)

This is the single most underused consumer right. Within five days of their first contact, Wakefield has to send you a written notice with the amount of the debt, the creditor’s name, and a statement of your right to dispute it. You then have thirty days from receipt to send a written dispute.

If you do, Wakefield must stop all collection activity until they obtain verification from the original creditor and mail it to you. A certified-mail dispute inside that thirty-day window shifts the burden of proof onto Wakefield — and many third-party collectors can’t produce the underlying paperwork.

What to do next: If a Wakefield letter arrived in the last thirty days, your highest-leverage move is a written dispute under § 1692g, sent by certified mail before the window closes.

How to stop Wakefield from contacting you

FDCPA § 1692c(c) gives you the right to make Wakefield stop contacting you — but you have to put it in writing.

A cease-and-desist letter, sent by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery, should plainly state that you are requesting Wakefield cease all further communication about this debt, and reference the account number from any letter they’ve sent.

Once Wakefield receives that letter, they are limited to a single follow-up contact, and only to (1) confirm they will stop, (2) notify you of a specific remedy they intend to invoke such as a lawsuit, or (3) tell you they are returning the account to the original creditor. Any further contact is itself an FDCPA violation.

Two important caveats: a cease-and-desist letter does not erase the debt, and does not stop the original creditor from suing you directly or reporting the debt to the credit bureaus. If the underlying debt is large or the statute of limitations is still running, talk to a lawyer first. Often the better opening move is the § 1692g validation dispute above.

What to do next: Decide which letter fits your situation — validation request (you want them to prove the debt) or cease-and-desist (you want them to stop). Send by certified mail and keep the receipt.

When you may have an FDCPA claim against Wakefield

You may have a claim if Wakefield has done any of the following:

• Called before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone.
• Kept calling your workplace after you told them your employer doesn’t allow it.
• Continued contact after you sent a written cease-and-desist.
• Talked to your spouse, family, employer, or neighbors about the debt.
• Added interest, fees, or charges not authorized by the original contract.
• Threatened arrest, criminal prosecution, or a lawsuit they can’t legally file.
• Misrepresented the amount or status of the debt.
• Refused to validate a debt you disputed in writing within the thirty-day window.
• Reported the debt to a credit bureau without flagging it as disputed (also a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) problem).

Under FDCPA § 1692k, a consumer who wins an FDCPA case can recover:

• Actual damages — out-of-pocket losses, lost wages, and in some cases emotional distress, with documentation.
• Statutory damages up to $1,000 per lawsuit, even with no provable out-of-pocket harm.
• Reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, paid by the debt collector when you win. This fee-shifting rule is why most FDCPA cases are handled on contingency.

You have one year from the date of the violation to file. That deadline is unforgiving, so don’t sit on it.

What to do next: Save every voicemail, letter, envelope, and screenshot. Write down the date, time, and substance of every call. That timeline is the evidence. If state law in your jurisdiction is stricter than the federal floor, you may have additional remedies — the National Consumer Law Center maintains a state-by-state debt collection law resource worth checking.

What U. S. Arbitration Corp. does in FDCPA cases

U. S. Arbitration Corp. is a national consumer-advocacy firm that has handled more than sixty thousand cases. Most FDCPA matters are filed in federal court under the § 1692k private right of action — we file in whichever forum gives you the better result.

Our FDCPA process:

1. Free intake review. Send us the letters, call logs, voicemails, and account numbers. We tell you whether the conduct likely violated the FDCPA and what a realistic recovery range looks like.
2. Demand letter. If the facts support a claim, we draft a formal demand setting out the violations and our settlement position. A meaningful share of FDCPA matters resolve here.
3. Filing. If demand fails, we file — typically in federal court, occasionally in arbitration when the underlying account agreement makes that the better forum.
4. Contingency fee. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery. No win, no fee. No retainer, no hourly billing.

You are never obligated to use us. You can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint at no cost, hire a different attorney, or represent yourself in small-claims court.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to talk to Wakefield on the phone?
No. You have the right to refuse phone communication and require all contact in writing. Tell Wakefield this on the call, then follow up in a letter so you have proof.

Can Wakefield sue me?
Yes. A collector with a valid, in-statute debt can file a collection lawsuit in state court. If you receive a summons, do not ignore it — default judgments are the most common reason debt collectors win. Respond by the deadline, even if only to file an answer denying the claim.

What if the debt isn’t mine?
Send a written dispute within the thirty-day validation window under FDCPA § 1692g. Wakefield must stop collection until they produce documentation showing you owe the debt. Many third-party debt buyers cannot produce the underlying contract or itemized statement, which often leaves you with a strong defense and a potential FDCPA claim.

How do I verify the debt is real?
Send Wakefield a certified-mail request for: (1) the original creditor’s name and address, (2) an itemized statement of the amount including any interest or fees Wakefield added, (3) the underlying contract or signed agreement, and (4) the date of last payment on the account.

Can Wakefield report this debt to the credit bureaus?
Yes — but if you’ve sent a written dispute under § 1692g and Wakefield hasn’t produced verification, continuing to report the debt without flagging it as disputed violates both the FDCPA and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com and document the timeline.

How long do I have to file an FDCPA claim?
One year from the date of the violation. If you think Wakefield has crossed a line, move now.

Get a free review of your Wakefield matter

If Wakefield has called, written, sued, or reported a debt on your credit, the first step is to know exactly what they’ve done and when. Fill out the short form below and we’ll review your situation at no cost.

If we believe Wakefield has violated the FDCPA, we’ll tell you. If we don’t, we’ll tell you that too — and point you to the right next step.

This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Whether a specific debt-collector communication violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act depends on the facts of your situation. For advice about your individual case, contact U. S. Arbitration Corp. or an attorney licensed in your state. Last reviewed by U. S. Arbitration Corp. on 2026-05-25.