Aldous and Associates is a debt collection agency that primarily works with gyms, health clubs, and service providers to recover past-due accounts. If you’ve been contacted by them, it’s likely related to a missed payment or unresolved membership fee.
Getting calls or letters out of nowhere? A name keeps popping up, Aldous and Associates, & suddenly, your heart races. Are they legit? Is your credit at risk?
Or worse... is someone trying to trap you in a debt you don’t owe? Before you panic, read this guide.
We've dealt with countless debt collectors and even law firm collection agencies like Aldous and Associates. So you're getting insights from real-world experience, not guesswork.
The truth might surprise you, and it could be the key to protecting your rights, your credit, and your peace of mind.
What Are Aldous and Associates?
Aldous and Associates is a legitimate law firm that also works as a third-party debt collection agency. They are based in Holladay, Utah, and have been in business since 2015. The company specializes in collecting past-due debts for specific industries, particularly fitness centers, gyms, telecommunications companies, and property management firms.
As both a law firm and collection agency, Aldous and Associates operates differently from typical debt collectors. Their legal status means they can take more serious legal action against debtors, including filing lawsuits. This dual role often makes people take their collection efforts more seriously than they would with a regular collection agency.
The company collects debts that are typically 90 days past due. They work with businesses across all 50 states, helping companies recover money from customers who have stopped paying their bills. Industries they commonly work with include health and fitness clubs, apartment complexes, utility companies, pest control services, and financial service providers.
Recommended Read: How to Get a Debt Lawsuit Dismissed: Steps and Advice
Is Aldous and Associates Legit?
Yes, Aldous and Associates is a legitimate business. They are a licensed law firm and debt collection agency that follows federal and state laws regarding debt collection. However, being legitimate does not mean they cannot make mistakes or that every debt they try to collect is valid.
Upon doing our investigation, the company is listed as “not accredited” by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but this does not mean they are not legitimate. Many legitimate businesses choose not to seek BBB accreditation. What matters more is that they follow proper debt collection procedures and respect your rights as a consumer.
Since they are both a law firm and collection agency, Aldous and Associates has more legal tools available than typical debt collectors. This means they can potentially file lawsuits against debtors more easily than other collection agencies. However, they must still follow all federal and state laws that govern debt collection practices.
Why Is Aldous and Associates Calling Me?
If Aldous and Associates is calling you, it means they believe you owe money to one of their clients. The most common reasons they contact people include:
- Unpaid Gym or Fitness Center Memberships: This is their specialty. If you had a gym membership and stopped paying or tried to cancel but still owe money, they might be calling about this debt.
- Unpaid Rent or Property-Related Fees: If you previously rented an apartment and left owing money for rent, damages, or other fees, the property management company might have hired Aldous and Associates to collect the debt.
- Telecommunications Bills: Unpaid cell phone, internet, or cable bills are another common reason for their calls.
- Utility Bills: Past-due electricity, gas, water, or other utility bills might result in collection calls from this company.
- Other Consumer Debts: They also collect various other types of consumer debts for their clients.
It's important to understand that just because they are calling does not automatically mean you owe the debt. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), collection agencies CAN and DO make mistakes.
Which includes: contacting the wrong person or attempting to collect on debts that are already paid, settled, or beyond the statute of limitations.
In one real case we handled, a client was hounded by Aldous and Associates over a gym membership she had canceled nearly a year earlier. The gym had failed to process the cancellation properly, and the balance was wrongly sent to collections.
As she put it, “I thought I did everything right, canceled in person, followed up, but months later, I was getting calls like I had skipped out on a bill. It felt like I was being punished for someone else’s error.”
You might be interested: Statute of Limitations on Debt in Texas: What You Need to Know
Why Does Aldous and Associates Keeps On Calling Me?
Debt collectors like Aldous and Associates keep calling because their job is to collect money. They are persistent because that's how they make money. They either get paid a percentage of what they collect or they purchase your debt for a fraction of what you supposedly owe.
However, there are limits to how often and when they can call you. Under federal law, debt collectors cannot:
- Call you before 8 AM or after 9 PM
- Call you at work if you tell them not to
- Call you repeatedly with the intent to harass
- Use threatening or abusive language
- Discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney
If they keep calling excessively or at inappropriate times, they may be violating federal debt collection laws. You have the right to ask them to stop calling and to communicate with you only in writing.
Aldous and Associates Phone Number and Contact Information
Aldous and Associates can be reached through several methods, but it's important to know the proper way to communicate with them to protect your rights.
Their mailing address is: Aldous & Associates, PO Box 171374 Holladay, UT 84117
According to their website, all consumer communications regarding past-due accounts must be sent to this mailing address. They specifically state that emails will not be processed or reviewed for consumer debt matters.
While phone numbers for Aldous and Associates exist, it's generally better to communicate with debt collectors in writing. This creates a paper trail that can protect you if disputes arise later. Written communication also helps ensure you don't accidentally say something that could hurt your case.
If you do need to call them, be prepared and know your rights before you pick up the phone.
Never admit to owing a debt unless you are certain it's yours and you actually owe it.
What Happens If You Ignore Aldous and Associates?
Ignoring Aldous and Associates is not recommended, even if you believe you don't owe the debt.
Here's what could happen if you ignore their collection attempts:
- Continued Contact: They will likely continue calling and sending letters. Ignoring them won't make them go away.
- Credit Report Damage: If the debt hasn't already been reported to credit bureaus, ignoring collection efforts might lead to negative marks on your credit report. This can hurt your credit score and make it harder to get loans, credit cards, or even rent an apartment.
- Legal Action: Since Aldous and Associates is a law firm, they have the ability to file lawsuits against debtors. If they sue you and you ignore the lawsuit, they could get a default judgment against you. This means they win automatically because you didn't respond.
- Wage Garnishment: If they get a court judgment against you, they might be able to garnish your wages or freeze your bank accounts, depending on your state's laws.
- Increased Debt: The original debt might grow larger due to interest, fees, and court costs if legal action is taken.
Instead of ignoring them, it's better to respond appropriately by requesting debt validation and understanding your rights. Even if you believe the debt isn't yours or isn't valid, you should still respond to protect yourself legally.
What Happens If You Don't Pay Collections?
Not paying a legitimate collection debt can have serious consequences that go beyond just dealing with Aldous and Associates. Here's what typically happens:
Credit Score Impact: Collection accounts can significantly damage your credit score. This negative mark can stay on your credit report for up to seven years, making it harder to qualify for loans, credit cards, mortgages, or even rental applications.
Increased Collection Efforts: The collection agency will likely increase their efforts to collect the debt. This might include more frequent calls, letters, and potentially involving attorneys.
Legal Consequences: Debt collectors like Aldous and Associates or Cavalry SPV I LLC can sue you for unpaid debts. If they win the case, they might be able to:
- Garnish your wages (taking money directly from your paycheck)
- Freeze or levy your bank accounts
- Place liens on your property
- Seize non-exempt assets
Growing Debt: Many collection accounts continue to accrue interest and fees, making the total amount you owe larger over time.
Difficulty Getting Credit: Future lenders will see the collection account on your credit report, which can result in higher interest rates or denial of credit applications.
However, it's important to know that not all debts in collections are valid or legally collectible. Some debts are too old (past the statute of limitations), already paid, or belong to someone else. This is why validation is so important.
Good Read: How To Resolve a Cavalry Portfolio Services Lawsuit: Complete Defense Guide
How to Handle Contact from Aldous and Associates
If Aldous and Associates contacts you, here are the steps you should take to protect yourself:
- Don't Panic: Take a deep breath. Being contacted by a debt collector is stressful, but you have rights and options.
- Don't Admit to Anything: Don't confirm that you owe the debt, even if you think you might. Don't provide personal information like your Social Security number, bank account information, or employment details.
- Request Debt Validation: Within 30 days of their first contact, you can request that they validate the debt. This means they must prove that you owe the debt, that they have the right to collect it, and that the amount is correct.
- Communicate in Writing: Put all your communications with them in writing. This creates a record of what was said and protects you if disputes arise later.
- Know the Statute of Limitations: Debts have a time limit for legal collection, which varies by state and type of debt. According to Bank Rate, (which we can all totally agree) that if a debt is too old, they might not be able to sue you for it, even if you technically still owe it.
- Consider Your Options: Once you've validated the debt, you have several options including paying in full, negotiating a settlement, setting up a payment plan, or disputing the debt if it's not valid.
Your Rights Against Aldous and Associates Under Federal Law
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you important rights when dealing with debt collectors like Aldous and Associates:
- Right to Validation: You can request proof that you owe the debt and that they have the right to collect it.
- Right to Dispute: If you believe the debt is not yours or the amount is wrong, you can dispute it.
- Right to Stop Communication: You can request that they stop contacting you, though this doesn't make the debt go away.
- Protection from Harassment: They cannot use abusive language, threaten violence, or call excessively.
- Right to Privacy: They cannot discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.
- Right to Accurate Information: They must provide accurate information about your debt and cannot lie or mislead you.
- Right to Legal Action: If they violate the FDCPA, you can sue them for damages.
Debt Validation Process
Debt validation is one of your most important rights. Here's how it works:
- Request Validation Quickly: You must request debt validation within 30 days of their first contact. After 30 days, they can assume the debt is valid.
- Make the Request in Writing: Send a debt validation letter via certified mail with return receipt requested. This proves they received your request.
- What They Must Provide: They must provide proof that you owe the debt, proof that they have the right to collect it, and verification of the amount owed.
- Collection Must Stop: Once you request validation, they must stop collection efforts until they provide the required proof.
- Review Carefully: When they provide validation information, review it carefully. Check that all the information is correct and that the debt is actually yours.
Aldous and Associates Debt Validation In Action
For example:You get a call from Aldous and Associates claiming you owe $300 for a gym membership you canceled last year. Instead of paying, you send a debt validation letter. A few days later, they admit the debt was assigned to the wrong person.
Just like that, you avoided paying for a mistake and protected your credit.
Settlement and Payment Options
If the debt is valid and you decide to pay it, you have several options:
- Pay in Full: If you can afford it, paying the full amount will resolve the debt completely. Try to negotiate removal from your credit report as part of the payment agreement.
- Negotiate a Settlement: Many collection agencies will accept less than the full amount owed. Settlement amounts can sometimes be as low as 20-50% of the original debt.
- Payment Plan: If you can't pay all at once, you might be able to set up monthly payments. Get any payment agreement in writing before making payments.
- Get Agreements in Writing: Never make payments or agree to settlements without getting the agreement in writing first. This protects you from future disputes.
While paying off a debt may seem like the most ethical, and even obvious, thing to do, many people are surprised to learn that it can still damage your credit score. Even settled or paid collection accounts can remain on your credit report for up to seven years.
That’s why we recommend working with credit repair experts before making any payments. They understand the system, know how to properly negotiate removals, and can guide you on the best steps to protect your score while resolving the debt.
When to Seek Legal Help
Consider contacting a consumer protection attorney if:
- Aldous and Associates is violating debt collection laws
- You believe the debt is not yours but they won't stop collecting
- They are threatening legal action and you need advice
- You're being sued and don't understand the legal process
- You want to file a complaint against them for illegal practices
Many consumer protection attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency fees for FDCPA violations, meaning you don't pay unless they win your case.
Protecting Your Credit Against Aldous and Associates Collections
Even when dealing with a legitimate debt, you should try to minimize the impact on your credit:
- Negotiate Credit Report Removal: When settling a debt, try to negotiate complete removal from your credit report rather than just marking it as "paid."
- Get Agreements in Writing: Any agreement about credit reporting should be in writing before you make payment.
- Monitor Your Credit: Check your credit reports regularly to ensure information is accurate and that paid debts are properly updated.
- Dispute Inaccuracies: If information on your credit report is wrong, dispute it with the credit bureaus.
State-Specific Considerations
Debt collection laws vary by state, and some states provide additional protections beyond federal law. For example, some states have shorter statutes of limitations on certain types of debt, while others have stronger protections against wage garnishment.
Aldous and Associates operates in all 50 states, so they must follow both federal law and the specific laws of your state. If you're unsure about your state's laws, consider consulting with a local consumer protection attorney.
Related Content: The Role of State Laws in Debt Collections Etc
Final Recommendations
Dealing with Aldous and Associates or any debt collector is something no one ever wants to be. The most important thing to remember is that you have rights and options.
Don't ignore them, but don't panic either. Respond appropriately by requesting debt validation and understanding your rights. Communicate in writing whenever possible to create a paper trail. If the debt is valid, consider your payment options carefully and get any agreements in writing.
If they violate debt collection laws or if you're unsure about your situation, don't hesitate to seek help from a consumer protection attorney. Many people successfully resolve collection issues without damaging their credit or paying more than necessary.
Remember that being contacted by a debt collector is not the end of the world. With the right knowledge and approach, you can handle the situation effectively and protect your financial future.