Suttell and Associates

Suttell and Associates is a collections firm specializing in past due accounts. They are based in Washington state but handle collection accounts across the country. Like many collection agencies, Suttell and Associates have been reported as practicing unfair collection acts and violating the laws when collecting on accounts.  

How They Work 

Collection agencies make money collect past-due bills in exchange for a fee.   They can get a flat fee, a percentage of what is collected or through direct sale of the delinquent account.   Small one time debts are usually settled as a flat fee as agents work just as hard for a small collection as they would a large amount.  Companies with a few large unpaid receivables charge a percentage of the total debt collected, and the last option is selling your uncollected accounts at a discount for 2 cents on the dollar.  Collection companies buy them in hopes of settling the delinquent account for 50 -80 cents on the dollar. 

The mandate of any collection agency is to receive payment on the debt.  Commissioned agents are driven to collect on these debts.  With the desire to gain a percentage from these bad debts, anything goes.  The biggest complaint with these companies is their never ending stream of calls demanding payment. 

On the ripoffreport.com website one person identifies that her debt was written off by the original company and picked up or bought by Suttell and Associates.  Months after the debt was written off she began to receive threatening letters from Suttell and Associates.  The letters identified that she owned them money for the unpaid debt. 



She called the original company which confirmed that the debt was off their books, yet the letters from Suttell & Assoc. still continued.   

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 

To prevent unethical methods of obtaining money for debts the Federal Trade Commission established the FDCPA which clearly outlines accepted and unaccepted behaviors of collection agencies.  At complaintsboard.com one writer identifies that Suttell & Assoc. violates the FDCPA by misrepresenting themselves as “Capital One Bank rather than a debt collecting law firm”.    

Verification of Debt 

Prior to paying any debt to Suttell and Associates or any other collection agency, ensure that you get a verification of the debt.  At complaintsboard.com one post identifies that Suttell and Assoc. made a wrongful judgment and refused to provide any verification of the debt.  

Get it in Writing

As with all collection agencies, they get paid when the debt is paid and it is in their best interest to ensure that the debt is paid.  Their goal is to get people to pay down on their debt.   

When and if you pay off your account, ensure that the agreement is in writing before you send any money.  Sending a bank draft with none of your personal banking information will prevent them from finding your account number and possibly getting money directly from your account.

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