Summary: If MARS Inc. Collections is sending you letters, chances are they aren’t going to send you a bag of M&M’s anytime soon. If you’ve been contacted by MAR Inc. Collections about a debt, SoloSuit can help you request a debt validation, respond to a debt lawsuit, and settle your debt before going to court.
You’re likely familiar with MARS Inc., the candy conglomerate responsible for tasty treats like Snickers and Skittles. Its products line the checkout aisles of every grocery and convenience store across America, tempting consumers to buy them for a quick sugar rush.
However, you probably don’t know who MARS Inc. Collections is, and you likely weren’t expecting a letter or phone call from this debt collector. We’ll discuss a few techniques to get you out of the debt doghouse with MARS.
Sued for debt? Resolve it through debt settlement.
What is MARS Inc. Collections?
MARS Inc. Collections is another name for M.A.R.S., Inc., a collection agency based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “M.A.R.S.” is an abbreviation for Metropolitan Accounts Receivable Specialists. You might also see the name “MARS Collection Agency” on its website or paperwork.
The company concentrates on accounts receivable and collections services within the state of Oklahoma. It provides services to all kinds of creditors, including retailers, landlords, governmental agencies, and medical providers. MARS Inc. Collections has been in business since 1976, which makes it a nearly 50-year-old organization.
Below is the phone number for MARS Inc. Collections, along with other contact information:
- Phone: 918-748-8444.
- Mailing address: 10830 E 45th St., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146
- Email: is mars@marscollect.com
A profile of M.A.R.S. Inc. is available through the Better Business Bureau (BBB). While the company does not have BBB accreditation, it has a current rating of A+. The company has also received several complaints on its BBB profile.
Most of the complaints relate to landlord and tenant disputes and debt that arises from them. They allege that the company’s representatives are rude and belligerent and won’t work with them properly to resolve their obligations.
Make MARS Inc. Collections validate your debt
One of the best tools that consumers have at their disposal for resolving debts is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Under this regulation, consumers have a 30-day grace period from the initiation of collection activities to request debt validation.
However, many people don’t take advantage of debt validation and instead take collection agencies at their word. That’s a mistake.
Validating debts ensures that collection agencies control or own an obligation. It also allows you to compare your records with theirs, which helps you avoid overpaying on a debt. You can also use debt validation to determine whether the obligation is past the statute of limitations, which bars collection agencies from suing you.
To start the validation process, send MARS Inc. Collections a letter that requests the following information:
- The name of the original creditor and the amount due.
- A breakdown of any additional fees.
- MARS Inc. Collections’ debt collection license number in your state.
- The age of your debt and an indication of how it compares with the statute of limitations.
- A copy of the contract between you and the original creditor.
- The last transaction made on your account.
In your Debt Validation Letter, you can ask MARS Inc. Collections to stop contacting you via letter or phone unless it’s to validate the debt or it intends to sue you.
Do you have more questions about Debt Validation Letters? Watch the following video for a Q&A session for more information on how validating your debt can help you.
What to do if MARS Inc. Collections validates your debt
Sending MARS Inc. Collections a Debt Validation Letter doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive a response. If no one replies, you can assume they don’t have the information to confirm your debt and won’t be contacting you again. However, you’ll still want to keep an eye on your credit report to ensure they don’t report any adverse information.
If you receive the information you requested from MARS Inc. Collections, you’ll have a few options to resolve the matter. You can repay the debt entirely, set up payment arrangements, or try to settle it.
Repaying the debt gets MARS Inc. Collections out of your hair immediately. After you transfer your payment, the company will send you a receipt and report the account paid to the credit bureaus. All the phone calls and letters will come to a halt.
However, if you owe hundreds or thousands of dollars, immediate repayment may not be possible. In that case, setting up a payment arrangement can help. Under a payment arrangement, you agree to pay MARS Inc. Collections monthly until you satisfy the debt.
Keep in mind that you may continue to hear from MARs Inc. Collections, especially if you’re late on a payment. If you can’t afford to repay your debt, then debt settlement might be another consideration.
Settle your debt with MARS Inc. Collections
In a settlement, you offer MARS Inc. Collections a portion of what you owe in one payment. If it agrees, it will accept your payment and forgive the remaining amount of the debt.
SoloSuit recommends offering at least 60% of the debt’s value, but it’s at your discretion. If your financial circumstances don’t allow you to pay that much, you can explain the situation and see if MARS Inc. Collections will work with you.
Watch this video to learn more about how to settle a debt with MARS Inc. Collections:
SoloSettle, powered by SoloSuit, is a tech-based approach to debt settlement. Our software helps you send and receive settlement offers until you reach an agreement with the collector. Once an agreement is reached, we’ll help you manage the settlement documentation and transfer your payment to the creditor or debt collector, helping you keep your financial information private and secure.
Now, let’s consider an example.
Example: George has a bill from his old landlord, AMC Apartments, for $500. AMC Apartments alleges that George didn’t pay the balance of his last month’s rent. After a few months of noncommunication from George, the landlord sends his bill to MARS Inc. Collections. The agency sends George a letter, and he asks it to validate his debt. After it does, George offers to settle the matter for $350. MARS Inc. Collections accepts the settlement, and it reports his account as paid after receiving George’s check.
Validate a debt before paying MARS Inc. Collections any money
It’s critical to ensure MARS Inc. Collections has the right to collect your debt before you pay anything. That way, you protect yourself from account mix-ups that could result in you paying something you don’t owe. If MARS Inc. Collections responds to your Debt Validation Letter, determining whether it’s best to repay or settle the obligation.
Are you considering a debt settlement offer with MARS Inc. Collections? Try SoloSettle, SoloSuit’s quick and easy debt settlement solution.
What is Solo?
Solo makes it easy to resolve debt with debt collectors.
You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt. SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.
SoloSettle can help you contact your debt collector or creditor and negotiate the debt to settle for less, all online. It simplifies and streamlines the process to settling your debt.
No matter where you find yourself in the debt collection process, Solo is here to help you resolve your debt.
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