Palisade describes itself as an "American diversified financial services company." They offer the following range of services:
&bull??? debt collection services;
&bull??? debt consolidation services;
&bull??? collection agency software;
&bull??? collection attorney software;
&bull??? debt collection software;
&bull??? credit card originating;
&bull??? credit card processing;
&bull??? bad debt servicing;
&bull??? debt settlement;
&bull??? and many other similar services.
Palisades, aka Asta Funding was ranked the absolute worst in customer service amongst competing collection agencies. Furthermore, they are proven crooks. Now, every collection agency has their share of disgruntled debtors that lash out. Palisades collection agency however, has lawsuit after lawsuit filed against them by those disgruntled consumers as well as the Federal Trade Commission itself.
Palisades was a key player in a long-running scheme with a multi-convicted criminal named Orazio Lembo. He would pay bank employees from Bank of America, Commerce Bank, Wachovia, PNC and several others for personal information, including the social security numbers, of account holders. There were more than 675,000 names in all. Palisades, aka Asta Funding, disguised as a New Jersey law firm named Pressler & Pressler, bought the stolen information, along with several other collection firms, and then used it to harass these people for outdated debts.
Numerous complaints emerged to the Department of Banking and Insurance against Palisades Collection Agency and attention was granted to them stopping the conspiracy. Prosecuting attorneys in New Jersey called the acts: "crimes that would make Al Capone blush." The official charges lodged against Palisades were called Grand Larceny - multiple counts.
When a debt collection agency engages in such activities, it should be banished from ever doing business again. The ringleaders of this atrocity should, of course, still be incarcerated with no chance of release. However, Palisades is still a thriving entity. The politics of the corrupt legal system have once again failed to truly protect consumers.
It would be highly recommended to be extremely suspicious if you are ever contacted by Palisades Collection Agency representatives. It's difficult to imagine how the US government allows these criminals to continue to operate. Certainly get everything in writing if you ever have the unfortunate displeasure of having to deal with them.
Asta Funding, aka Palisades Collection Agency goes a little further down the corrupt road that many collection agencies travel. They take abuse to a new level of lowness and offer the world just one more reason to be suspicious of organizations that have the power to affect our personal lives in so many ways.
