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Is Merchants’ Credit Guide Legit?

Sarah Edwards | February 15, 2024

Sarah Edwards
Legal Expert
Sarah Edwards, BS

Sarah Harris is a professional researcher and writer specializing in legal content. An Emerson College alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the prestigious Boston institution.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: If you see the Merchants’ Credit Guide phone number pop up on your caller ID, it’s not a scam. You may owe a past debt that you’ll need to take care of. SoloSuit can provide you with the tools you need to avoid a debt collection lawsuit and put debt behind you once and for all.

With so many unwanted phone calls, it’s easy to dismiss certain numbers as spam. But when the Merchants’ Credit Guide phone number keeps flashing on your caller ID, you may be wondering if they’re contacting you for legitimate reasons.

Merchants’ Credit Guide is a debt collection service, and this agency may be contacting you to collect on a past debt. Here’s how to protect yourself and settle your debt as soon as possible.

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Is Merchants’ Credit Guide a scam?

What is Merchants’ Credit Guide? The company is no scam. Based out of Chicago, the Merchants’ Credit Guide Co. is a debt collection agency that has been in operation since 1896. More specifically, the company currently operates as a third-party debt collection service.

This means that they’ve purchased debt from another party and are seeking to collect it from the original debtor. If you’ve been contacted by Merchants’ Credit Guide, it’s because the company believes you owe a past debt for credit cards or other consumer debt.

Check Merchant’s Credit Guide reviews

Merchant’s Credit Guide is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). There are many customer complaints on its BBB profile, and you can find another several hundred complaints against the company listed on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) database. In some cases, these complaints have been escalated to legal action.

What is the Merchants’ Credit Guide phone number?

Merchants’ Credit Guide’s customer service phone number is 888-249-4134. You may receive calls from numbers like (888) 249-3815.

The BBB website also lists a separate office line (312) 360-3000, though keep in mind that the company deals with both consumers and merchants, so there may be a high call volume.

The company’s headquarters is located at 209 South LaSalle St., Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60604.

The company requests that you include the file number when you send any correspondence. You may have a file number from a debt collection phone call or voice mail.

What do I do if Merchants’ Credit Guide is breaking the law?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers against aggressive debt collection practices. This includes practices such as:

  • Calling you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • Calling you multiple times per day
  • Failing to identify themselves as a debt collection agency
  • Refusing to validate your debt
  • Using offensive or vulgar language
  • Threatening arrest due to unpaid debt
  • Speaking to your coworkers, friends, or family about your debt
  • Ignoring a Cease and Desist letter

If you believe that a representative of Merchants’ Credit Guide has violated your rights in any way, you can report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

You can reach the FTC through the FTC website or by calling 877-382-4357, and you can contact the CFPB through the CFPB website or by calling 855-411-2372.

Settle your debt with Merchants’ Credit Guide in three steps

If you’re tired of repeated debt collection phone calls, your best option is to settle your debt with Merchants’ Credit Guide — assuming the debt is legitimate. Here’s how to navigate the legal and financial challenges and finally escape your debt in three key steps:

1. Respond to a debt collection lawsuit

Merchants’ Credit Guide collection phone calls aren’t the only thing you have to worry about. Some collectors may sue you to collect unpaid debt. If this happens, don’t panic — but don’t delay, either. File an Answer quickly with the court to communicate your willingness to fight the lawsuit.

Depending on your local jurisdiction, you may have as little as two weeks to file an Answer, after which the court can render a default judgment in favor of Merchants’ Credit Guide. The court can also award the company with additional legal fees and debt collection fees, so it’s in your best interests to file an Answer as soon as possible.

SoloSuit makes it fast and easy. Just use our online tool to generate an Answer. SoloSuit can even file it on your behalf, or have an attorney review it for added peace of mind.

Need some tips for drafting your Answer? Check out these quick tips from SoloSuit.

2. Verify your debt

Never admit that the debt is yours until Merchants’ Credit Guide can provide validation. Sending a Debt Validation Letter will compel the company to provide you with the name of the original creditor, as well as the date and amount of the original debt.

By sending a Debt Validation Letter, the company will have to back off until these details can be provided.

Send a Debt Validation Letter today to stop collectors in their tracks.

3. Settle your debt for less

Assuming the debt belongs to you, you can try to settle for less than what you owe. A good place to start is offering to pay 60% of the debt. Merchants’ Credit Guide may not agree to this offer, but you can negotiate a reasonable solution.

Through SoloSettle, you can negotiate without dealing directly with Merchants’ Credit Guide. You’ll only pay once an official settlement is reached.

Let’s look at an example of how this works.

Example: After doing some research, Tiffany learned that Merchants’ Credit Guide is a legitimate debt collection company. She used SoloSuit to send a Debt Validation Letter to confirm that the debt was hers. When the company couldn’t validate her debt, debt collectors stopped calling.


Stop unwanted phone calls

Do you want to stop Merchants’ Credit Guide collection phone calls? By taking the right steps, you can avoid legal trouble and settle your debt for a lower amount. Let SoloSuit help you put your debts permanently in your rearview mirror!

Stop sweating your debt, and settle your debt for less with SoloSuit today.

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