How to Resolve Debt With AscensionPoint Recovery Services

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

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: Hearing from a debt collector is unsettling — and doubly so if the company wants you to pay the debt of a loved one (like AscensionPoint does). In this article, SoloSuit offers some valuable tips for resolving debt and putting an end to those bothersome calls and letters.

Does a person’s debt die when they do? The answer is often yes, but there are some gray areas. Unfortunately, debt collection agencies like AscensionPoint Recovery Services capitalize on that confusion to try to make people pay the debts of deceased loved ones. Here’s what to do if you’ve been contacted by AscensionPoint.

Sued for debt? Use SoloSuit to respond.

What is AscensionPoint Recovery Services?

AscensionPoint Recovery Services is a collection agency that handles debt owed by the deceased. This means that AscensionPoint representatives call surviving relatives and hound them for money. They usually call from (888) 806-8074.

AscensionPoint is headquartered at 200 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433, and it’s been harassing people over debt since 2007.

Below is a photo of AscensionPoint Recovery Services office building in Coon Rapids:

AscensionPoint Recovery Services reviews

As of November 2023, AscensionPoint has received dozens of BBB complaints. There are also dozens of AscensionPoint Recovery Services reviews on the BBB website, and all but one give it one star out of five. Despite all the complaints and bad reviews, this collection agency has a BBB rating of A+.

The BBB isn’t the only organization consumers have reached out to with complaints. In the last three years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) received 30 complaints about AscensionPoint Recovery Services.

On Google reviews, AscensionPoint has less than a 2-star rating, and many reviewers have negative remarks about the company:

Is AscensionPoint Recovery Services legitimate?

Technically, yes, but some of its methods are shady. Notably, according to the CFPB, a surviving family member cannot be held responsible for a deceased person’s debt unless the surviving family member is a co-signer or is otherwise an exception to this rule.

A deceased person’s debts are usually paid by the estate, which means that their assets will be sold off to pay debts. If the estate can’t cover the debts, they aren’t paid.

As a collection agency, AscensionPoint is permitted to attempt to reach the executor of an estate to make them aware of a debt. However, like most other debt collectors, this one tends to use deliberately vague language to make targeted family members feel as though they are personally responsible.

You might wonder what companies use AscensionPoint Recovery Services. Any business looking to recover a debt can do so. Credit card companies, subscription services, and even doctors’ offices all use it.

What to do if AscensionPoint Recovery Services LLC says you owe money

Receiving a letter from a debt collection company is always scary. Many people panic and rush to pay the debt. Others assume they’ve just heard from an AscensionPoint Recovery Services scam operation and ignore it. Both reactions are mistakes.

Before you pay anything, you need to make AscensionPoint prove that you owe the debt (or that the estate of the deceased person does).

Thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have a legal right to request that the company validate your debt as well. Under the FDCPA, you may send a Debt Validation Letter to AscensionPoint. Once the company has received your letter, it must stop contacting you until it has proven that you or the estate you’re an executor for is responsible for the debt.

Sending a Debt Validation Letter may sound intimidating, but you really only need to ask for the following information:

The original creditor’s name.
The exact amount allegedly owed.
A copy of the actual contract between the original creditor and the person who allegedly owes the debt.
The last transaction made on the relevant account.
Proof that AscensionPoint Recovery Services has the right to collect the debt.
AscensionPoint’s debt collection license number in your state of residence.

Use SoloSuit’s template to create your Debt Validation Letter.

What to do if the debt is legitimate

In some instances, AscensionPoint may have sent you a letter in the hopes that you would panic and pay a debt you don’t actually owe. If this was the case, you likely won’t hear from the company again.

Let’s look at an example of how to validate a debt with AscensionPoint Recovery Services.

Example: Susan’s brother Rob was killed in a car accident about a month ago. Rob died with no significant assets, but he did have a good bit of credit card debt. Susan and Rob’s parents are working as the executors of Rob’s estate, but Susan is not. AscensionPoint sent Susan a letter attempting to collect one of Rob’s credit card balances. Susan sends a Debt Validation Letter clarifying that she is not the executor of Rob’s estate and asking AscensionPoint to prove that she owes the money. AscensionPoint, of course, knows that Susan isn’t responsible for Rob’s debt, so the company simply stops bothering Susan.

Unless you are actually the executor of a loved one’s estate, the above scenario is a likely one. But what if you are the executor, and AscensionPoint proves that your loved one owes a certain amount of money? If there is enough money in the estate and you’re tired of dealing with AscensionPoint, one option is to just pay it. Alternatively, you could try settling or offering to pay a lower amount.

Let’s consider another example.

Example: Jack is the executor of his mother’s estate. AscensionPoint has just proven that his mother owed a credit card company $8,000. There is only $5,000 left in the estate, so Jack offers to pay that amount. AscensionPoint accepts, and the issue is resolved.

But what happens if AscensionPoint proves you or the estate are responsible and you ignore further communications? If you make no effort to resolve the issue, the company may file a lawsuit against you. Lawsuits can be expensive, inconvenient, and time-consuming, so it’s best to avoid them if you can.

Check out SoloSuit’s 11 tips for winning your debt collection lawsuit in the following video.

Take control of your debt with AscensionPoint Recovery Services

Many people become so anxious that they ignore communication from debt collectors. Don’t make that mistake. If AscensionPoint insists you owe money, ask them to validate the debt. If you do actually owe the money, you can then pay it, offer a settlement amount, or even set up a payment plan.

Are you ready to settle a debt? Keep the process quick and easy with SoloSettle from SoloSuit.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Debt collector guides

Are you being contacted by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt settlement

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created state guides on debt settlement. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Legal aid

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing with medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state’s statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Wage garnishment

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources

It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.

"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather

Get Started