RJM Acquisitions is "another" debt buyer known for collecting old accounts. Many consumers discover RJM Acquisitions after a collection suddenly appears on a credit report or after receiving calls about debt they thought disappeared years ago.
We often see consumers panicking after seeing RJM Acquisitions on their credit report tied to very old accounts. In many cases, the debt is near the statute of limitations or already obsolete for credit reporting.
This type of debt is often called “zombie debt.”
The account is old. The original creditor may have charged it off years ago. But debt buyers continue trying to collect because consumers still respond to letters, settlements, or payment requests.
According to the CFPB, debt buyers purchase charged-off accounts for pennies on the dollar. Many accounts come with limited documentation. Some consumers are contacted about debt they no longer legally owe or debt that should no longer appear on credit reports.
The first step is not payment. The first step is verification.
RJM Acquisitions: What to Do About Old or Obsolete Debt
If RJM Acquisitions contacts you, your priority is to verify the debt. Do not rush to making payments. Paying old debt can restart the statute of limitations in some states and may revive collection activity.
Zombie Debt Warning Signs
Zombie debts have clear signs. RJM Acquisitions collects old charged-off debt accounts, often called zombie debt. Before paying anything, consumers should request debt validation and verify the statute of limitations.
What Is RJM Acquisitions
RJM Acquisitions LLC is a New York-based debt buyer that purchases old, charged-off consumer debts from original creditors and tries to collect the full balance. The company is specifically associated with zombie debt , accounts that are past the statute of limitations for lawsuits. The FTC investigated RJM in 2012 for this practice.
Not every company called "RJM" is the same entity. This article is specifically about RJM Acquisitions LLC.
Do not confuse it with RJM Acquisitions Funding LLC, which appears in some court records under the same parent operation. Both trace to the same Syosset, New York location.
RJM buys portfolios of old debt that other collectors passed on.
The older the debt, the cheaper the purchase price. Some of these accounts are five, seven, or ten years old. Many are past the statute of limitations. The consumer often has no idea the account still exists.
That gap , between what the consumer knows and what RJM hopes they will pay , is exactly how the business model works.
This type of debt collection is sometimes called a "phantom debt" situation, where the obligation has technically expired or may not even belong to the consumer receiving the calls.
What Is Zombie Debt
Zombie debt is old, forgotten, or time-barred debt that a collector tries to revive. The original creditor wrote it off. A debt buyer then purchased it cheaply and contacts the consumer. The debt may be past the lawsuit window. The consumer is under no legal obligation to pay. But collectors rely on the consumer not knowing that.
Debt becomes "zombie" in one of four ways.
- Time-barred accounts. The statute of limitations expired. No lawsuit is possible. But calls and letters are still legal.
- Previously paid or settled accounts. The original creditor accepted a settlement. A different buyer may have still purchased and attempted to re-collect the same account.
- Discharged in bankruptcy. The debt was eliminated through a court process. Some collectors pursue it anyway.
- Wrong person. The account belongs to someone else. Name matches, old addresses, and data errors put innocent consumers on collection lists.
As Investopedia explains, zombie debt collectors profit because they pay almost nothing for these accounts. Collecting even a fraction of one account pays for an entire portfolio of failed attempts. The model works as long as consumers pay out of fear, shame, or confusion.
One move makes zombie debt dangerous.
If you make any payment on a time-barred account, you may restart the statute of limitations in your state. The debt comes back to legal life. A collector who could not sue can now sue.
Why Is RJM Acquisitions Contacting Me
RJM is contacting you because they purchased a portfolio of old debt and your name appears on an account in that portfolio. It may be yours. It may be time-barred. It may belong to someone else. They contact everyone on the list hoping a portion of consumers will pay without asking questions first.
There are three common reasons an RJM letter or call arrives.
They purchased your old account. A credit card, medical bill, or loan you stopped paying years ago got sold. RJM now claims the right to collect. This is the most common situation.
They have an outdated or wrong file. Debt portfolios contain errors. Names, addresses, and Social Security numbers get mixed. You may be on a list due to a data error , not because you owe anything.
The account has no legal teeth left. RJM specifically targets accounts that other collectors abandoned because the statute of limitations made lawsuits impossible. They count on the consumer not knowing that detail.
When an unknown collector contacts you about an old account, the right move is the same every time.
Request written debt validation before anything else. Under the FDCPA, RJM must provide verification of the debt within five days of first contact. You have 30 days from their first letter to formally dispute it.
This situation closely resembles what happens when collection agencies call about an unknown debt , the steps and rights are the same regardless of which company is on the other end of the call.
Can RJM Acquisitions Sue Me for Old Debt
If the debt is time-barred, RJM cannot win a lawsuit. They may still file one. Many consumers default by not responding, giving the collector a judgment even on legally unenforceable accounts. Check your state's statute of limitations and the original delinquency date on your credit report before assuming RJM can actually sue.
The statute of limitations on debt varies by state and debt type. Credit card debt typically runs three to six years. Some states allow up to ten. The clock usually starts from the date of your first missed payment , not from the date RJM purchased the account.
| State | Credit Card SOL | Written Contract SOL |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 3 years | 6 years |
| Texas | 4 years | 4 years |
| Florida | 5 years | 5 years |
| California | 4 years | 4 years |
| Illinois | 5 years | 10 years |
| Michigan | 6 years | 6 years |
| Ohio | 6 years | 6 years |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years | 4 years |
Check the full guide to credit card debt statute of limitations by state for a complete state-by-state breakdown before responding to any RJM communication.
Even when the debt is time-barred, RJM may still file a lawsuit hoping you will not respond. If you fail to answer a court summons, they get a default judgment regardless of whether the debt is legally enforceable. Always respond to a summons in writing, even on a time-barred debt. Assert the statute of limitations as your defense.
What Did the FTC Find About RJM Acquisitions
The FTC's Division of Financial Practices investigated RJM Acquisitions LLC for collecting on legally unenforceable, time-barred debt. The investigation found that RJM's letters to consumers could create a false impression that lawsuits were possible when the debt was already past the statute of limitations. The FTC closed the case after RJM agreed to disclose to consumers when debts are time-barred and cannot result in lawsuits. The FTC publicly cited this case as part of broader enforcement actions on zombie debt collection practices.
This is not an allegation. The FTC documented the investigation in a 2012 closing letter that remains publicly available at ftc.gov.
The central problem: RJM's collection letters used language that could mislead consumers into thinking they faced legal consequences for not paying. When the debt is past the statute of limitations, that implication is false.
Misleading a consumer about the legal status of a debt is a violation of both the FTC Act and the FDCPA. The FTC's investigation was a direct response to that gap.
The outcome: RJM stayed in operation but added disclosures. If RJM contacts you today about an old account, and they do not tell you the debt is time-barred, that may still be an FDCPA violation worth reporting.
What Are Your Rights When RJM Acquisitions Calls
The FDCPA covers every contact RJM makes with you. It does not matter how old the debt is or whether RJM technically owns it. These rights apply.
Within five days of first contact, RJM must send you a written notice with the amount owed, the original creditor's name, and your right to dispute. You have 30 days to request full written verification. Until RJM provides it, collection must stop.
Send a written cease and desist via certified mail. RJM must stop all calls, texts, and letters once they receive it. They can only contact you to confirm they will stop or to notify you of a specific legal action. Continued contact after that is an FDCPA violation.
If RJM misrepresents the legal status of the debt, contacts you after a cease and desist, or uses false or threatening language, you can sue. Successful FDCPA plaintiffs may receive up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus actual damages and attorney fees. You have one year from the violation to file.
After the FTC's 2012 investigation, RJM is required to disclose when debts are time-barred. If they contact you about an old account and do not make this disclosure, that gap may represent an FDCPA violation. File a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov.
If RJM reports an incorrect balance, wrong date, or inaccurate information to the credit bureaus, you have the right to dispute it under the FCRA. The bureau has 30 days to investigate. Inaccurate entries must be corrected or removed.
File complaints with the CFPB, the FTC, and your state attorney general. Complaints create a public record and trigger investigations. The FTC's 2012 RJM investigation was driven by consumer complaints. Filing yours protects the next person who gets the same letter.
As NerdWallet's guide on zombie debt explains, making even a partial payment on a time-barred debt can restart the statute of limitations. Knowing your rights before any payment decision prevents that trap.
How to Stop RJM Acquisitions From Contacting You
When RJM calls, do not confirm the debt is yours. Do not promise a payment. Do not say anything about the account. Ask them to send written verification and end the call. Any admission can work against you.
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Pull Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Find the account RJM is calling about. Locate the original delinquency date. That date starts the statute of limitations clock in most states.
Compare the original delinquency date to your state's SOL. If the delinquency date is older than your state's limit, the debt is time-barred. No lawsuit is legally possible. Document this finding before you do anything else.
Write to RJM at 575 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 224, Syosset, NY 11791. Request full written verification of the debt, the original creditor's name, and proof that RJM owns it. Send certified mail with return receipt. Keep the receipt. RJM must stop collection activity until they provide it.
In the same letter or a separate letter, include a written cease and desist request. State that you want all calls, texts, and written communication to stop. Send it certified mail. Once RJM receives it, further contact is an FDCPA violation you can sue over.
File with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov. File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Contact your state attorney general. Many consumer protection attorneys work FDCPA cases on contingency , no upfront fee. The $1,000 statutory damage cap plus attorney fees makes these cases worthwhile for attorneys to take.
Does RJM Acquisitions Affect Your Credit Report
RJM may appear on your credit report as a collection tradeline. Collection accounts stay on credit reports for seven years from the original delinquency date , not from when RJM purchased the account. If the original delinquency was more than seven years ago, the entry should not appear. If it does, that is a Fair Credit Reporting Act violation and grounds for dispute.
This is where debt buyers create a second problem beyond the calls.
Some debt buyers add a new tradeline to your credit report when they purchase an account. They may use today's date as the start date, making the account look newer than it actually is. This is called re-aging. It is an FCRA violation.
Check your credit report for any RJM tradelines. Look at the date of first delinquency listed. That date should match the original account's delinquency , not the date RJM purchased it. If it does not match, dispute it with each bureau that shows the entry. The original delinquency date controls when the account ages off the report. No collector gets to reset that clock by buying the debt.
As Bankrate's zombie debt guide explains, paying an old collection does not automatically remove it from the report. Ask for a pay-for-delete agreement in writing before any payment, and understand that collectors , particularly zombie debt buyers , are not always willing to agree to it.
What is RJM Acquisitions?
RJM Acquisitions LLC is a debt buyer based in Syosset, New York. The company purchases old, charged-off consumer accounts from original creditors and attempts to collect. They are specifically known for buying time-barred debt , accounts past the legal window for lawsuits. The FTC investigated RJM in 2012 for collecting on these accounts without disclosing that consumers could not be sued. Both RJM Acquisitions LLC and RJM Acquisitions Funding LLC trace to the same Syosset, New York operation.
Can RJM Acquisitions sue me?
If the debt is past your state's statute of limitations, RJM cannot win a lawsuit. They may still file one hoping you will not respond. If you ignore a summons, they get a default judgment even on a time-barred debt. Always respond to a court summons. Assert the statute of limitations as a defense. Never let a default judgment stand when a valid defense exists. Consult a debt defense attorney if you receive court papers from RJM.
Is RJM Acquisitions a scam?
RJM Acquisitions is a real, licensed debt collection company. They hold a New York City Department of Consumer Affairs license. That said, the FTC investigated their practices for FDCPA violations around time-barred debt. The debts they contact you about may be real but unenforceable, may not belong to you, or may already be past the legal collection window. Do not assume a legitimate company name means the debt claim is valid. Verify the account before responding.
How do I get RJM Acquisitions off my credit report?
If the RJM tradeline contains inaccurate information , wrong dates, wrong balance, or a delinquency date older than seven years , dispute it with each bureau showing the entry. The bureaus have 30 days to investigate. If the entry is accurate and within the seven-year window, it will age off naturally. You can also request a pay-for-delete agreement before making any payment, though not all collectors will agree. Never make a payment on a time-barred account to remove a credit entry without first checking whether the payment restarts the statute of limitations in your state.
RJM Acquisitions on Your Credit Report?
Collection tradelines from zombie debt buyers often contain inaccurate dates, wrong balances, or entries that aged off years ago. A free 3-bureau audit shows exactly what each bureau currently reports so you can identify which entries are disputable before paying or responding to anything.
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