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BBB Business Review

This Business is not BBB accredited

Universal Fidelity LP

Additional Locations

Phone: (281) 647-4152 View Additional Phone Numbers 1445 Langham Creek Drive, Houston, TX 77084 View Additional Email Addresses http://www.uflp.com

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BBB Accreditation

This business is not BBB accredited.

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

Reason for Rating

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.

Factors that lowered the rating for Universal Fidelity LP include:

  • 612 complaints filed against business
  • Business has failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints

Factors that raised the rating for Universal Fidelity LP include:

  • Length of time business has been operating.
  • Response to 612 complaint(s) filed against business.
  • Resolution of complaint(s) filed against business.
  • BBB has sufficient background information on this business.

Customer Complaints Summary

612 complaints closed with BBB in last 3 years | 596 closed in last 12 months
Complaint Type Total Closed Complaints
Advertising/Sales Issues 3
Billing/Collection Issues 572
Delivery Issues 0
Guarantee/Warranty Issues 0
Problems with Product/Service 37
Total Closed Complaints 612

Additional Complaint Information

The BBB is receiving a pattern of complaint activity regarding unpaid fees.  BBB complainants allege that the letter they are receiving from Universal Fidelity states they are “the Legal Successor to Hollywood Video” and consumers are to pay the fees owed with no description of the charges.  The letter also alleges that “Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receiving your initial notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid.”  All complainants mentioned they did not owe any money to Universal Fidelity or Hollywood Video. 

There are roughly 3,000,000 accounts/consumers involving all 50 states that potentially could be contacted via a letter.  There are several collection agencies that have been contracted as 3rd party collectors.  These collectors did not buy the debt but rather are contracted by the Trustee of the Agreed Order.
 
The Third Party Collectors should not be reporting any consumer to the credit reporting agencies for late fees associated with Hollywood Video.  The Order states that the Collector’s can only collect on late fees.  They are not allowed to collect for unreturned videos or add any additional collection fees.  
 
If the account had both late fees and unreturned product fees for the same account, then the collection would be for the lesser of the two charges for the rental item.

Additional Information

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BBB file opened: June 01, 1994 Business started: 02/04/1991 in TX Business incorporated: 01/01/2004 in TX
Licensing

This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

These agencies may include:

Texas Secretary of State
P.O. Box 12887, Austin, TX 78711
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/index.html.us
Phone Number: (512) 463-5770
Fax Number: (512) 463-5709

Type of Entity

Limited Partnership (LP)

Business Management
Mr. Nancy Rodriquez, Legal Assistant Mr. Tom H Tseng, General Counsel
Contact Information
Principal: Mr. Scott Hearn, Executive VP of Operations
Business Category

COLLECTION AGENCIES

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Collection COLLECTION AGENCIES
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BBB Complaint Process

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