Are you getting calls from 833-861-4045? You’re not alone. This number is operated by debt collector, LJ Ross Associates, and according to RoboKiller, it has been responsible for 56,000 calls and is associated with 87 customer complaints and a “Negative” rating.
So, who is calling you from 833-861-4045? What are your rights? And, what questions should you be asking before you make your next move? In this article, we will explore these questions and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about how to handle these calls.
Who is behind calls from 833-861-4045?
The full business name is: L J Ross Associates, Inc.
The type of company is: Debt Collection Agency (Third-Party)
The year the company was founded: 1992
The company is headquartered at: Jackson, Michigan
The industries this collection agency operates in: Healthcare, Utilities, Government, Financial Services, Education, Commercial, Retail
The size of the company: Privately Held, 51-200 employees (est.)
States the company is licensed to collect in: All 50
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating is: A+ (Accredited since February 2015)
A key client: First Energy (Awarded $177M Collection Services contract in 2012)
Government Contract: General Services Administration (GSA) Professional Services Schedule Contract for Federal Agency debt collection
Are you the only one being called by 833-861-4045?
No! In the CFPB’s (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) complaint database, hundreds of complaints have been filed against LJ Ross Associates. In 2020 alone, 130 complaints were filed against the collection agency, making it the 178th most complained about financial company in the country that year.
Furthermore, more than 40 federal lawsuits have named LJ Ross Associates as a defendant for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In 2019, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the case of Rosen v. L.J. Ross Associates (E.D.N.Y.) and awarded the plaintiff statutory damages for confusing collection letters.
Why is LJ Ross Associates calling me?
Is the debt legitimate?
This collection agency collects debts for at least seven different industries, including hospital bills, utility bills, and government fines. However, is the debt really yours?
In September 2025, a consumer filed a complaint with the BBB stating, “They claim they have business with me, never reach out to the company LJ Associates to sign any partner contract and they are telling me to go to a payment website so I believe this fraud and or scam call.” It is not uncommon for collection agencies to have incorrect information and attempt to collect debts from the wrong consumer.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 79% of credit reports contain some type of error. Therefore, you should not assume you owe a debt simply because a collection agency says you do.
Will they tell me why they are calling?
One of the most common complaints about calls from 833-861-4045 is that the caller will not explain why they are calling. In October 2022, a consumer reported on CallFilter.app, “She refused to tell me anything about why she is calling but knew my date of birth, which was very suspicious. I refused to speak to her unless she told me why she was calling, she refused to tell me anything so I hung up.”
Although the caller has enough information to know your full name and date of birth, they will not disclose why they are calling unless you provide additional information. This should cause you to become suspicious, not cooperative.
What are other consumers saying about calls from 833-861-4045?
How often are they calling?
RoboKiller has reported 56,202 total calls from this phone number and, as recently as February 2026, the call frequency was labeled as “Elevated.” Since October 2020, Nomorobo has labeled this phone number as a robocall and it has retained this status for over 5 years.
In November 2025, a consumer reported on RoboKiller, “This f***ed up company will blow up ur phone. Block them!!” Additionally, a consumer reported on CallFilter.app in January 2026, “I never answer the call but, they’re pretty persistent in calling me.” While the collection agency may refer to this as “follow-up,” it is simply a tactic to apply pressure on you.
What happens if you answer the phone?
Consumers have reported two different experiences. Some have reported receiving a robocall voicemail that only states their name. In February 2024, a consumer reported on RoboKiller, “Left a voicemail with a robotic voice saying my name and nothing else.” Nomorobo has intercepted similar transcripts.
Others have reported actually speaking with a live person who provides their name while being recorded. YouMail has intercepted voicemails from representatives identifying themselves as “Rachel Penny” and “Athena McCain.” Both the robocall and live calls attempt to create a sense of urgency without providing any details.
Should you feel guilty for not responding to calls from 833-861-4045?
Are you supposed to feel guilty?
One of the most effective tactics a debt collector can use is your guilt for owing a debt. This is why the calls from 833-861-4045 are designed to make you feel as though you owe a debt. The repeated calls, the voicemail messages with only your name, and the live representatives who know your date of birth but refuse to tell you why they are calling are all attempts to make you feel guilty for not responding.
Therefore, you must separate your emotions from the situation and only deal with the facts. The issue is not whether you are a good person who pays your debts. The issue is whether the debt collector can prove the debt is valid, the debt is yours, and the debt is being reported correctly.
What about the privacy concerns?
In October 2024, a consumer filed a complaint with the BBB that stated, “They sent an email with my CURRENT ADDRESS and information about a debt I have to the WRONG EMAIL! They sent it to a person who places my life in danger.” If a debt collector is mishandling your personal information, you should not feel guilty for ignoring their calls. Instead, you should be concerned for your safety.
So, what should you do instead of answering calls from 833-861-4045?
Should you call them back?
No! The only purpose of providing a phone number is so you can request debt validation. The debt collector wants you to call them back because they prefer to operate on the phone where the conversation is not as precise and the interaction is often under pressure and not documented to your benefit.
According to the FDCPA, you have the right to request a debt collector to validate a debt in writing. They must be able to provide documentation that proves the amount of the debt, the original creditor, and that you are actually the person who owes the debt. A paper trail is created when you communicate in writing. When you communicate over the phone, it becomes a he-said-she-said argument.
What can you do right now?
First, you should request a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. If you find the debt associated with LJ Ross Associates or any variation of that name, make a note of the reported balance, the date of first delinquency, and the original creditor.
If the information is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, you should dispute the debt directly with the credit reporting agency according to the FCRA. They must investigate the disputed item within 30-days and either verify the information or delete it. Any communication with a debt collector should always be in writing instead of over the phone.
Can this be removed from my credit report?
Is the information reliable?
The credit reporting system is flawed. The system used to calculate your credit score is only as good as the information it is provided, and debt collectors are not always reliable sources.
There have been repeated complaints filed against LJ Ross Associates for incorrectly reporting information. According to the CFPB, the company has a history of failing to validate debts within the allotted timeframe and re-aging older debts. Therefore, if this company is reporting information on your credit report, you shouldn’t ask if it’s reliable. You should ask if it’s verified.
Is there a process?
Yes! Disputing information on your credit report is a systematic process that is governed by federal law. When you dispute an item on your credit report, the credit reporting agency has 30-days to investigate. If LJ Ross Associates cannot verify the account and provide any supporting documentation, the item must be deleted from your report.
Having an item removed from your credit report without paying for it is normal and permanent if the collector cannot verify the information. Collectors operate on a cost-benefit analysis and responding to a dispute and providing documentation costs time and money. Many collection accounts are removed because the collector fails to respond to the dispute, not because the consumer paid the debt.
Conclusion
What’s next?
If you’re receiving repeated calls from 833-861-4045, you now know who is calling and why. You know LJ Ross Associates has a history of calling repeatedly, that hundreds of complaints have been filed against them, and over 40 lawsuits have been filed alleging violations of federal consumer protection laws.
But, you have options. You can pull your credit report to see if they are reporting a debt. If the debt information is inaccurate or unverifiable, you can dispute it. The law is on your side and you don’t have to pick up the phone to deal with them.
How can we help?
At FightCollections.com, we specialize in fighting debt collectors by disputing the errors they are reporting on your credit report. If LJ Ross Associates is calling you about a debt you don’t recognize, have already paid, or is reporting incorrectly, we can help you navigate the dispute process and get the item removed from your report.
You don’t have to do this alone and you don’t have to answer their phone calls.
