A charge reading “Altus GTS Inc. Client Tru” on your bank or credit card statement is a payment processed through Altus GTS Inc., a commercial debt collection agency based in Metairie, Louisiana. The “Client Tru” portion is a truncated form of “Client Trust,” the segregated account collection agencies must use when they receive money on behalf of a creditor client. In practical terms, the descriptor means funds were collected from you or your business and routed through Altus’s client trust account before being forwarded to whichever company hired Altus to recover the debt.
Why the Descriptor Says “Client Trust”
Collection agencies that accept payments for creditors are required by state law to hold those funds in a separate trust account rather than commingling them with the agency’s operating money. Idaho’s collection-agency statute, for instance, requires every licensee to “establish and maintain a separate trust account for deposit and remittance of such funds” and forbids any misappropriation of money held in trust.1Idaho Legislature. Idaho Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Most U.S. jurisdictions impose similar rules. Because descriptor fields on bank statements are limited in length, “Client Trust” is often cut off as “Client Tru.”
Altus’s proprietary platform, ARM Strong, is built on Salesforce and includes trust-accounting functionality as a core feature.2PR Newswire. North Americas Largest Commercial Collection Agency Altus GTS Inc Expands Its Market Position With Affiliate Deal The company is PCI DSS compliant and has completed SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II audits covering its accounting and security controls.3Altus Commercial Receivables. Altus News
Who Altus GTS Inc. Is
Altus GTS Inc., now formally operating as Altus Receivables Management, Inc. and doing business as Altus Commercial Receivables, describes itself as North America’s largest commercial collection agency. It was founded in 1994 and is headquartered at 2121 Airline Drive in Metairie, Louisiana.4Better Business Bureau. Altus Receivables Management BBB Profile The company reports being licensed and bonded in all 50 states and Canada.5PR Newswire. Altus Announces New Executive Leadership Structure Under CEO Jim McDermott
One point matters for identifying the charge: Altus specializes in business-to-business commercial collections rather than consumer debt. If the descriptor turned up on a personal account with no business tie, that is worth flagging when you investigate. Its services include first-party and third-party commercial collections, international debt recovery, legal escalation, and credit-intelligence reporting.6Financial Services Review. Altus Commercial Receivables
What To Do if You Recognize the Charge
If you or your business has an outstanding invoice that may have been referred to a collection agency, the charge likely represents a payment on that account. Contact Altus directly and ask for a written explanation of the debt, the name of the creditor that placed the account, and documentation of the amount collected. The company’s listed phone numbers are 504-469-9545 and 800-509-6060.
What To Do if You Don’t Recognize the Charge
Federal law gives you a defined route to dispute a credit card charge you believe is unauthorized or incorrect. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, send a written dispute to your card issuer at the address it designates for billing inquiries, within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge appeared.7Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges The issuer must acknowledge your dispute within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days.8Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill While the investigation is pending, you can withhold payment on the disputed amount, and the issuer cannot report you as delinquent on that portion of the bill. Send the letter by certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery.
If you believe Altus is pursuing a debt you do not owe, or is using abusive tactics, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits collectors from threatening or harassing consumers. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or report the matter to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.7Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Because Altus works commercial accounts, ask whoever manages your business’s payables whether an invoice was recently settled through a collection agency. That single conversation often resolves an unfamiliar “Client Tru” line before any dispute paperwork is needed.