Posts tagged as:

FDCPA

NY AG shuts down a particularly abusive debt collector

June 24, 2009

How would you like to get a call like this, just because you are behind on your credit cards?
“Hello, this is Investigator Brook Carlson from the Warrant Division. This is the last time I am going to attempt to contact you,” the caller said in one message. “We have left this message numerous times, and [...]

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Rebalancing justice scales: New attention to old law helps consumers fight unfair debt-collection practices

May 14, 2009

Rebalancing justice scales: New attention to old law helps consumers fight unfair debt-collection practices | MinnPost

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Johnson, Rodenburg & Lauinger to pay $311,000 for FDCPA violations

April 21, 2009

A jury in Montana awarded $311,000 last week to a Montana man who was sued by the debt collection law firm of Johnson, Rodenburg & Lauinger. JRL tried to seize his social security disability payments to satisfy a judgment for CACV, a debt buyer. The jury awarded $1,000 in statutory damages, $250,000 for the consumer’s [...]

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86 Federal Civil (FDCPA and FCRA) Lawsuits Against Mann Bracken Since January 2007

April 3, 2009

86 Federal Civil (FDCPA and FCRA) Lawsuits Against Mann Bracken Since January 2007 | Designer Today

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Dateline takes on the debt collection industry

March 27, 2009

Tonight, Dateline took a good, hard look at the debt collection industry. Dateline went the extra mile to show that, for many collection agencies, abusive tactics are the rule, not the exception.
Dateline even tracked down a debt collector who lied about being a Maryland sheriff, lied about being a lawyer, and scared the living hell [...]

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Debt collector sued for hounding sick child

March 4, 2009

Debt collector sued for hounding sick child | Reading Tea Leaves

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I’m going to collect the money from you dead or alive, says debt collector

March 4, 2009

I’m going to collect the money from you dead or alive, says debt collector | Examiner

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New York Couple Harassed by Creditors Trying to Collect Debt Their Dead Son Owed

January 16, 2009

N.B., this would not be a “small claim” by any stretch of the imagination. New York Couple Harassed by Creditors Trying to Collect Debt Their Dead Son Owed | Fox News (via Consumerist)

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Minnesotans may sue if a debt collector levies funds in a joint account

January 7, 2009

Back in November, I won an important decision for Minnesota consumers against Messerli & Kramer, a law firm that seems to handle the bulk of debt collection lawsuits filed in Minnesota. Messerli & Kramer served a levy on my clients’ bank for funds in their’ joint bank account, even though Messerli & Kramer only had [...]

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Collectors hurt by recession as consumers walk away from unpaid bills

December 12, 2008

“This situation lets people in on a dirty little secret for a lot of firms, especially on the service side. Their collections efforts are really a bluff. They really aren’t going to pursue their borrowers very hard,” [David] Vang said. “When people see that, their morals adjust. I think this could snowball.”
Collectors hurt by recession [...]

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Nationwide Debt Collector Will Pay $2.25 Million to Settle FTC Charges

November 21, 2008

“Academy Collection Service, Inc. and its owner, Keith Dickstein, have agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Academy and its collectors misled, threatened, and harassed consumers; disclosed their debts to third parties; and deposited postdated checks early, in violation of federal law.” Nationwide Debt Collector Will Pay $2.25 Million to [...]

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Federal Debt Relief System: not a good system, may be a bunch of conspiracy nuts

September 16, 2008

Along with apparently every other member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, I just got a letter (PDF) from Federal Debt Relief System, which says it is “restoring America’s freedom” on its letterhead. In the letter, FDRS says “Every account gets reviewed by a paralegal and is submitted to you as a Federal Complaint [...]

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For debt collectors, business is booming

August 26, 2008

While many businesses are suffering, the debt collection industry expects to make $14 billion this year, a projected 9.8% growth. “We’re in a record-breaking year,” says Paul Donatio of Transworld Systems, Inc. (recently acquired by NCO Group).
Individual debtors may be able to pay less, but collectors are still able to squeeze a profit. On the [...]

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What to do when a debt collector calls

August 15, 2008

Getting a phone call from a debt collector can be very upsetting. Often, they ask for more money than you think you owe or call about a debt you may not remember. But whether or not you owe the debt, there are a few important steps you need to take to make sure you protect [...]

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Stop debt collector calls with the TeleZapper

August 14, 2008

If you are getting phone calls from a debt collector, you should tell them, in writing, that you do not want them calling you. If that does not work, and just want them to stop, the TeleZapper should do the trick.
Most collection agencies use automatic—also called predictive—dialers. In other words, the collector sits at a [...]

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Credit repair DIY: fix errors on your credit reports

August 11, 2008

Under federal law, consumers can challenge inaccurate information on credit reports and other consumer reports (such as tenant screening reports). It is free, usually quick, and relatively painless. Plus, there are a lot of great how-to guides on the web.
I have mentioned the FTC guides before. The excellent Building a Better Credit Report manual is [...]

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Debt buyers can’t prove s#!t

August 8, 2008

Imagine you were in the jury box listening to this testimony, which is just the sort of testimony you would expect to hear in a debt buyer case. Why purchasing debt is a bad bet at trial | Michigan Collection Law Blog

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Defendants in Debt Collection Scheme Aimed At Hispanics Agree to Settle FTC Charges

June 5, 2008

“Two defendants have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges for allegedly victimizing Spanish-speaking consumers nationwide by posing as debt collectors seeking money the consumers did not owe.” Defendants in Debt Collection Scheme Aimed At Hispanics Agree to Settle FTC Charges [FTC News]

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Pete Barry makes dirty debt collectors pay

June 3, 2008

The CityPages just did a feature on my colleague and friend, Pete Barry. Choice quote:
“Why did you call my client a lowlife piece of shit?” Barry asked.
He was in California, deposing a debt collector who wore a Sean John T-shirt and a look of disdain.
“In my opinion, why was he a lowlife piece of shit?” [...]

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