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News Category:

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for Pennsylvania Consumers

  • More tips to fight aggressive debt collectors
    Apr 28, 2010

    Among debt collectors, Steven Katz is known as a “credit terrorist.” For years, he has run what he calls the Steven Katz School of Bill Collector Education, otherwise known as the “credit terrorist training camp.”

    Mr. Katz, a 58-year-old accountant in suburban Tucson, spends his free time schooling debtors on the finer points of consumer protection law to help them turn the tables on debt collectors. On occasion, he thumbs his own nose at them too.

    “How many times can I sue you? Let me count the ways,” he wrote under his pseudonym, Dr. Tax, in a March posting on Inside ARM, a debt collectors’ Web site.

    A former bill collector himself, Mr. Katz rebelled after a debt buyer damaged his credit score with what he says was a bogus bill. Mr. Katz sued, and in 2003 he collected his first damage award, a $1,000 check that he now keeps framed behind his desk.

    - 1 - 10

  • Payday loan debt collection scams!
    Apr 08, 2010

    Payday loan companies are always trying to come up with new scams to trick and scare consumers into paying them money in a hurry!  Don't be fooled.

    - 2 - 10

  • The FTC Swings and Hits another Collector Hard.
    Apr 08, 2010

    According to an FTC press release, the FTC sued three companies, operating under the name National Check Control, charging them with harassing and abusing consumers, falsely threatening criminal prosecution, illegally communicating with third parties, collecting amounts that were not due, and other violations of federal laws. In 2005, the court ordered a permanent halt to their operations and ordered them to pay redress to the consumers they had bilked. The defendants in the case subsequently unsuccessfully appealed the case to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court....... - 3 - 10

  • Banker at BoA gets screwed on his Morgtage and gets Collection Calls
    Feb 09, 2010

    Vince couldn't make his Bank of America mortgage, because they fired him after 21 years of service in the due diligence department. Even after he did a short sale 5 months ago, Bank of America still hasn't cleared it off their books. Now the illegal debt collection calls start. Is new CEO Brian Moynihan powerless to stop his own company from shaking down its own employees? Let's find out!

    Vince still owes money after the short sale. He's been trying to pay it down with his unemployment checks, his only source of income, but he just wishes the collection agency would stop calling at 4 in the morning days in a row (which are both, by the way, violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act).

    - 4 - 10

  • Debt Collection Company charged in wrongful death case
    Dec 14, 2009

    CNN reports that a Florida woman is suing Green Tree Servicing Collection Company over her husband’s death. 

                In 2002, Stanley McLeod could not longer work and went on disability for heart problems and a recent heart attack.   The McLeod’s were struggling and later got behind a few months on their mortgage.   Their mortgage was taken over and Green Tree Servicing debt collectors began to call.  According to Mrs. McLeod, calling sometimes up to 10 times a day.  Receiving 10 debt collection calls a day is harassment and a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, even without knowing the content of the calls!

    - 5 - 10

  • Debt Collectors Lie, Cheat, and Make False Threats!
    Oct 27, 2009

    Left on the machine of a Jacksonville man.......it was personal, menacing and delivered with an understated certainty.

    "This is Mickey ... I want my money, and I want it now. ... When I see you, I'm gonna [expletive] you up.

    "I will find your sister, your daughter ... I will find her, and I'll find you, and I will [expletive] you up."

    The threats weren't from some mobbed-up knee breaker. They came, according to Gordon's lawyer, from a small check-cashing chain based in Jacksonville. The company insisted that Gordon was behind on his payments, so the collector, who did not return calls from the Orlando Sentinel, was turning up the heat. - 6 - 10

  • Debt Collectors are at the top of the Complaint List for 2008
    Sep 01, 2009

    According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), "Debt collectors generate more complaints than any other industry".  This is true for 2008, and seems that things are well on their way for 2009 as well.

    Credit cards were responsible for the 4th most complaints and predatory lending and home mortgages came in 6th. 
    - 7 - 10

  • Oxford Management Services settles with the FTC for $225,000
    Jul 07, 2009

    According to the InsideArm, The FTC announced Friday that it had entered into a settlement with Oxford Management Services. Under the agreement, Oxford will pay a $225,000 civil fine and must adhere to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) going forward. The collection agency is based in Ft. Pierce, Fla., and has additional offices in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.

    In its allegations, the FTC noted that Oxford “falsely threatened that nonpayment of debt would result in garnishment of consumers’ wages, arrest, or legal action.” The Commission also said that Oxford did not adhere to time restrictions in placing collection calls, engaged in third party disclosure, and used profane or abusive language when dealing with some debtors. - 8 - 10

  • Debt Threats - Collectors are holding nothing back
    Jun 08, 2009

    According to the Huffington Post, a debt collector is giving out a library's address to its debtors.  Debtors are forwarding cease and desist letters and overwhelming the library with this mail.  Why in the world would a debt collector give out a fake address directing its debtors to  a library?

    This same debt collector is contacting a consumer stating he is a Police Officer and will be taking this man to jail for fraud if he doesn't pay an internet loan right away!  When this consumer's attorney attempted to contact this collector to get this matter straightened out, his letter ended up at the library as well.



    - 9 - 10

  • Pittsburgh Consumers and Consumers all over the world fighting back over debt!
    Apr 15, 2009

    As the economy puts more people in financial trouble, debt collection tactics are getting a tougher look.  Here’s what’s happening around the country: - 10 - 10


Jeff Suher, Pittsburgh Consumer Attorney who specializes in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Jeff sues abusive debt collectors and helps consumers that have incorrect information on their credit reports.  
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