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The FTC Swings and Hits another Collector Hard. Huge settlement forces collector to pay hundreds of consumers money.
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.......Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for Pennsylvania Consumers
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Banker at BoA gets screwed on his Morgtage and gets Collection Calls
Feb 09, 2010Vince 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).
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Debt Collection Company charged in wrongful death case
Dec 14, 2009CNN 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!
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Debt Collectors Lie, Cheat, and Make False Threats!
Oct 27, 2009Left 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. - 3 - 10 -
Debt Collectors are at the top of the Complaint List for 2008
Sep 01, 2009According 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.
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Oxford Management Services settles with the FTC for $225,000
Jul 07, 2009According 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. - 5 - 10 -
Debt Threats - Collectors are holding nothing back
Jun 08, 2009According 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.
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Pittsburgh Consumers and Consumers all over the world fighting back over debt!
Apr 15, 2009As the economy puts more people in financial trouble, debt collection tactics are getting a tougher look. Here’s what’s happening around the country: - 7 - 10
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An Owner of a Debt Collection Company speaks out about how business is booming!
Feb 26, 2009Here's an article from the other side of the coin....the debt collector's perspective.
John Murray, owner of JP Recovery Services states, "I’m used to whenever I go to a party and they say “What do you do?” I say “I own a collection agency” and people kind of go…."Oh-h-h…" But, in order to be in this business, you have to have a thick skin."
After reading this article, I was interested to see if this company had any FDCPA violations filed against them. I do have to admit that this company has very few (next to none) federal lawsuits filed against them!
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Pittsburgh Debt Collection Tips: 7 Great Ways to Deal with Zombie Debts!
Feb 23, 2009You may have to kill old debts that resurrect and come back to life. Zombie debt may include past debts that you owe, charged-off debt, debt included in bankruptcy, debt you may have never owed and even debts incurred due to identity theft. Zombie debt involves collection agencies purchasing debts for pennies on the dollar that original creditors have written off as bad debt and often times the statute of limitations has already run.
Read more on this article to obtain 7 great tips on dealing with zombie debt. - 9 - 10 -
Pittsburgh Women Fight Back Against Bad Debt Collectors
Jan 28, 2009Many pittsburgh consumers are feeling the pocketbook pinch right now and some are finding that they can't pay on their credit cards.
It's a tough situation to be in and unfortunately some bad debt collectors prey on people who are already vulnerable. However, you do have rights when it comes to bad debt collectors.
Some debt collection companies are so desperate, they resort to scare tactics like demeaning, threatening and frightening people into coming up with money. But one woman is taking a stand and fighting back.
Pittsburgh Attorney Jeffrey Suher, who works exclusively on debt collection cases speaks out on abusive collection tactics by debt collectors.
Follow the link below to read more about this local Pittsburgh article and to watch the KDKA video news story. - 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.
