Undisclosed
Settlement
TCPA class action against the Los Angeles Times. Final approval granted 2014.
Debt Collection agency, National Credit Audit Corporation was accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA) after one of its debt collectors allegedly misrepresented herself as an attorney to a debtor’s husband in an effort to intimidate them into paying an alleged debt. After the call the debtor’s husband contacted National Credit Audit Corp’s main line and was told by the operator that the debt collector who called him was NOT a lawyer. The lawsuit further claims that National Credit Audit Corp. falsely threatened to file a lawsuit to attempt to collect a $ 2,118 balance. The calls from National Credit Audit became so repetitive and harassing that the couple eventually had to change their phone number because of the collection agency’s frequent phone calls.
The complaint also alleged that, after the consumer asked the debt collector to stop calling him at work, the collector told him that if he did not call her back that afternoon, she would continue to call him at this job.
If the allegations above are correct than Credit Audit Corp made several FDCPA violations in this case. Below are a list FDCPA violations to look out for if you are receiving calls from debt collectors.
- Calling before 8:00am or after 9:00pm
- Calling you at work more than once or after you have told them to stop calling you at work.
- Calling third-parties (friends, neighbors, relatives) more than once in an attempt to locate you.
- Informing third-parties (your spouse is an exception) that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt from you.
- Contact you after you have sent a certified letter to the debt collector instructing them not to contact you.
- Attempting to collect a debt that you do not owe.
- Lying or using other deceptive methods when attempting to collect a debt.
- Leave a message on an answering machine without saying that the collector is trying to collect a debt. The collector must leave his name and his company. (This is a double-edged sword because they are opening themselves up to another FDCPA violation by possibly disclosing to a third-party, who overhears the message, that you owe a debt when they leave a voicemail.)
- Threatening you with arrest or going to jail.
- Threatening to sue the consumer when they have no intention of doing so. (If several months or years pass after the threat and the debt collector has not attempted to serve you than they are in violation.
- Use profanity or other abusive language.
- Shout, scream, or get angry with you.
- Give the impression that the caller or his company has some connection with the government, the courts, the police, other law enforcement, etc.
- Attempt to collect the incorrect debt amount
- Call you repeatedly. One call a week is acceptable, but multiple calls in a week could be considered harassment by the court.
- Attempt to contact you after the debt collector knows you have hired consumer protection attorney.
- Threaten to use violence if you fail to pay the debt.
If you are receiving harassing calls from debt collectors falsely claiming to be attorneys or violating the FDCPA in other ways, document it and call my office, The Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman at 877-449-8898 for a free consultation.
