Dallas State Court Judge Awards $150K Judgment Against Debt Collector

A Texas attorney obtained a $150,000 Judgment on behalf of his client, an individual who had been contacted numerous times by a debt collector.  A unanimous jury found that the defendant, First National Collection Bureau, Inc., a debt collector, had knowingly and willfully violated provisions of the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the ”FTCPA”).  The FTCPA generally prohibits calls to cellular phones or using a prerecorded voice and/or an automatic telephone dialing system, without obtaining the prior express consent of the person called. 

The Judgment will likely be appealed by First National, but this verdict could represent a potential step forward for consumers who have been harassed by debt collectors.

Creditors Financial Group Harassment

About Creditors Financial Group

Creditors Financial Group is well-known for acting like a dog with a bone, never letting go of a consumer until the person is intimidated, scared, and humiliated. Creditors Financial Group plays loose and fast with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Over the past year, there have been dozens of federal lawsuits filed against Creditors Financial Group. Many consumers complain about Creditors Financial Group calling their parents, sisters, brothers, and other relatives, and telling them that the consumer is under collection –  which clearly violates federal law. They’ve even been known to threaten the relatives and try and convince relatives to pay off a debt.

Stop Creditors Financial Group Harassment

If Creditors Financial Group has your number, it’s likely that you’re being harassed. They call, and call, and then call some more. Your first line of defense in order to stop Creditors Financial Group harassment is knowing about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. One important element to learn is that the law specifies when debt collection agencies like Creditors Financial Group must send you written notification. According to the FDCPA, Creditors Financial Group must notify you in writing within five days of first communicating with you. They must state the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed, and notify you that, unless you dispute the validity of the debt within 30 days, Creditors Financial Group will assume that you agree that you owe the money. The notification must also state that, upon your written request within the 30 days, Creditors Financial Group will furnish the name and address of the original creditor if it’s different from the current creditor.

When Creditors Financial Group doesn’t notify you within that timeframe – or ever – they’re banking on the chance that you’ll run out of time to dispute the collection claim within the required 30 days. If the debt is in dispute, it means a lot more work for Creditors Financial Group, in that they must research the debt and obtain verification. Creditors Financial Group can’t continue to collect until they provide the requested verification.

How to Stop Creditors Financial Group Harassment Calls

It’s time to stop Creditors Financial Group harassment calls. To do that, contact stopcollector.com. With attorneys all over the country standing by to assist consumers just like you, stopcollector.com can stop Creditors Financial Group harassment calls. Moreover, if Creditors Financial Group has violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices act, stopcollector.com will represent you for free. It’s free because the FDCPA mandates that collectors who violate the law have to pay consumers’ attorneys fees. So, whether you need help because Creditors Financial Group won’t validate the debt, or because you want to stop Creditors Financial Group harassment calls, your first step should be to contact stopcollector.com.

Creditors Financial Group Contact Information

Creditors Financial Group

3131 S. Vaughn Way, Suite 110

Aurora, CO 80014

303-369-2345

NY Judge Stands Up For Consumer, Threatens Abusive Debt Collection Law Firm with Sanctions!

The New York Times recently published a great article about a law firm’s unsavory debt collection techniques, the consumer they victimized, and a judge that held the debt collector accountable.

The law firm in question is Pressler & Pressler, which knowingly sued the wrong person in an attempt to collect a debt from him.  Initially, it was a case of mistaken identity.  Pressler’s collector called Bronx resident, Mark Hoyte, regarding a debt owed by a different Mark Hoyte.  Mr. Hoyte denied ever incurring the debt, and said Pressler was calling the wrong guy.

Pressler sued Mr. Hoyte in New York civil court for nonpayment of the debt despite having fairly clear evidence that they were suing the wrong person: Mr. Hoyte’s birthdate and social security number did not match those of the Mark Hoyte that owed the debt.  As the NY Times article observed:

A person who blows off a civil court summons — even if wrongly identified — faces a default judgment and frozen bank accounts. But to date, there have been few penalties against collectors for dragging the wrong people into court.

Unfortunately for Pressler, Judge Noach Dear did not let Pressler off the hook so easily.  He called out Pressler’s attorney for Pressler’s practice of suing the wrong person without proper due diligence:

“So you just shoot in the dark against names; if there’s 16 Mark Hoytes, you go after without exactly knowing who, what, when and where?” Judge Dear asked.

Mr. Wang replied, “That’s why the plaintiff is making an application to discontinue.”

The judge turned to Mr. Hoyte, who works as a building superintendent, and asked him how much a day of lost pay would cost. Mr. Hoyte said $115.

Judge Dear ordered Pressler to compensate Mr. Hoyte for his lost wages, or to face sanctions.  Sanctions will be considered by Judge Dear in January, unless Pressler compensates Mr. Hoyte before their court date.  A victory for consumers! Thank you, Judge Dear.

Sergei Lemberg, Esq., focuses his practice on defending consumer rights in the areas of Fair Debt Collection Law, Consumer Fraud, Auto Warranty and Auto Injury litigation.

» About Us


Subscribe to RSS   Subscribe to RSS