http://www.stopcollector.com/blog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:00:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en News 9 in Oklahoma City reported that debt collection agency GC Services are under fire for allegedly forcing call center employees to work in unsanitary conditions. According to the report, backed up toilets caused sewage to flood part of the building, yet employees were not allowed to leave work. When ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/gc-services-under-fire-for-labor-practices/ ER Solutions, a debt collection agency known for collecting on cell phone, banking, and cable television debts, had Augusta, Georgia, atwitter when they showed up in town to accept applications from prospective debt collectors. According to a report by WJBF-TV, ER Solutions is planning to open its 13th call center ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/er-solutions-to-open-13th-call-center-in-augusta/ The American Bar Association recently released the results of a survey of state judges, which pointed to stark differences in legal outcomes between people who are represented by attorneys and those who are not. The judges surveyed said that, against the backdrop of the recession, they are seeing more consumers ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/report-finds-consumers-without-attorneys-fare-worse/ The Houston Chronicle reports that the debt collection industry is abuzz about using social networking sites like Facebook to gather information about consumers who owe money. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act regulates the ways in which debt collectors can gather information about consumers, but hasn’t kept pace with technology. ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/debt-collectors-digging-up-information-on-facebook/ This week, the Massachusetts Senate took a giant leap forward in protecting consumers who face property seizures for uncollateralized debt. The Boston Globe reports that creditors who win legal judgments against consumers can’t wipe out their bank accounts, take their cars, or touch Social Security or disability income. Previously, the ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/massachusetts-senate-comes-through-with-consumer-debt-collection-protections/ The debt collection industry publication, Inside ARM, provides a wealth of insights into what debt collectors are thinking, doing, and planning. One of their recent blog posts brought to light one way in which debt collection agencies are getting primed to take advantage of our country’s eventual economic recovery. As we’ve ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/debt-collectors-scheming-in-anticipation-of-economic-recovery/ If you’ve ever wondered about what makes debt collectors tick, you have to read CNN Money’s “Confessions of Former Debt Collectors.” Featuring fascinating mini-profiles on 10 former debt collectors, the piece is an eye-opener. Some former collectors admit to violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, using any tactic that ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/debt-collectors-tell-all/ The New York Times published a phenomenal article on a disturbing debt collection trend: at a time when taxpayer-funded court systems are trying to do more with less, debt collection agencies are stressing the burdened justice system with sometimes frivolous lawsuits against consumers. Andrew Martin reports that Cohen & Slamowitz, ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/pulling-the-curtain-back-on-debt-collection-lawsuits/ Over the past few days, we’ve discussed a class action lawsuit being brought by Lemberg & Associates against Capital One Services, NCO Financial Systems, and Capital One Bank. The law firm is also bringing a class action lawsuit against Capital One Services, United Recovery Systems, and Capital One Bank for ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/the-stopcollector-case-files-rogers-vs-capital-one/ Yesterday we gave you an overview of the ways in which Gareth Wood was victimized by Capital One Services and NCO Financial Systems on behalf of Capital One Bank. Essentially, when they sent Mr. Wood a “Pre-Legal Notice,” these debt collectors violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in ... http://www.stopcollector.com/blog/2010/07/the-stopcollector-files-class-action-in-woods-v-capital-one/