The Federal Trade Commission recently shut down a bad collection called Rumson, Bolling & Associates and banned two of its owners from the industry. This collection agency violated consumers’ rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) by threatening physical harm and death to them and their pets, threatening to desecrate the bodies of deceased relatives, and using obscene and profane language. The defendants also allegedly improperly revealed consumers’ debts to third parties, such as the consumers’ employers, co-workers, neighbors, and family members; falsely threatened consumers with lawsuits, arrest, seizure of their assets, or wage garnishment; and falsely claimed that consumers would be liable for legal fees incurred in the collection of the debt

This collection agency also deceived its own clients by charging fees to which the agency was not entitled. Moreover, the agency allegedly charged fees for filing lawsuits that were never filed and kept money that it collected from consumers.

The two managers of the collection agency were also fine large sums of money. Frank E. Lindstrom, Jr. has agreed to a $673,000 judgment, representing the income he obtained from the operation since he began receiving a salary in 2005. Kevin Medley has agreed to a $390,000 judgment, representing what he received from the operation since he began receiving a salary in 2005.

Moral of the story. While there are many debt collectors who work professionally and within the confines of the law, there is a large number of those who don’t. This story is not unusual. Our office receives stories, on a daily basis, of debt collectors that violate consumers’ rights. We turn those stories into money for our clients and it does not cost them a dime. Your righs as a consumer are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Under this law, we can get you damages and attorneys’ fees. We file many lawsuits under the FDCPA. If you have been bullied or abused by a debt collector, you don’t have to take it. You can fight back an win!

 

If you are or have been the victim of a debt collector, call or email Attorney Gary Nitzkin for a free consultation at [email protected] Call toll free (888) 293-2882. For more information about our law firm, Michigan Consumer Credit Lawyers, visit our website at www.micreditlawyer.com