Are You Being Called By Gem City Account Service, Inc.?*

Are You Being Called By Gem City Account Service, Inc.?* Here’s What You Need to Know

Owing more money than you can ever hope to pay back is a difficult burden for anyone to handle. It gets even worse after the accounts are turned over to debt collectors or simply charged off and sell them to junk debt buyers. In both instances, what is likely to follow are collection calls that will drive you crazy if you are not familiar with your rights.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers from harassment by third-party debt collectors. In effect since 1977, the FDCPA makes it illegal for these collection agencies to use methods like those below to collect money.

• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. your time
• Using profane or obscene language
• Calling you at work after you’ve told them that your employer doesn’t allow such calls
• Threaten legal actions that they have no intention of taking
• Demand outrageous amounts that exceed the amount of the original debt
• Report inaccurate information to the credit bureaus

Company Profile: Gem City Account Service, Inc.

If you are being called by Gem City Account Service, Inc., information about the company is below.

Gem City Account Service, Inc. is a debt collection agency located in Quincy, Illinois. It was established in 1970, has approximately 10 employees, and is managed by owner Barry Kessell. A close review of litigation records retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicates that consumers who felt they were being harassed by Gem City Account Service, Inc. hired consumer attorneys to help them bring all unwanted contact to an end.

Alleged Violations against Gem City Account Service, Inc.

According to PACER, on January 17, 2014 Gem City Account Service, Inc. sent a collection letter to an Illinois resident demanding payment for a medical debt. The letter, which was included as an exhibit, stated that “payment in full” was due within 10 days, which appeared to override the plaintiff’s dispute rights. He also complained that on June 2, 2014, a Gem City Account Service, Inc. agent called his cell phone and did not warn him that a debt collector was on the line.

Feeling harassed by Gem City Account Service, Inc., the plaintiff hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Failing to identify itself as a debt collector in all communications
• Demanding payment under terms that violated his dispute rights
• Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this debt collection agency is 1-217-222-9200. If it appears on your caller ID in response to an incoming call, it means that you are being called by Gem City Account Service, Inc.. If their calls and letters include demands that violate your dispute rights, hire a consumer attorney. If you file a claim against Gem City Account Service, Inc. and the judge decides in your favor, you could be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation in addition to attorney fees and court costs , proving that standing up for yourself can really work.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case: 2:14-cv-02190-CSB-DGB from the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division.

Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Gem City Account Service, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.