Are You Being Called By International Collection Bureau, Inc.?*

Are You Being Called By International Collection Bureau, Inc.?* Here’s What You Need to Know

Debt collectors make their money by persuading you to pay, so they have perfected the art of pressure and harassment. Many of them are intrusive, hostile, and more interested in money than ethics. When you encounter one of these collectors, it is important to know that their actions are illegal and you have recourse under the law.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was passed by in 1977 after abusive third-party debt collectors were linked to an increase in personal bankruptcies. This consumer protection law regulates what third-party collectors can say and do while collecting a debt, and prohibits harassing stunts like the following:

• Calling you at all hours of the day and night
• Telling you that the police will arrest you if you don’t pay
• Telling your friends and neighbors that you owe money
• Calling you at work if you tell them that your employer does not allow it
• Demanding amounts that are not supported by law or the original creditor agreement
• Using abusive or obscene language

Company Profile: International Collection Bureau, Inc.

International Collection Bureau, Inc. is a collection agency located in Batavia, Ohio. It was founded in 1975, has approximately 20 employees and is managed by owner Thomas J. Huber. Records retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that consumers who believed they were being harassed by International Collection Bureau, Inc. went to court to fight back.

Alleged Violations against International Collection Bureau, Inc.

Thomas Johnston vs. International Collection Bureau, Inc et al.

According to PACER**, in July 2014, International Collection Bureau, Inc. began trying to collect a medical debt from Ohio resident Thomas Johnston. On July 22 a voicemail was left on his machine stating that the caller wanted to discuss a “legal matter” and “prevent his case from going to court” during which time various third-parties were present at his residence and heard the entirety of the voice message.

Feeling harassed and embarrassed by International Collection Bureau, Inc., Mr. Johnston hired a consumer attorney and sued the agency for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using harassing and oppressive means to collect a debt
• Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Threatening legal action that was not intended to be taken
• Failing to identify itself as a debt collector in all communications

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for International Collection Bureau, Inc. is 1-513-753-9999. If it appears on your caller ID, it means that you are being called by International Collection Bureau, Inc. If they threaten legal action if you do not pay immediately, hire a consumer attorney who can help you file a claim against International Collection Bureau, Inc.

If your case succeeds, you could be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Even if you owe the debt, it must be collected according to the law, or the agency faces expensive reminders.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case: 1:14-cv-00659-SJD from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western 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 International Collection Bureau, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.