Debt collectors can be ruthless: they scream at you on the phone, threaten lawsuits, and embarrass you in front of friends and family. Such conduct, however, is illegal. If you have been subjected to an overly-aggressive debt collector, federal and state laws protect your rights and may even entitle you to compensation.
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed in 1977 to prevent abusive practices by third-party debt collectors. It protects consumers by allowing them to dispute a collector’s claim and ask for validation of the alleged debt.
Actions like those below violate the FDCPA and can incur penalties for the offending agency.
- Using profane or obscene language
- Publicly posting details of a debt on social media and other public outlets
- Pretending to be members of law enforcement
- Calling at odd hours
- Failing to identify themselves during each communication as a debt collector seeking to collect a debt
- Ignoring a cease communications notice
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Company Profile: Burton Neil & Associates, PC
If you are being called by Burton Neil & Associates, PC, information about the company is below.
Burton Neil & Associates, PC is a debt collection agency located in West Chester, Pennsylvania It was founded in 1970, has a staff of approximately 15 people, and is managed by owner Burton Neil. It presently has a B- rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Records on file at the PACER website confirms that people who believed they were being harassed by Burton Neil & Associates, PC sought legal remedies to deal with the situation.
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Alleged Violations against Burton Neil & Associates, PC
According to PACER, on or after January 15, 2009, Burton Neil & Associates, PC allegedly placed several collection calls to a Pennsylvania consumer. He later complained that on at least two occasions, the caller did not properly identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt.
Feeling harassed by Burton Neil & Associates, PC, the consumer filed a lawsuit against the company for the following alleged FDCPA violations:
- Failing to identify as a debt collector in the voice messages
- Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt
The matter was later dismissed.
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Hire a Consumer Lawyer
The phone numbers for Burton Neil & Associates, PC are:
The appearance of either number on your caller ID indicates that Burton Neil & Associates, PC is on the line. If they disguise their occupation or intent, don’t be fooled. Lack of transparency violates the FDCPA, and if you hire a consumer lawyer to file a claim against Burton Neil & Associates, PC.
The FDCPA provides your lawyer’s fees will paid for by the debt collector if you win your case. Even if you actually owe money, collection agencies ignore your rights at their own risk.
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Additional Resources
Case taken from PACER (pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:10-cv-00068-RPC from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
*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 Burton Neil & Associates, PC, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.