Is Innovative Accounts Management, Inc. Harassing You?*

The American debt collection industry generates billions in revenue every year. Most of it comes from consumers who fall behind on credit card payments, medical bills, and student loans. For them, it’s a difficult situation made worse by calls from overbearing collection agencies.

If you have been contacted by such a company, remember that under the FDCPA, you have certain rights that should protect you from harassment.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits third-party debt collectors from being abusive while attempting to collect money from you. Tactics like the following can result in high fines and even loss of the agency’s license.

• Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt
• Contacting you even after you dispute a debt
• Telling uninvolved third parties that you owe a debt
• Using obscene and profane language
• Calling someone at work after being informed that such calls are prohibited
• Calling before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone

Company Profile: Innovative Accounts Management, Inc.

If you are being called by Innovative Accounts Management, Inc., information about the company is below.

Innovative Accounts Management, Inc. is a collection agency located in Alpharetta, Georgia. It was established in 1966, has less than 10 employees, and is operated by its President, Michael Lahaye.

Files retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website suggest that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Innovative Accounts Management, Inc. sued the company to seek damages for harassment.

Alleged Violations Against Innovative Accounts Management, Inc.

Miriam Bendig vs. Innovative Accounts Management, Inc. et al**

According to PACER, on or about September 2005 through June 2006, Colorado resident Miriam Bendig allegedly received multiple phone calls from Innovative Accounts Management, Inc. representatives who were attempting to collect a medical debt.

She later claimed that the callers threatened to sue her, serve her with court paperwork at her home, and saddle her with debt that would ruin her credit forever. Ms. Bendig also alleged that they would call her up to five times a day and call her back whenever she hung up.

Feeling harassed by Innovative Accounts Management, Inc., she hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA by:

• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Threatening actions it could not legally take
• Harassing her by phone

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this collection agency is 1-770-242-9191. If you see it on your caller ID when the phone rings, be aware that you are being called by Innovative Accounts Management, Inc.

If they call you several times a day and threaten to file unfounded lawsuits, hire a consumer attorney who can help you file a claim against Innovative Accounts Management, Inc. You could potentially win $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus statutory damages and attorney fees.

People don’t deserve to be harassed and embarrassed, no matter how much money they owe.

*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 Innovative Accounts Management, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:06-cv-01708-MSK-CBS from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.