Is Account Brokers Inc. Calling You?*

Is Account Brokers Inc. calling you?* Here’s what you need to know

We all try to pay our debts as agreed, but sometimes things happen that interfere with our good intentions. Jobs are lost, we become too sick to work, or an unexpected divorce causes most of our income to go toward legal bills. Once our accounts go into arrears, debt collectors begin to call. They are required by law to behave in a professional and ethical manner, but many of them act like the law doesn’t apply to them.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which became law in 1977, regulates the actions of third-party debt collectors. It gives consumers the right to dispute a debt and request no further contact and will impose heavy sanctions against collection agencies that use ruses like the following to collect a debt:

• Use profane or obscene language
• Threaten legal actions that they have no intention of taking
• Call before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in the consumer’s time zone
• Call you at work when your employer does not allow such calls
• Talk about the debt to anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney
• Refuse to identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt

Company Profile: Account Brokers Inc.

Account Brokers Inc. is a collection agency located in Denver, Colorado, with a satellite office in Fort Collins. It was founded in 1981, has less than 10 employees, and is managed by Kelli Bruenger. Files archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website reveal that Account Brokers Inc. has been accused of violating the FDCPA during the debt collection process.

Alleged Violations against Account Brokers Inc.

Lauren Bloomer vs. Account Brokers Inc

According to PACER **, on April 18, 2013 a collector from Account Brokers Inc. called Colorado resident Lauren Bloomer about a delinquent debt the company had acquired. The collector, who identified herself as “Rose”, allegedly demanded that the account be paid in full immediately. When Ms. Bloomer offered to make a $100 payment, Rose allegedly replied that the amount was insufficient and that Account Brokers Inc. would initiate a lawsuit.

Rose also allegedly called Ms. Bloomer’s mother next, stating that her daughter owed a debt and how much, and demanded payment. She allegedly warned that legal action would arise if the account was not paid off.

Embarrassed and angry, Ms. Bloomer hired a consumer attorney and sued Account Brokers Inc for the alleged FDCPA violations below.

• Threatening to take action that could not be legally taken at the time and was not intended to be taken
• Engaging in harassing, oppressive, or abusive conduct
• Discussing her debt with her mother

The matter was dismissed at a later date.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Account Brokers Inc. are:

• 1-303-458-8980
• 1-970-494-7700

If you see either number on your caller ID, it means that a debt collector is looking for you. If they threaten legal action and discuss your debt with uninvolved third parties, hire an attorney who can help you assert your rights in court. Account Brokers Inc could be ordered to pay you $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. The law grants you rights and protections you should not hesitate to take advantage of.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is (Case 1:13-cv-01061-MSK-KLM from United States District Court for the District of Colorado)

Disclaimer:

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