Are You Being Called By Bridgeport Financial?*

Are you being called by Bridgeport Financial?* Here’s what you need to know.

If unexpected financial challenges cause you to fall behind on your monthly debts, these accounts may eventually assigned to a collection agency. Unfortunately too many debt collectors use extreme lengths to make you pay, hoping you will never realize that your consumer rights prohibit such treatment.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed 40 years ago to stop abusive conduct on the part of third-party collection agencies. Since 1977, collection tactics like the following have been illegal under federal law.

• Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt
• Threatening legal actions they cannot take or have no intention of taking
• Using obscene, profane, and threatening language
• Demanding outrageous amounts that exceed the amount of the original debt
• Calling you at work after you’ve told them that your employer doesn’t allow such calls
• Reporting false information to the credit bureaus

Company Profile: Bridgeport Financial

If you are being called by Bridgeport Financial, information about the company is below.

Bridgeport Financial is a debt collection company located in San Jose, California. It was established in 1994, has approximately 20 employees, and is managed by its President, Roger O. Young. It currently has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau for failure to respond to complaints. Records viewable at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicate that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Bridgeport Financial opted to demand compensation and damages in court.

Alleged Violations against Bridgeport Financial

According to PACER, in or around early 2010, Bridgeport Financial allegedly began contacting a California consumer in an attempt to collect a consumer debt. The consumer complained that collectors called his employer to discuss the debt, and that one individual yelled at him, “I have your name, address, and Social Security Number. I know where you live. I called your work, I called your sister.” The person then threatened to “come get” him and file a lawsuit against him.

Feeling harassed by Bridgeport Financial, the consumer hired a consumer attorney and sued the agency for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using harassing, oppressive, and abusive conduct to collect a debt
• Discussing his debt with third parties
• Using abusive language
• Threatening lawsuits that never transpired
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Failing to send him a debt validation notice

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-408-295-7085
• 1-877-225-6229

If you see either number on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that that you are being called by Bridgeport Financial. Yelling, making threats, and belittling you is illegal under the FDCPA, so if you are subjected to such treatment, hire a consumer attorney. If you file a claim against Bridgeport Financial and win, you could receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus attorney’s fees and court costs. When debt collectors cross the line, a lawsuit can help you push them back.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 2:10-cv-07462-PSG-SH from the United States District Court for the Central District of California, 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 Bridgeport Financial, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.