Is Central Credit Services Calling You?*

Owing a massive debt is a stressful situation that becomes even worse if debt collectors start calling, sending letters and demanding that you pay it all at once. You tell them to stop calling you, and they don’t listen. Is there any way to stop the harassment short of declaring personal bankruptcy?

Yes.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

Debt collectors can be tenacious when trying to collect a debt from you, but no consumer has to tolerate abuse. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, makes it illegal for third-party debt collectors to use pressure tactics like the following to collect a debt from you:

• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Using profane and obscene language
• Telling your friends and co-workers that you owe money
• Calling you at your workplace when they know that your employer doesn’t permit you to take such calls
• Refusing to validate the debt and prove that they are authorized to collect it
• Demanding an amount that is not supported by law or the original debt agreement

Company Profile: Central Credit Services

Central Credit Services is a debt collection agency headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. It was established in 1987, has 20 to 49 employees and is managed by its President, Jerry Eccleston. Files archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that Central Credit Services has been accused of FDCPA violations during certain debt collection attempts.

Alleged Violations against Central Credit Services

(Case 1:15-cv-00033-YK from United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania)

According to PACER**, pn or about November 11, 2014, Pennsylvania residents received a debt collection letter from Central Credit Services, seeking to collect $5,186.46 on behalf of Regional Acceptance Corp. This debt had been discharged in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in February 2006, so the residents responded to additional collection attempts by hiring a consumer attorney and suing Central Credit Services for the following alleged FDCPA violations:

• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Using oppressive and harassing means to collect a debt
• Misrepresenting the legal status of the debt

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an FDCPA Attorney

The phone number for Central Credit Services is currently listed as 1-904-724-1800. If you see it on your caller ID when your phone rings, a debt collector may be trying to contact you. If they try to collect a debt discharged in a previous bankruptcy, hire a consumer attorney. Collecting this type of debt is against the law, and you could potentially win $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Pushing you over an uncollectible debt could put the agency in debt to you instead..

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is(Case 1:15-cv-00033-YK from 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 construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Central Credit Services or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.