Called By Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc.?*

Are you being called by Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know

Collecting debts is a lucrative business in the United States. That’s why so many debt collectors are persistent and manipulative when it comes to making you pay. If this happens to you, it’s important to know that you don’t have to tolerate such treatment. Federal law states otherwise.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is a consumer protection law that regulates the actions of third-party debt collectors. If a collection agency uses approaches like those below to pressure you into paying a debt, they can face significant penalties.

• Swearing and calling you names
• Failing or refusing to identify themselves as debt collectors in every communication
• Demanding amounts not supported by law or the original creditor agreement
• Calling at inconvenient times, usually before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m.
• Talking about the debt to anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney
• Pretending to be members of law enforcement

Company Profile: Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc.

If you are being called by Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc., information about the company is below.

Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc. is a debt collection agency located in Ocean City, Florida. It was established in 1969, has less than 10 employees, and is managed by its President, Tommy Cooley. It has a B+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Litigation files retained at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website suggests that some consumers who believed they were being harassed by Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc. sued the company for infringing on their rights.

Alleged Violations against Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc.

According to PACER, in January 2010 Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc. sent a collection letter to a Florida consumer regarding an alleged medical debt. The letter stated in part that since she had “failed to cooperate”, a “Collection Supervisor” would begin to document her source of income, savings and checking accounts, and other assets. It suggested that to avoid “embarrassment”, she should contact the agency within 72 hours.

Feeling harassed by Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc., the consumer hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Using false, deceptive and misleading means to collect a debt
• Threatening action that could not legally be taken

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this debt collection agency are:

• 1-866-368-9887
• 1-850-862-2154
• 1-800-666-9567
• 1-850-862-2134

If you spot any of these numbers on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc.. If they threaten to seize your assets and publicly embarrass you if you don’t pay, hire a consumer attorney who can help you file a claim against Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc. If you win your case, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation in addition to court costs and attorney fees, which reminds collection agencies that no matter how much they want your money, they must obey the law when collecting it.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). Case 4:11-cv-00025-SPM-WCS from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

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 Collection Bureau of Fort Walton Beach Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.