Are You Being Called By Congress Collection Corp.?*

Literally thousands of consumers are being chased by debt collectors on a regular basis. Some of these collection attempts can be aggressive to the point of abuse. If this happens to you, remember that you still have rights as an indebted consumer no matter how much money you may owe.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) permits debt collectors to contact you regarding a debt, but they are not allowed to bully or harass you. Below is a list of sample collection tactics that violate the FDCPA:

• Calling at unreasonable and inconvenient hours
• Using obscene or profane language
• Threatening action they are not in a position to legally take, such as having someone arrested or jailed for nonpayment
• Discussing the debt with any third parties except the consumer, their attorney, or their spouse
• Contacting you after you have formally requested that all communications cease
• Failing or refusing to prove a debt exists and they are authorized to collect it

Company Profile: Congress Collection Corp.

If you are being called by Congress Collection Corp. information about the company is below.

Congress Collection Corp. is a debt collection agency located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It was established in 1957, has 20 to 49 employees, and is managed by its President, Scott Idle. Civil litigation files at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicate that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Congress Collection Corp. reacted by suing the company for violating their rights.

Alleged Violations against Congress Collection Corp.

According to PACER, on or about November 28, 2012, Congress Collection Corp. contacted a Michigan resident in an attempt to collect a debt. The Michigan resident later alleged that the female caller did not identify herself as a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. When she asked for information regarding the debt, the caller allegedly retorted, “What, were you injured in an accident or something? You called and spoke with us back in January, you should remember this!”

The woman also allegedly used a loud and aggressive tone and made statements such as, “Who do you think you are? I’ve been in collections since before you were born!” and, “You’re a debtor; this is not customer service.”

Feeling harassed by Congress Collection Corp., she 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
• Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors in all communications

The matter was later settled.

Hire an FDCPA Attorney

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-248-355-7900
• 1-800-395-2989

If you see either number on your caller ID, it means that you are being called by Congress Collection Corp.. If they verbally abuse you in response to queries about the debt, hire a consumer attorney. Such hostile conduct violates the FDCPA, and if you file a claim against Congress Collection Corp. and win, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Standing up to a debt collector could actually put them in debt to you.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 2:12-cv-15337-VAR-RSW from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

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 Congress Collection Corp., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.