Are You Being Called By the Credit Bureau of Napa County?*

Are you being called by the Credit Bureau of Napa County?* Here’s what you need to know.

Many people who are being chased by collection agencies have no idea what their rights are. When a debt collector calls them non-stop, discusses their debt with the consumer’s friends, family, and colleagues, and threatens to garnish their wages, they believe that they can only stop the harassment by declaring bankruptcy. This is not the reality.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed in 1977 to regulate the professional conduct of third-party debt collectors. It prohibits collection methods like the following, and any offending company risks fines and license revocation.

• Swearing and using profane language
• Demanding amounts that exceed the original debt
• Calling at all hours of the day and night
• Threatening legal action they have no intention of taking
• Discussing the debt with your family, friends, and co-workers
• Leaving voice messages that do not identify the collector and the purpose of their call

Company Profile: the Credit Bureau of Napa County

If you are being called by the Credit Bureau of Napa County, information about the company is below.

The Credit Bureau of Napa County, which also does business as Chase Receivables,is a debt collection agency located in Sonoma, California. It opened for business in 1953, has approximately 150 people on staff, and is managed by its Chairman, Fred Merrill. Records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicate that people who felt they were being harassed by the Credit Bureau of Napa County hired consumer attorneys and fought back.

Alleged Violations against the Credit Bureau of Napa County

According to PACER, sometime on or about October 16, 2014 the Credit Bureau of Napa County sent a collection letter to a New Jersey resident. The letter indicated that he could pay the debt by credit card but there would be a “$14.95 Chase Receivables processing fee where applicable.” Electronic check payments could be done over the phone with $9.95 processing fee where applicable.

Feeling harassed by the Credit Bureau of Napa County, he hired a consumer attorney and sued the agency for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Collecting an amount not permitted by law or the original creditor agreement

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for the Credit Bureau of Napa County are as follows:

• 1-800-622-0484
• 1-866-855-3970
• 1-707-940-3000

If any of them appear on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by the Credit Bureau of Napa County. If they attempt to charge extra fees when you go to make a payment, hire a consumer attorney. If you decide to file a claim against the Credit Bureau of Napa County, you could potentially win $1,000 per violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. No matter how much you owe, a debt collector can be penalized if they disregard your rights.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:14-cv-07795-AET-DEA from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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 the Credit Bureau of Napa County, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.