Is Credit Collections Bureau calling you? Here’s what you need to know.
No one appreciates being called by a debt collector when they are already stressed out by financial difficulties, but matters are ten times worse when the collector is rude, abusive, and persistent to the point of harassment. Too many people tolerate the hostile behavior, unaware that mistreatment of consumers by debt collectors has been illegal since 1977.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was enacted in September 1977 to protect debtors from unethical and unprofessional debt collection methods. Actions like the following are now prohibited when committed while collecting or attempting to collect a debt.
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- Calling you constantly every day, and at inconvenient times
- Using profane or obscene language
- Pretending to be police officers or federal agents
- Calling you at work after you tell them that you are not allowed to talk to them there
- Failing to report to the credit bureaus that a debt is in dispute
- Demanding amounts that are not supported by law or the original creditor agreement
Credit Collections Bureau is a collection agency located in Bismarck, North Dakota. It was established in 2011 and employs a staff of approximately 50 spread out over its branch offices in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Fargo. Records archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website include court actions initiated by consumers who felt that Credit Collections Bureau crossed the line when collected debts they owed.
Cory Faulhaber v. Credit Collections Bureau et al
According to PACER**, in 2012, North Dakota resident Cory Faulhaber received several calls from Credit Collections Bureau about a delinquent financial obligation. Many of these calls were allegedly made to his place of employment, even after he told them that he could not take personal calls at work and that he could lose his job due to the excessive calls.
Mr. Faulhaber provided his cell and residential telephone numbers to the agency and asked that they stop calling him at work, but the communications allegedly persisted. During these calls, Credit Collections Bureau allegedly threatened to bring legal action against him if the debt was not paid, but no such legal action was ever taken. In addition, collectors allegedly told Mr. Faulhaber that his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, would not be able to receive any additional surgeries if the debt was not paid.
Mr. Faulhaber retained a consumer attorney and filed a complaint accusing Credit Collections Bureau of the following FDCPA violations:
- Contacting him at his place of employment, despite knowing that the his employer prohibits such communications (15 U.S.C. § 1692c(a)(3))
- Engaging in harassing behavior in order to collect a debt (15 U.S.C. § 1692d)
- Using deceptive means in connection with the collection the alleged debt (15 U.S.C. §1692e)
- Threatening legal action that was never taken (15 U.S.C. §1692e(5))
- Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt (15 U.S.C. § 1692f).
The matter was later resolved.
The phone numbers below are all connected to Credit Collections Bureau:
If any of these numbers appear on your caller ID, it means that a debt collector is trying to collect payments from you. If they call you at work despite repeated requests to stop, make legal threats that fail to materialize, or behave in a rude, hostile manner, contact a consumer attorney.
Any debt collector who violates the FDCPA can be ordered to pay you $1,000 in statutory damages per violation, along with court costs and attorney fees. No matter how much you owe, collection agencies have to respect both your rights and the law when it comes to collecting it.
**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is (Case 1:13-cv-00098-CSM, from United States District Court, District of North Dakota, Southwestern Division)
*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 Credit Collections Bureau or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.