Is Finance System of Richmond Calling You?*

Is Finance System of Richmond calling you? Find out how to protect yourself!

When you’re in debt, the stress spreads to other areas of your life. It affects your relationship with your loved ones and can even impact your ability to do your job properly. When debt collectors start to verbally abuse you over the phone and send demanding letters, you might be tempted to declare bankruptcy.

Before you take that step, learn more about your rights as an indebted consumer.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was passed by Congress in 1977 to protect consumers from being abused by third-party debt collectors. Under the FDCPA, actions like the following are illegal when used to pressure consumers into paying a debt.

• Using profane and obscene language
• Calling before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Maliciously reporting false information to the credit bureaus
• Pretending to be police officers or federal agents
• Telling your friends and family that you owe money
• Telling you that you can be arrested or sent to jail

Company Profile: Finance System of Richmond

Finance System of Richmond is a debt collection company located in Richmond, Indiana. It was established in 1955, has less than 10 employees, and is managed by its President, Charles Coleman.

Litigation records archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that consumers have accused the company of debt collection practices that violate the FDCPA.

Alleged Violations against Finance System of Richmond

According to PACER, Finance System of Richmond sued a Indiana resident in the Wayne County Superior Court in 2008 in an attempt to collect a debt. In April 2008 a judgment was entered in favor of the agency in the amount of $2,786.02. Since then, the plaintiff made payments against the debt, thus reducing the outstanding balance.

On or about December 15, 2014, the plaintiff received correspondence in the Wayne County Action from the Wayne Superior Court III, Small Claims Division. The correspondence stated, in part:

“….our records indicate that we have a balance due of $394.18 on the Final Order of Garnishment. The Plaintiff(s) (i.e. Finance Systems of Richmond) has added $1,216.67 interest. This bring the total balance due on the Final Order of Garnishment to $1,610.85.”

The plaintiff had made payments over the ensuing months, to reduce the debt, but on or about November 30, 2015, she received a letter from the Wayne Superior Court III, Small Claims Division that stated, inter alia, that due to accrued interest, the total balance was now $2,361.75.

Frustrated, 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
• Misrepresenting the character, amount or legal status of the debt
• Using false representation and deceptive means to collect the debt

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Finance System of Richmond are:

• 1-765-962-7507
• 1-877-962-7507
• 1-888-977-9729

If you see any of these numbers on your caller ID when the phone rings, a debt collector is calling. If they misrepresent the amount you allegedly owe in order to make more money, hire a consumer attorney. Such deceit and manipulation are illegal under the FDCPA, and a judge could potentially order Finance System of Richmond to pay you $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages.

Fighting for your rights with the aid of an experienced attorney warns debt collectors that when they go too far, consequences await.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:16-cv-00430-SEB-TAB from the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.

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 Finance System of Richmond or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.