Is Grimm Collections calling you? Know how to protect your rights!*
Practically everyone carries some form of debt: credit card balances, mortgages, student loans.As long as our income is steady the situations is usually managable, but if we lose our jobs or suffer a serious financial setback, making the minimum payments can become an unexpected struggle.
It becomes worse when debt collectors start calling and sending letters, especially if they invade your privacy and embarrass you in front of your friends and family.
Many consumers are surprised to know that they do not have to tolerate such abuse. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, gives you the right to tell collection agencies not to contact you any more.
It also restricts the activities of third-party debt collectors by making it illegal to do any of the following while collecting or attempting to collect a debt:
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- Harassing you by telephone (e.g. calling and hanging up) or using an autodialer to leave a series of prerecorded messages
- Using profane and obscene language
- Telling your friends and family about the debt
- Calling you at work when they know that you can’t take such calls there
- Claiming that you can be arrested, have your assets seized, or lose your children if they do not pay
Alleged Violations against Grimm Collections*
These actions are illegal, but unfortunately many debt collectors continue to use them to scare money out of stressed-out consumers.
Grimm Collections is a collection agency located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was established in 1945, employs 10 to 19 employees, and is a member of ACA International, Professional Debt Collectors Association of America and Washington Collectors Association.
Records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website suggest that Grimm Collections has been accused of breaching the FDCPA while attempting to collect consumer debts.
On or around September 25, 2009, a Washington resident retained an attorney to file bankruptcy. Her bankruptcy attorneys faxed Grimm Collections to indicate that she was represented by counsel and provided their contact information.
They also instructed the agency to cease all further communications with the plaintiff.
Despite this notice, Grimm Collections allegedly called the plaintiff on at least one occasion thereafter, in December 2009. During this conversation, the collector allegedly threatened to serve her with a summons, although the company had neither the intent nor ability to do so.
The plaintiff filed a complaint accusing Grimm Collections of the following alleged FDCPA violations:
- Communicating with a consumer known to be represented by an attorney
- Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
- Threatening action that it could not legally take
- Falsely representing the character, amount, or legal status of the debt
- Using unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt
The matter was later dismissed.
The phone numbers for Grimm Collections are 1-360-754-6333 and 1-800-584-8908. If either number appears on your caller ID, a debt collector from the company may be trying to contact you about a debt.
If they threaten you with actions they cannot legally take or attempt to collect a debt that has been included in a bankruptcy, see a consumer attorney.
When debt collectors breach the FDCPA during their communications with you, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation, as well as court costs and attorney fees.
Your attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve and protect your rights during the entire process.
*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 3:10-cv-05080-RBL from United States District Court, Western District of Washington, Tacoma 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 Grimm Collections or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.