Is Healthcare Financial Services LLC Calling You?*

Is Healthcare Financial Services LLC calling you?* Here’s what you need to know.

If you keep falling behind with your monthly payments to creditors you will eventually start to receive collection calls and letters. At first the original creditors will be the ones contacting you. If an account falls far enough into arrears, the creditor will likely send it to a third-party collection agency for recovery. That’s when your life could start getting a lot more stressful.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

Although the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires third party debt collectors to treat consumers civilly and with respect, actions like those below continue to occur, resulting in hundreds of complaints made to the Federal Trade Commission every year.

• Swearing, yelling, and using obscene language
• Calling you at your workplace after you tell them you can’t talk to them there
• Telling your friends, coworkers, and neighbors that they’re trying to collect a debt from you
• Threatening to have you arrested or sent to jail if you do not pay
• Demanding amounts that are not supported by law or the original creditor agreement

Alleged Violations against Healthcare Financial Services LLC*

Healthcare Financial Services LLC is a debt collection agency located in Flowood, Mississippi. It was founded in 2010, has 20 to 49 employees, and was recently acquired by Hollis-Cobb Associates.. Records archived at PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that Healthcare Financial Services LLC has been accused of FDCPA violations during its time in business.

Prior to January 31, 2007, a Mississippi consumer owed a medical debt that had been assigned to Healthcare Financial Services LLC for collection. When the agency contacted her, the consumer agreed to pay a reduced amount of $935.10 in six monthly installments of $155.85. She made her sixth and final payment electronically on or about August 21, 2007.

On February 8, 2008 a collector from Healthcare Financial Services LLC called the consumer at her workplace and allegedly demanded that she pay $194.90, which was the difference between the original balance of the debt and the amount the company allegedly agreed to accept in the settlement agreement. After she recounted the terms of the contract, the agent allegedly replied that the only way the original balance would have been reduced was if the consumer had immediately paid the reduced balance in full, rather than in installments.

On February 27 another collector allegedly called and demanded $194.90. The consumer refused. Another call came on March 25. When the consumer asked the agent to review the previous electronic notes relating to the her case, the agent allegedly retorted that she did not need to review any notes, and that she wanted to know when the payment would be made.

Frustrated, the consumer hired a consumer attorney and sued Healthcare Financial Services LLC for the following alleged FDCPA violations:

• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Falsely representing the character, amount, or legal status of the debt
• Attempting to collect an amount not permitted by law or the original creditor agreement

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for Healthcare Financial Services LLC is 1-601-933-2520. If your phone rings and it appears on your caller ID, it means that a collection agency is looking for you. If they renege on an original settlement agreement and demand more money, hire an attorney. If you opt to sue, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Never hesitate to stand up for yourself and force an unethical debt collector to literally pay for harassing you.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 3:08-cv-00241-HTW-LRA from United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson 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 Healthcare Financial Services LLC or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.