Are You Being Called By HMC Group?* Here’s What You Need to Know

Are debt collectors continuing to harass you after you tell them the debt is in dispute and to stop calling? Too many collection agencies will do anything to get your money, even break the law. When debt collector misconduct causes you to become stressed, lose sleep, and experience other detrimental effects, it’s time to protect yourself.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was passed over 40 years ago to protect consumers. If a collection agency is pressing you too hard, the FDCPA gives you the right to dispute a debt and tell them to cease contact. You can also take legal action against them if they violate your rights by:

• Swearing and using aggressive language
• Ignoring your written dispute
• Threatening to call your payroll department about wage garnishment
• Claiming that you can be imprisoned for nonpayment of a debt
• Calling your employer and neighbors to embarrass you
• Not reporting a dispute to the credit bureaus

Company Profile: HMC Group

If you are being called by HMC Group, an agency overview is below.

HMC Group is a debt collection agency located in Westlake, Ohio. It was established in 2007, has 14 employees, and is managed by owner Steven Scharfeld. Archived files at the PACER website reveal that consumers who believed that they were being harassed by HMC Group stood their ground and fought back.

Alleged Violations against HMC Group**

According to information on the PACER website, in or around June 2004, HMC Group allegedly entered into an agreement with an Ohio consumer that allowed her to repay a medical debt at a single payment of $40 per month. She claimed that in August, the agency demanded two $40 payments a month going forward, or she would be sued.

Soon after this alleged incident, the consumer received a service of summons for a lawsuit. She contacted HMC Group, where a representative allegedly told her that if she continued to make monthly payments, she would not have to go to court. When she failed to appear, a default judgment was entered against her.

Feeling harassed by HMC Group, the consumer took legal action against the agency for:

• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Threatening her with legal action
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire a Consumer Lawyer

The phone number for this debt collection company is 1-440-892-2300. Its presence on your caller ID indicates that you are being called by HMC Group is on the line. If they make misleading statements that cause you to incur legal bills and added stress, hire a consumer lawyer and file a claim against HMC Group. If you win your case, you could be awarded $1,000 per violation, so taking action can be the best way to resolve the matter. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to have your claim reviewed by an attorney that takes cases in your area today!

**Case taken from PACER (pacer.gov). File number is Case: 1:05-cv-01912-JMM from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

*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 HMC Group or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.

Additional Resources

• Has a Debt Collector Withdrawn Money From Your Bank Account?
• How to Stop a Debt Collector from Threatening Legal Action