Is International Collection Services, LLC calling you? Here’s what you need to know.
If you’re being harassed by debt collectors, your situation is not unique. Over forty years ago Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, because too many people were complaining about predatory and abusive debt collectors.
This consumer protection law regulates debt collector communications with those who owe money, and makes it illegal to use methods like the following to secure debt payments.
- Use the phone to harass you (e.g. calling at all hours, hanging up when you answer)
- Refuse to validate the debt and prove that they are authorized to collect it
- Threaten to have you arrested or garnish your wages
- Call you at work when your employer does not allow such calls
- Use profane or obscene language
- Tell your friends, neighbors, and co-workers that you owe money
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Alleged Violations against International Collection Services LLC*
Collection tactics like these are against the law, but debt collectors continue to use them because too many consumers cave in to the pressure and pay up rather than take the matter to court.
International Collection Services LLC is a collection agency located in Greenville, South Carolina. It was established in 2010, has a small staff of under five employees, and collects debt all over the country. According to the court records archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website, International Collection Services LLC has been sued by consumers who felt that their rights were being infringed upon during collection attempts.
Karen L. Spencer v. International Collection Services, LLC
In June 2008 Georgia resident Karen Spencer filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection and listed in her schedules a debt owed to Union Acceptance Company, LLC (UAC). Nearly three years later, in January 2011, International Collection Services sent her a collection letter for over $10,000, which Ms. Spencer had allegedly owed to UAC prior to bankruptcy.
On or about January 25, 2011, Plaintiff received a collection call from a Jim Laney who stated he worked for International Collection Services and was collecting on the UAC debt. Ms. Spencer replied that she had filed Chapter 13 in 2008 and that the debt owed to UAC was included. When she added that she would need to talk to her attorney, Mr. Laney allegedly stated, “There is nothing your attorney can do about this and if you do not make a payment arrangement before January 28, 2011, that your wages will be garnished.”
Frightened, Ms. Spencer gave him her checking account number and routing number to set up a payment plan. After discussing this matter with her bankruptcy attorney she then contacted her bank and stopped any payment to ICS while her attorney informed the agency that the debt was invalid. However, International Collection Services allegedly deducted a substantial amount of money from her account using a different creditor name of Dynamic Solutions.
Ms. Spencer hired a consumer attorney and sued International Collection Services for the following alleged FDCPA violations:
- Making numerous false and deceptive statements
- Coercing her under threat of garnishment
- Using deception to get her money
- Communicating directly with someone who was represented by an attorney
The matter was later dismissed.
The phone number for International Collection Services is 1-864-849-9078. If you see it on your caller ID, it means that a debt collector is trying to contact you. If they try to bully or deceive you into paying a debt that was discharged in an earlier bankruptcy, contact a consumer attorney who can deal with International Collection Services and help you pursue compensation in court.
You could potentially receive $1,000 per violation plus attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. The FDCPA grants you rights that debt collectors ignore at considerable financial risk.
*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 1:11-cv-02209-CAP, from United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta 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 International Collection Services LLC or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.