Are you being called by Judgment Recovery International?* Here’s what you need to know.
If you miss too many debt payments, your creditors may eventually turn your accounts over to third-party debt collectors. Although such behavior is illegal, many of them are intrusive, demanding, and hostile each time they get you on the phone. Don’t presume you have to tolerate it: their actions are illegal and you have grounds to sue.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates how third-party collection agencies may interact with consumers while trying to collect a debt. If they employ pressure tactics like those below, they can be fined and even shut down.
- Using obscene or profane language
- Threatening action they are not in a position to legally take
- Calling your friends, neighbors, and co-workers and telling them that you owe a debt
- Threatening you with a lawsuit when they have no intention of initiating one
- Calling you at work after you’ve told them that your employer won’t let you take such calls
- Misrepresenting how much you owe
Company Profile: Judgment Recovery International
If you are being called by Judgment Recovery International, information about the company is below.
Judgment Recovery International, the business name for Judgment and Debt Recovery Services, is a debt collection company located in Hayward, California. It was established in 2004, has less than 10 employees, and is managed by its President, Vadrick Banks. A review of civil litigation records at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicate that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Judgment Recovery International chose to fight the company in federal court.
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Alleged Violations against Judgment Recovery International
Eufrocinia F. Ramos vs. Judgment and Debt Recovery Services aka Judgment Recovery International*
According to PACER, on February 26, 2014, Judgment Recovery International sent a collection letter to California resident Eufrocinia F. Ramos. The letter, which was later submitted as an exhibit, stated that the total amount owed was “Undetermined Increasing Daily,” and proceeded to threaten the addition of various costs and fees if the debt was not paid. It added:
If we do not receive a payment, or a valid payment agreement from you by 3/13/2014, we will assume that you have no intention of paying this debt voluntarily and we must take steps to receive the amount you owe involuntarily.
The letter was mailed on February 26, 2104, and the March 13, 2014 deadline set forth in this statement only gave Ms. Ramos 15 days to begin making payment arrangements and overshadowed her statutory rights to contest the validity of the debt.
The letter also stated:
Anything you own (car, computer etc.) can be levied by the sheriff and sold to pay for your debt and anybody owing you (job, friend loans) can be attached to pay for your debt. We will explore all legal means to collect this debt. This may include issuing a warrant for your arrest.
On December 4, 2104, Judgment Recovery International mailed another letter to Ms. Ramos entitled “4th Request,” in which it requested her attorney information. This letter stated, “We will bill you for this, and other request for Attorney information. The current cost is $150.00”.
Other added costs included $642.00 was for “Research” and $250.00 for “Skip Trace.”
Feeling harassed by Judgment Recovery International, Ms. Ramos hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:
The matter was later dismissed.
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Hire an Attorney
The phone numbers for this collection agency are:
If you see either one on your caller ID, it means that you are being called by Judgment Recovery International. If they threaten to arrest you if you don’t pay the debt and inflate the alleged total with illegal fees, hire a consumer attorney. If you file a claim against Judgment Recovery International with your attorney’s help and win, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation. When debt collectors cross the line with you, the law helps you push them back.
*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:15-cv-00519-EDL from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
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 Judgment Recovery International, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.