Are You Being Called By Kinum, Inc.?*

Are you being called by Kinum, Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know.

The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals once stated that collection agencies make over a billion contacts with consumers each year, each one a form of debt collections. Some of those encounters are stressful and unpleasant for the consumer because the collector is rude, demeaning, and demanding. Naturally, they never mention that their actions are completely illegal.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was established in 1977 to address widespread complaints about harassment by collection agencies. This federal law makes it illegal for third-party debt collectors to use tactics like those below to pressure you into paying a debt.

• Swearing and using profane language
• Making threats they cannot legally carry out or have no intention of carrying out
• Threatening to ruin your credit if you don’t pay
• Contacting you at work if you are not allowed to receive calls there
• Calling at all hours of the day and night
• Discussing your debt with anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney

Company Profile: Kinum, Inc.

If you are being called by Kinum, Inc., information about the company is below.

Kinum, Inc., which also does business as Fidelis Collections, is a debt collection agency located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was established in 2009, has approximately 20 employees, and is managed by its CEO, Bruce Klinger. Records archived at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Kinum, Inc. stood their ground and filed lawsuits.

Alleged Violations against Kinum, Inc.

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Bianca Bassett vs. Kinum, Inc. et al*

According to PACER, on or about November 28, 2012, Kinum, Inc.spoke with New York resident Bianca Bassett in an attempt to collect a debt owed to Kids Korner. During this conversation, the collector allegedly stated that their client had filed a claim against her for $1,200.15. Ms. Bassett disputed the debt, informed the caller that she had not received any bills, and requested written validation. The alleged response was that bills were sent to her mailing address. When she repeatedly asked when the bills were mailed, the collector allegedly failed to give her specific information, and claimed that bills were mailed over “the past two years.”

Ms. Bassett later complained that in subsequent calls, Kinum, Inc. inappropriately disclosed her mailing address, social security number and date of birth, in an attempt to further intimidate her and became increasingly abusive, yelling things like, “You might want to hire an attorney to try to explain why you didn’t pay for your kid’s daycare.”

Feeling harassed by Kinum, Inc., Ms. Bassett hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Failing to validate the debt as requested

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-888-281-1750
• 1-317-249-8689

If you see either any of them on your caller ID, be aware that you are being called by Kinum, Inc.. If they refuse to validate the debt and freely employ verbal abuse when you do not pay them, hire a consumer attorney immediately. Abusing consumers in this manner is a violation of federal law, and if you file a claim against Kinum, Inc.with your attorney’s help, you may be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus reasonable damages and costs. When a debt collector goes too far, the law helps you assert your rights and receive compensation in the process.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:13-cv-00900-JTC from the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

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 Kinum, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.