Is Norley Collection Agency Calling You?*

Is Norley Collection Agency calling you?* Here’s what you need to know.

When we experience an unexpected setback like job layoff or illness, debt that was once routine and manageable can become a nightmare. Once a certain number of payments are missed, debt collectors will start calling us to recoup the balances, when can be stressful and discouraging. It’s important to remember, though, that you have rights that these callers ignore at their own professional risk.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, requires third-party debt collectors be professional and ethical when trying to collect debt payments from you. Pressure tactics like the following are illegal and can result in significant sanctions:

• Cursing, raising their voice, and calling you names
• Swearing, raising their voice, and making threats
• Pretending to be attorneys, police officers, or federal agents to intimidate you
• Leaving voice messages that do not identify the collector and the reason for their call
• Discussing the debt with your family, friends, and co-workers
• Calling you at inconvenient times and places, such as before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone

Company Profile: Norley Collection Agency

Norley Collection Agency is a debt collection agency located in Florham Park, New Jersey. It was established in 2002, has fewer than 10 employees, and is managed by Cindy Toyo. Records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website reveals that the Norley Collection Agency has been accused of violating the FDCPA during its years in business.

Alleged Violations against Norley Collection Agency

In or around 2010 a New York resident received a collection letter from Norley Collection Agency that included the following warning:

If we do not receive the balance from you, it may be necessary to recommend suit against you for recovery of the amount due plus court costs, interest and statutory attorney’s fees… In order to avoid legal action, and these additional costs and expenses, we urge that you give this matter your immediate attention.

In the plaintiff’s opinion, this suggested that Norley Collection Agency was conclusively entitled to recover money above and beyond what was allegedly owed as a consumer debt when no guaranteed legal entitlement to costs, interests, and statutory attorney’s fees existed. He also believed that language like “we urge that you give this matter your immediate attention” used within the letter overshadowed the notice given as per FDCPA requirements.

The plaintiff hired a consumer attorney and filed a class action lawsuit against Norley Collection Agency for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using false, deceptive or misleading means when attempting to collect an alleged debt
• Threatening action that was neither legal nor intended to be taken

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for Norley Collection Agency is 1-973-514-1151. If your phone rings and you see it on your caller ID, be aware that a debt collector is calling. If they send you collection letters that overshadow your rights and install a false sense of urgency, hire a consumer attorney. If the matter proceeds to court, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Collecting a debt is legal, but harassing or misleading you is not, and can result in expensive penalties.

Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case: Case 1:10-cv-05864-SLT-RER from United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

*The content of this article is not applicable solely to Norley Collection Agency but to any third-party collection agency by which you claim to have been harassed.