Is Penncro Associates, Inc Calling You?*

Is Penncro Associates, Inc calling you? Here’s what you need to know.

Most of us carry some type of debt. Even if you haven’t taken out a mortgage yet, you probably have a credit card balance or a car loan you are paying off. As long as you have a healthy income, debt can usually be managed.

But if you lose your job or have to stop working for some reason, the problems begin. Once you miss a certain number of payments your creditors will likely submit the accounts to a third-party collection agency that will contact you by phone and letter until the debt is paid or they are forced to stop.

Debt Collector Actions Prohibited by the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from using abusive tactics like those listed below to bully you into paying:

• Calling at all hours of the day and night to stress you into paying
• Claiming that you owe an amount that’s not supported by law or the original creditor agreement
• Discussing your debt with anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney
• Using profane or obscene language
• Telling you that you can be arrested or sent to jail
• Making threats they cannot legally carry out or have no intention of carrying out

Although they violate the FDCPA, unethical collection practices remain in effect because too many consumers pay up to stop the harassment instead of fighting the collectors in court.

Company Profile: Penncro Associates

Penncro Associates, Inc is a collection agency located in Southampton, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1953, has over a thousand employees, and is a member of the American Collectors Association (ACA) and the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

According to litigation records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website, Penncro Associates, Inc has frequently been sued by consumers who felt that their rights were disregarded during collection attempts.

Debt Collection Violations Allegedly Committed by Penncro Associates

On or around October 9, 2012, a Penncro Associates, Inc collector who identified himself as Dan Walker left a voicemail message on the answering machine of a Minnesota resident. This message allegedly stated nothing further than the caller’s name.

That same day, a second collection call was made, this time to the resident’s mother. The collector allegedly discussed the debt with her.

On October 11, his wife called Penncro Associates, Inc after the agency continued to call her home. She spoke to Dan Walker, who allegedly raised his voice and became belligerent when she said that her husband was not responsible for the debt. He also allegedly demanded payment from her even though she had not been married to the alleged debt owner at the time it incurred.

The Minnesota resident hired a consumer attorney and filed a complaint accusing Penncro Associates, Inc of allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Leaving messages that failed to disclose that the caller was a debt collector
• Discussing the debt with uninvolved third parties

The matter was later dismissed.

What You Should do if Harassed by Debt Collectors

The phone numbers for Penncro Associates, Inc are 1-888-736-6276 and 1-215-322-2438. If you see either number on your caller ID, it means that a debt collector is trying to contact you. If they leave cryptic messages that do not identify their company name and purpose or discuss your situation with uninvolved third parties, contact a consumer attorney who can help you seek compensation for violating your rights.

If you sue Penncro Associates, Inc you could potentially receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Collecting a debt is perfectly legal, but using unethical methods to do so is not.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 0:13-cv-02572-ADM-LIB from United States District Court, District of Minnesota

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