Are You Being Called By Premier Recovery Group?*

When you lose your job, it can be impossible to make the minimum payment on your debts, let alone any progress on the principal. When debt collectors call about the arrears, they’re not always understanding, but the law prohibits them from being hostile or abusive. If they conveniently forget this fact, the law will let you send them a reminder.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was passed in 1977 to protect consumers from being harassed into bankruptcy. Under this consumer protection law, collection agencies may not use tactics like the following when collecting or attempting to collect a debt.

• Yelling, swearing, and using language meant to intimidate you
• Telling you that you will arrested or your wages garnished if you don’t pay
• Calling you at work after they’ve been advised that such calls are not allowed
• Maliciously reporting false information to the credit bureaus
• Contacting you after you have sent a cease and desist letter
• Contacting you directly after you retain an attorney

Company Profile: Premier Recovery Group

If you are being called by Premier Recovery Group, information about the company is below.

Premier Recovery Group is a debt collection company located in Buffalo, New York. It opened for business in 2008, has less than 10 employees on staff, and is managed by Kim Fields. It currently has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. Records of lawsuit filings retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirms that consumers who felt they were being harassed by Premier Recovery Group sought compensation for what they felt was unfair treatment.

Alleged Violations against Premier Recovery Group

According to PACER, on August 11, 2010, Premier Recovery Group began calling an Ohio resident to collect a debt. One collector who identified himself as Richard Kefer said he was a “lead investigator” from the “judgment and claims department” regarding “Case Number 58631.” When he called a second time, he allegedly told her that he needed to speak with her legal representative or he would send information to her employer and report this on her credit.

Another collector, Mrs. Ford, identified herself as being from the “judgment and claims department,” and informed her that she would forward information to her employer “by the end of the day.” One collector named Rebecca White informed her in two voicemail messages that there was check fraud against her name and stated her Social Security number.

Feeling harassed by Premier Recovery Group, the consumer 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
• Threatening actions that could not legally be taken

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this debt collection agency are:

• 1-888-583-1164
• 1-716-247-5101
• 1-844-291-6550
• 1-716-783-2348
• 1-800-918-3157
• 1-844-325-1703

If any of these numbers appear on your caller ID in response to an incoming call, it means that you are being called by Premier Recovery Group. If they threaten nonexistent legal action to frighten you into paying, contact a consumer attorney right away. If you decide to file a claim against Premier Recovery Group and win your case, you could receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus legal costs. The right legal counsel will helped you take the steps needed to stop the harassment.

Helpful Resources

• Rights a Debt Collector Cannot Violate
• What to Do if a Debt Collector Misrepresents Himself

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case: 1:10-cv-02148-LW from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.

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 Premier Recovery Group, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.