Are You Being Called By Protocol Financial Services, Inc.?*

Collection agencies inspire more complaints to the Federal Trade Commission than any other business. This is because so many of them use aggressive and even illegal methods to collect money from consumers. If you are harassed via phone and mail by unscrupulous debt collectors, you can make it stop.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, has been protecting indebted consumers since 1977. It gives you the right to dispute a debt and request no more contact from a collection agency, and outlaws the use of collection methods like those below.

• Calling you at inconvenient times and places
• Trying to collect after you have formally disputed a debt
• Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt
• Telling your friends, neighbors, and co-workers that you owe a debt
• Using profane or obscene language
• Reporting false information to the credit bureaus

Company Profile: Protocol Financial Services, Inc.

If you are being called by Protocol Financial Services, Inc., information about the company is below.

Protocol Financial Services, Inc. is a debt collection company located in Woodbury, Minnesota. It was established as Phillips Account Services, Inc. in 1975, has less than 10 employees, and is managed by owner Jim Hunt. A review of lawsuit files at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website reveals that people who felt they were being harassed by Protocol Financial Services, Inc. made demands of their own in court.

Alleged Violations against Protocol Financial Services, Inc.

Kay Phernetton vs. Protocol Financial Services, Inc.*

According to PACER, in or around the spring of 2003 Protocol Financial Services, Inc. sent a collection letter to a Minnesota resident. He disputed it via letter, claiming that the debt was owed by his former wife. He sent another letter on July 30, 2004, after seeing the debt listed on his credit report without a dispute notation, but his report was allegedly never updated.

Feeling harassed by Protocol Financial Services, Inc., he hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Reporting inaccurate information to the credit bureaus
• Misrepresenting the character, amount, or legal status of the debt

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an FDCPA Attorney

The phone number for this debt collection agency is 1-651-645-4699. If the phone rings and this number appears on your caller ID, be aware that you are being called by Protocol Financial Services, Inc.. If they do not report your disputed debt correctly to the credit bureaus, hire a consumer attorney who can represent you as you file a claim against Protocol Financial Services, Inc., you may be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation. When a collection agency’s negligence affects your credit, the law can help you gain compensation.

Additional Resources

• Did a Debt Collector Ask You to Pay More Than You Owe?
• Has a Debt Collector Called You Repeatedly?

*Case taken from PACER (pacer.gov). File number is CASE 0:04-cv-04374-JNE-SRN from the United States District Court for the 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 Protocol Financial Services, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.