Is Recovery One calling you? Here’s what you need to know:
Many Americans are having a problem paying their bills today, and a high percentage of them end up having those debts go to collections. What is even more unfortunate is that collection agencies are resorting to ethically questionable ways of getting paid. Every year the Federal Trade Commission receives thousands of complaints about collectors swearing and yelling at people, harassing them at work, and demanding amounts that exceed the original debt. If this is happening to you, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
A consumer protection law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, set strict guidelines on what third-party debt collectors can say or do when contacting you. If they use pressure tactics like those below, they are breaking the law.
- Using profane or obscene language
- Threatening to ruin your credit forever
- Using the phone to harass you
- Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
- Talking to your friends and family about your debt
- Ignoring a formal cease communications request
- Contacting you directly even after you’ve hired an attorney to represent you in the matter
Company Profile: Recovery One
Recovery One is a collection agency located in Columbus, Ohio. It was established in 2000, has 20 to 49 employees, and is managed by its President, Jerry Cameron. According to records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website, Recovery One has been accused of violating the FDCPA during some of its debt collection attempts.
Alleged Violations against Recovery One
According to PACER, in or around early 2013, a Texas resident began getting calls from Recovery One collectors about a debt he promptly disputed. During one call, a collector allegedly claimed to be a process server and threatened to serve him with a lawsuit at his place of employment. This party also allegedly told him that he would lose his job if he was served at work. He was not sued on the account which Recovery One was attempting to collect and never received any documents from any process server.
He hired a consumer attorney and filed a lawsuit accusing Recovery One of violating the FDCPA in the following ways:
- Placing calls that did not meaningfully disclose the caller’s identity
- Misrepresenting the character, amount or legal status of the debt
- Threatening legal action they did not intend to take
The matter was later dismissed.
Hire an Attorney
The phone numbers below both belong to Recovery One:
If your phone rings and you see one of these numbers on your caller ID, a debt collector is trying to reach you. If they threaten to sue you or imply that you could lose your job for owing money, hire a consumer attorney. These deceptive pressure tactics violate the FDCPA, and your attorney can help you prepare an action against the company. Recovery One could be ordered to pay you $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Never be afraid to exercise the rights and protections that the law gives you.
*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 3:13-cv-02610-B from United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas 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 Recovery One, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.