Is Rossman & Company Inc. Calling You?*

Is Rossman & Company Inc. calling you?* Here’s what you need to know.

Are debt collectors calling you on a daily basis? If so, you’re one of many, as literally thousands of Americans have a debt in collections at some point. While collection agencies are legally permitted to contact you about settling an outstanding account, they are not allowed to pursue you to the extent that you feel harassed.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, requires collection agency representatives to be professional and ethical when communicating with consumers. Pressure tactics like those listed below are illegal and can result in significant penalties:

• Calling you at inconvenient times and places, such as before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Swearing, raising their voice, and making threats
• Leaving voice messages that do not identify the collector and the reason for their call
• Calling you at work if they know what such calls are not allowed
• Revealing details about the debt with anyone but you, your spouse, or your attorney
• Telling you that you have broken the law and can go to jail

Company Profile: Rossman & Company Inc.

Rossman & Company Inc. is a debt collection agency located in New Albany, Ohio. It was established in 1963, has 20 to 49 employees, and is managed by CEO Jerry Rossman. A review of records retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website confirm that certain consumers who were allegedly harassed by Rossman & Company Inc. opted to sue the company for perceived violations of their rights.

Alleged Violations against Rossman & Company Inc.

According to PACER, starting in or around mid-2011 an Ohio resident was allegedly called by Rossman & Company Inc. on a near-daily basis about a delinquent debt. She later complained that many of these communications took place after 9:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m.

Feeling harassed by Rossman & Company Inc., she hired a consumer attorney, who sent the agency a fax advising that she now had legal representation and to cease contacting her directly. Less than a week later, the attorney received an email from the collection agency’s lawyer acknowledging receipt of the communication, but a couple of months later, she was allegedly called by Rossman & Company Inc. yet again. She finally sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Contacting her before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m.
• Engaging in harassing and abusive conduct
• Causing her phone to ring continuously with the intention of harassing her
• Contacting her directly after learning that she was represented by an attorney

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Rossman & Company Inc. are:

• 1-614-895-3232
• 1-866-330-9237
• 1-800-250-8935

If the phone rings and you see any of these numbers on your caller ID, it means that Rossman & Company Inc. is calling you. If they call you outside of approved hours and ignore you when you tell them to stop, hire a consumer attorney. Such collection tactics violate the FDCPA, and if you file a claim against Rossman & Company Inc., you could potentially win $1,000 per violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Don’t give in to harassment: fight back, as you could have a lot to gain.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case: 3:11-cv-00362-TSB from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western 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 Rossman & Company Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.