Are You Being Called By Suburban Credit Corporation?*

When mass layoffs occur or financial emergencies hit, even those who have faithfully paid their bills can find themselves overwhelmed by debt. Many creditors attempt to collect debts themselves for a few months before outsourcing the work to collection agencies that may go to extremes to collect payment.

Although threats and humiliation are frequent tools, they are illegal.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is a consumer protection law that allows indebted consumers to dispute a debt, ask for proof that they owe it, and demand no further contact. Collection tactics like those below are prohibited.

• Using profane and obscene language
• Pretending to be police officers or federal agents
• Telling your friends, neighbors and co-workers that you owe money and they are trying to collect it from you
• Attempting to collect a debt that is in dispute
• Telling you that you can be arrested and sent to jail if you don’t pay
• Failing or refusing to identify themselves as debt collectors trying to collect a debt

Company Profile: Suburban Credit Corporation

If you are being called by Suburban Credit Corporation, information about the company is below.

Suburban Credit Corporation is a debt collection company located in Alexandria, Virginia. It was established in 1960, has approximately 51 employees, and is managed by its CEO, Neil Bingaman. The company has been mentioned on different consumer complaint boards.

Litigation records available for public viewing at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicates that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Suburban Credit Corporation stood up for themselves by engaging an attorney.

Alleged Violations against Suburban Credit Corporation

According to PACER, on March 12,2014, Suburban Credit Corporation attempted to collect a medical debt from a Virginia woman by sending her three letters demanding a total of $786.25. The original debt, however, was only $629.00, and there was no explanation for the $157.25 add-on.

Feeling harassed by Suburban Credit Corporation, she 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
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Trying to collect an amount not permitted by law

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this debt collection agency is 1-703-924-3000. If it appears on your caller ID whenever the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Suburban Credit Corporation. If they try to collect an amount that greatly exceeds the original debt, hire a consumer attorney who can help you assert your rights in court.

If you file a claim against Suburban Credit Corporation, you may be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation in addition to legal costs and damages. Awards like these send a message to debt collectors that when they ignore consumer rights, penalties result.

Additional Resources

• Did a Debt Collector Identify Themselves to a Third-Party?
• FDCPA Laws in Virginia

Case taken from PACER (pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:14-cv-01599-AJT-TRJ from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria 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 Suburban Credit Corporation, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.