Are You Being Called By Tek-Collect Inc.?*

Are you being called by Tek-Collect Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know.

It can happen to anyone: you suffer a financial setback like job loss, disability, or a personal crisis like divorce, and after years of good credit you are unable to pay your debts. Sometimes creditors will work with you, but if it looks like you will not be able to pay the account off within a reasonable time period, they may turn it over to a third-party collection agency. These companies have a reputation for being aggressive, but the law provides you with protection against abusive collection practices.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, limits what third-party debt collectors can say or do when communicating with consumers. Collection ruses like the following violate the FDCPA and can result in fines and even license revocation.

• Failing or refusing to identify themselves as debt collectors trying to collect a debt
• Using profane or obscene language
• Discussing the debt with uninvolved third parties like your friends, family and neighbors
• Calling at unreasonable and inconvenient hours
• Maliciously reporting false information to the credit bureaus
• Threatening to call the police on you if you don’t pay

Company Profile: Tek-Collect Inc.

Tek-Collect Inc. is a debt collection agency located in Columbus, Ohio. It was established in 2001, has 67 employees, and is managed by its President, Ron Douglas. Civil litigation files viewable at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicated that consumers who felt they were being harassed by Tek-Collect Inc. have responded by dragging the agency into court.
Alleged Violations against Tek-Collect Inc.

Sharon McMilion vs. Tek-Collect Inc. et al*

According to PACER, in September of 2013, Texas resident Sharon McMilion started being called by Tek-Collect Inc. on her cell phone regarding a consumer debt owed by an individual identified as “Steve”.

The company allegedly contacted Ms. McMilion September 9, 16, and 23, 2013. Each call was initiated by the question, “Is Steve there?” Each time she replied that they were calling the wrong number. When she asked why they were calling, the caller allegedly hung up.

At 11:13 a.m. CST on October 30, 2013, Ms. McMilion allegedly received yet another call from Tek-Collect Inc. She demanded that they put her number on their do not call list, but they allegedly called her again over an hour later. Tired of being harassed by Tek-Collect Inc., Ms. McMilion hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for the following alleged FDCPA violations:

• Continuing to contact her without her consent after being advised that they had the wrong number for the person they were trying to reach
• Engaging in harassing and abusive conduct to collect a debt

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Tek-Collect Inc. are:

• 1-614-489-8800
• 1-866-652-6500

If the phone rings and either number appears on your caller ID, it means that you are being called by Tek-Collect Inc. about a debt it has been assigned to collect. If they keep calling you on your personal cell phone about someone else’s debt, hire a consumer attorney. If you decide to file a claim against Tek-Collect Inc. for harassing you, the company could potentially be ordered to pay you $1,000 per violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Don’t let yourself be pushed around: fighting back against an aggressive collection agency could put them in debt to you instead.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:14-cv-03362-B from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

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 Tek-Collect Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.