Is TelCollect, Inc. Calling You?*

Is TelCollect, Inc. Calling You? Here’s what you need to know.

If you’re one of the thousands of people being contacted about overdue credit card bills, student loan payments, and other obligations, it’s easy to be stressed and intimidated by the calls and letters from debt collectors. This is especially true if the collector is rude and going to extreme lengths to get your attention and your money. If this happens to you, stay calm. You have rights that make it illegal for collection agencies and their representatives to go too far.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed in September 1977 in response to complaints about extreme measures being taken by third-party debt collectors. The new law gave indebted consumers certain rights while preventing collection agencies from using tactics like those below when collecting a debt.

• Using profane and obscene language
• Calling at unreasonable and inconvenient times, such as before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Contacting you after you have formally requested that all communications cease
• Threatening to damage your reputation and credit rating
• Pretending to be police officers or government agents
• Telling you that you can arrested or imprisoned for nonpayment of a debt

Company Profile: TelCollect, Inc.

TelCollect, Inc is a collection agency located in Norcross, Georgia. It was established in 2000, has approximately 50 employees, and is managed by its president, Joe Dohdy. A search of the litigation records held at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website reveals that TelCollect has been accused of violating consumer rights during the debt collection process.

Alleged Violations against TelCollect, Inc.

David Alexander vs. TelCollect, Inc.

In or around late 2009, Texas resident David Alexander began receiving communications from TelCollect, Inc about an alleged debt. He later accused the company of failing to meaningfully disclose its identity or purpose in all phone communications and calling his girlfriend to ask questions about him. When one collector threatened to disclose information about his income to the local unemployment office, Mr. Alexander hired a consumer attorney and sued TelCollect, Inc for the following alleged FDCPA violations:

• Failing to disclose its true corporate or business name in all communications
• Contacting a third party for purposes other than obtaining location information
• Threatening legal action that never transpired
• Failing to notify Mr. Alexander during each collection contact that the communication was from a debt collector

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for TelCollect, Inc. is 1-678-268-2345. If you see this number on your caller ID, it means that a debt collector is trying to reach you. If they fail to identify themselves as debt collectors in all collection contacts, discuss your debt with uninvolved third parties, and threaten legal action they have no intention of taking, hire a consumer attorney. Trying to recoup such a debt is illegal, and if the matter goes to court, you could potentially receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. If a debt collector violates your rights, an attorney will help you seek the recourse that the law provides.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is 4:10-cv-00165 from United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston 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 TelCollect, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.