Are You Being Called By Turk Collectors, Inc.?*

Are you being called by Turk Collectors, Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know

Debt collectors have a bad reputation thanks to the many collection agencies that interact with consumers in a way that causes anger and humiliation. They yell at you over the phone, threaten to garnish your wages, and discuss your debt with uninvolved parties like friends and family. If this is happening to you, be aware that these collection methods are illegal and you have the right to sue.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is a consumer protection law that prohibits actions like the following when used to collect or attempt to collect a consumer debt:

• Calling you repeatedly and leaving messages that do not identify them as debt collectors
• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone
• Claiming to be an attorney or a law enforcement official
• Using profane or obscene language
• Calling you at work after you say that you are not allowed to talk to them there
• Telling your friends, neighbors and co-workers that you owe money and they are trying to collect it from you

Company Profile: Turk Collectors, Inc.

If you are being called by Turk Collectors, Inc., information about the company is below.

Turk Collectors, Inc. is a debt collection agency located in Keyport, New Jersey with branch offices in New York, Florida, and Georgia. It was established in 2010, has several employees spread across the different branch offices, and is managed by its President, John Cullen. Records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicate that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Turk Collectors, Inc. opted to challenge the company in court instead of give in to the demands.

Alleged Violations against Turk Collectors, Inc.

SHAWN MURRAY-SIMS, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated vs. Turk Collectors, Inc. et al*

According to PACER, on or about April 1, 2016, Turk Collectors, Inc. sent New Jersey resident Shawn Murray-Sims a collection letter. It stated, in part:

WE ARE REFERRING THIS CLAIM TO AN ATTORNEY ON OUR CLIENT’S BEHALF…. TAKING THIS STEP OF LEGAL ACTION WILL MEAN ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU WHICH WILL BECOME PART OF THE FINAL JUDGMENT…. YOUR CREDIT RATING WILL SUFFER SINCE LITIGATION BECOMES PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AND LOCAL CREDIT BUREAUS PICK UP THIS INFORMATION. THIS LITIGATION STAYS ON FILE FOR MANY YEARS.

Feeling harassed by Turk Collectors, Inc. and believing that other consumers had received an identical letter, Mr. Murray-Sims 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
• Threatening legal actions that could not be taken

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this collection agency is 1-800-631-2228. If it appears on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Turk Collectors, Inc.. If they send you letters implying that legal action and destroyed credit will be the consequences of nonpayment, hire a consumer attorney right away who can assist you in filing a claim against Turk Collectors, Inc.. If you win, you could potentially be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation, so when a collection agency tramples on your rights, don’t hesitate to fight back.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 3:16-cv-04360-FLW-DEA from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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