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 Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:31 am |
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Interesting article at the Consumerist:
Consumers Reported 69,204 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Violations. FTC Responds With One (1) Lawsuit
| Quote: | Consumers have filed over 69,000 complaints against scummy debt collectors for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, prompting the FTC to rush to our collective defense by taking action against three debt collectors who showed a "culture of harassing the debtors from which they collect." Two debt collectors settled and one went to court. Still, when you receive over 69,000 complaints—and these are from the people who know to complain to the FTC—it's reasonable to assume that more than three collectors encourage a culture of harassment. More harrowing revelations from the FTC's annual report to Congress, after the jump.
40.3%, 27,929 consumers, complained of debt collectors attempting to collect more than they were owed
3.4%, 2,387 consumers, complained that collectors were attempting to collect interest, fees, or expenses that were not owed, such as collection fees, late fees and court costs
21.2% or 14,656 consumers complained of harassment from repeated or continuous calls
22.1% or 15,314 consumers complained of debt collectors making calls to employers, friends and family repeatedly in an attempt to allegedly gather information to assist them in collecting the debt
11.5% of the FDCPA complaints or 7,967 consumers complained of being harassed with collectors using obscene, profane or otherwise abusive language
11.4% or 7,913 consumers complained that they were threatened with a lawsuit or some other legal action that the debt collector could not or did not intend to take, such as seizure of property or arrest.
Congress requires the FTC to furnish a new report every year. Hopefully when they report back in March, the new FTC data will reassure us that they are protecting our rights and cracking down on violators. Until then, keep reporting FDCPA violations to the FTC at: 1-877-FTC-HELP. |
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Shazzers
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:36 am |
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Typical beaurocracy. As I have said in the past, we must constantly be in the ear of our representatives! Thats how to get change but it takes numbers. If those 69000 people wrote to their reps I think you would have seen a different outcome!
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frogpatch
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Shazzers
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:17 pm |
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Jeez..... My tax dollar at work. 
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unclewulf
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:06 pm |
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amke one reason that this is why collectors aren't afraid when we threaten to complain to the FTC. Could this be a case of the fox watching the hen house??
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LCW
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:19 pm |
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A QUESTION,COULD THIS ALSO BE ON THE CONSUMER?I HAVE READ A LOT OF POSTS ABOUT PIF'S AND SETTLEMENTS.IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PDL'S DRAG THE WHOLE THING OUT,THEN SUPRISE.A PIF OR A SETTLEMENT.A LOT OF PEOPLE AFTER 1-2 YEARS MAYBE DON'T WANT TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT.THATS A PART OF THIS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE THIS POST,BUT IT IS A POSSIBILTY.JUST TROWING IT OUT THERE.
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paulmergel
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Shazzers
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:24 pm |
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OH,I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THE CONSUMER TO PURSUE. 
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paulmergel
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:40 pm |
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This tells you that the vast majority of these "complaints" are nothing more than the whines of freeloaders who are upset somebody had the nerve to ask them to pay their bills.
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No Nonsense Collector
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:42 pm |
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UP YOURS NONSENSE DEUTSCH BANK. 
CAN'T WE BAN THIS CLOWN?HE DOES NOTHING BUT BELITTLE AND MAKE LIGHT OF WHAT WERE TRYING TO DO HERE.
AGAIN UP YOURS,COLLECTOR TURD.
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paulmergel
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:18 pm |
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Well, it is a inflammatory remark and could be deleted for TOS violation. Stop insulting him because he is just trying to bring you down to his level. I'm not responding to him anymore, not worth the frustration or time.
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JCEMT
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:22 pm |
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ALL RIGHT,YOUR RIGHT.I WON'T LET HIM GET ME
ANYMORE.I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.PEOPLE NEED HELP.
NOT THIS. 
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paulmergel
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:35 pm |
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PaulMergel. Don't necessarily agree with the wording of your response, I do agree with the spirit though. I wish "Nonsense" would go away too. Our responding to him just seems to be giving him the attention he's so desperately looking for though.
Let's just try not giving it to him and see what happens.
I must have missed this when it was originally posted.
My thoughts are the wheels of justice sometimes move slow. They do eventually move, though.
I just hope no one gets discouraged by this article and does not file complaints when the FDCPA gets violated by crooked CA's, thinking it just doesn't do any good. It is really important these violations are documented.
Over 69,000 complaints, to me at least, doesn't really seem like a lot. And only 3 CA's rising to the top, getting the distinction of being the worst? You have to consider the "statistical" spread of these complaints. I'm sure there were certainly more than 3 CA's listed on these complaints. Keep in mind, the FTC is probably only looking for the most egregious and numerous violations of the FDCPA by any one CA. Some complaints were probably bogus. Some may have been resolved. They would probably want to see the CA's with the largest number and most serious complaints starting to pile up against them before they would take action.
I'd like to see more like 690,000 or 6,900,000 in the potential pool of complaints. Then if there was only one lawsuit filed, I would really get ticked off.
I hope I'm making sense? Sometimes don't have all the "words" to express the point I'm trying to make, lately.
However, if I could use up my "cliche' quota" for the day.
The squeaky wheel does eventually get oiled. Or, maybe more importantly, replaced.
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UnemployedRon
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Shazzers
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:07 pm |
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 I'M SO HAPPY!!!
69.204 VIOLATIONS REPORT TO FTC ABOUT SOME BAD COLLECTION AGENCIES AND THEIR VERY BAD(DEVIL)
COLLECTORS!!!
I THINK A BIG NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS 69.204 IS A BIG
PIECE OF TRUTH.IT IS LIKE A BIG PIECE OF CAKE FOR ME
AND TODAY IS NOT MY BIRTHDAY!!!
I WANT MANY CONSUMERS HAPPY AND I WANT TO SEE ONLY
GOOD COLLECTORS HAPPY.
IT IS A MAGIC BIG NUMBER 69204.
ANYBODY DISAGREE WITH ME?
OH,GOD THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT PUT ALL MY COMPLAINTS IN THE GARBAGE.
I'M VERY HAPPY TODAY!!!
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tsacgiv
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