Attorney General's annoucement on Ellis Crosby & Asso
Date: Tue, 08/30/2005 - 16:01
ATTORNEY GENERAL SUES debt collectors
• In a strongly worded statement, Attorney General Charlie Crist announced this week that he's filing suit against Ellis Crosby & Associates, a Jacksonville debt collection agency, for flagrant violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Florida's Consumer Collections Practices Act. The action follows numerous complaints from consumers in Florida and other states.
''Few words could adequately describe the appalling nature of the tactics used against these citizens,'' Crist said. The company used aggressive and illegal tactics to collect on its accounts, including posing as law enforcement officers or attorneys, threatening arrest by military police and collecting illegal fees greater than the original amount owed, Crist said. Several complaints alleged that company employees represented themselves as lawyers employed by the attorney general's office itself!
If the suit is upheld, Ellis Crosby and its owner, Ted Ellis Crosby of Ponte Vedra, Fla., could be fined up to $10,000 per violation. If the victims were elderly or disabled, the fines automatically go up to $15,000 per violation.
Calls to Ellis Crosby seeking comment were met with ''no comment'' by a man who refused to give his name.
Crist's office initiated the investigation after receiving complaints forwarded by the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville. Its website lists the Ellis Crosby as ''unsatisfactory;'' 83 complaints arrived in the last 12 months. Nineteen were resolved, and 52 met with no response. Crist said more complaints are expected because the company continues to use improper practices. The AG's office is seeking an expedited hearing to impose an immediate temporary injunction.
Consumers who feel they have been treated in an abusive manner should file a complaint with the AG at 866-966-7226, toll-free.
ALERT
Everyone please call the toll free number!!!!!!
• In a strongly worded statement, Attorney General Charlie Crist announced this week that he's filing suit against Ellis Crosby & Associates, a Jacksonville debt collection agency, for flagrant violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Florida's Consumer Collections Practices Act. The action follows numerous complaints from consumers in Florida and other states.
''Few words could adequately describe the appalling nature of the tactics used against these citizens,'' Crist said. The company used aggressive and illegal tactics to collect on its accounts, including posing as law enforcement officers or attorneys, threatening arrest by military police and collecting illegal fees greater than the original amount owed, Crist said. Several complaints alleged that company employees represented themselves as lawyers employed by the attorney general's office itself!
If the suit is upheld, Ellis Crosby and its owner, Ted Ellis Crosby of Ponte Vedra, Fla., could be fined up to $10,000 per violation. If the victims were elderly or disabled, the fines automatically go up to $15,000 per violation.
Calls to Ellis Crosby seeking comment were met with ''no comment'' by a man who refused to give his name.
Crist's office initiated the investigation after receiving complaints forwarded by the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville. Its website lists the Ellis Crosby as ''unsatisfactory;'' 83 complaints arrived in the last 12 months. Nineteen were resolved, and 52 met with no response. Crist said more complaints are expected because the company continues to use improper practices. The AG's office is seeking an expedited hearing to impose an immediate temporary injunction.
Consumers who feel they have been treated in an abusive manner should file a complaint with the AG at 866-966-7226, toll-free.
ALERT
Everyone please call the toll free number!!!!!!
Debra, thanks for this update. I am going to call the toll free
Debra, thanks for this update. I am going to call the toll free number.
Attorney General sues Ellis Crosby & Associates
Here is the link on the lawsuit.
bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2005/08/22/daily21.html?from_rss=1
[color=red][size=2][Link made inactive as per forum rules.Please copy and paste the address in your browser-Mike][/size][/color]
