U.S. debt collector hit with record penalty for abusive calls

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

By Diane Bartz
WASHINGTON | Tue Jul 9, 2013 4:10pm EDT

(Reuters) - Expert Global Solutions, the world's largest debt collection agency, has agreed to pay a $3.2 million civil penalty and stop harassing and abusing debtors by engaging in practices such as calling them multiple times a day, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday.

The financial penalty levied on the company is the biggest ever obtained by the FTC against a third-party debt collector, the commission said.

On its website, Expert Global Solutions says it is a holding company for a leading accounts receivable management company. Three subsidiaries were also involved in the settlement: NCO Financial Systems, Inc., ALW Sourcing, LLC, and Transworld Systems Inc.

Company employees would continue to call people even after being told that they had reached the wrong person, that the consumer being contacted did not owe the debt or that the debtor did not live in that home, according to a complaint filed on Monday in federal court in Texas.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/09/us-usa-ftc-debt-collection-idUSBRE9680Q820130709

[another_liberal]

1. They most likely make that much every week, if not every day.

I don't know for certain, but it's a bet I would be happy to make.

[MADem]

2. I'm pretty sure I've talked to these assholes!!!!

I have NO debt. Zero. None. Haven't had any for years. It's just how I like to run my life.

However, several years ago, I had a landline run to a little shack I have out in the country--this was before I bothered to get a cellphone. Almost immediately, I started getting abusive, nasty, threatening, mean, shitty calls, at all hours of the day and night.

They wouldn't take "You have the wrong number" for an answer, so I started fucking with them. I'd ask them who they were looking for, tell them to wait, and put the phone down. I could hear them screaming after a while, and I -- with my friends or family -- would laugh. Loudly.

Other times I'd speak a foreign language, and curse them out in it. I'd muster the frustrated actor in me, and put on the "dire tones" with great aplomb.

Sometimes, I'd pretend to be a servant in the home--"I am so sorry, his lordship is aboard his yacht, may I take a message?"

Sometimes I'd tell them to come and get me--"I dare ya!" Every threat they'd make, I'd tell 'em "Go on--do it! Let's see ya do it, tough guy!" "Whatchagonna do, huh? HUH?" "Wassamattah--yah chicken?" "Let's see you try!!" I pulled out every 1950s "B Movie" tough guy phrase I could think of!

I will say, I actually tried to do the right thing initially--I reported them half a dozen times before I gave up and started fucking with them--glad there's been some resolution!

I wish I had the ingenuity of Tom Mabe with those jerks--I can see where they'd really frighten people who did have debt, but they weren't even asking for me, I knew they were full of it, and they just didn't give a shit if they got the right person or not, either.

[KansDem]

6. Excellent responses!!!

Especially this one: Sometimes I'd tell them to come and get me--"I dare ya!" Every threat they'd make, I'd tell 'em "Go on--do it! Let's see ya do it, tough guy!" "Whatchagonna do, huh? HUH?" "Wassamattah--yah chicken?" "Let's see you try!!" I pulled out every 1950s "B Movie" tough guy phrase I could think of!

I could see one channeling Robert DeNiro's "You talkin' to me?!!"

[MADem]

7. That would have been priceless! I shoulda thought of it! nt

[Javaman]

3. so, if they don't pay, will a debt collector call them?

[hamsterjill]

4. Good. These companies go way too far.

People should pay their debts. Of course. But circumstances sometimes make that difficult.

Debt collectors have gotten way out of hand with literally no oversight or regulation. It's time that this industry is reigned back in.

I got rid of my land line because I continually got collection phone calls for an ex-husband, who I divorced in 1986! I could explain that I didn't even know where he was, etc. until I turned blue and they'd still call the next day. I live in the same home that we shared when we were married.

The debt collectors think they are all "that" because they can use google, and some how, some way, his name is still associated with that address.

No tears from me for these jerks getting some comeuppance!

[Deep13]

5. Let's see if we can break that record.

I practiced consumer bankruptcy law in the 1990s. I hated creditors and I hated their lawyers.

[firenewt]

8. Tell them you are recording the call to insure accuracy. They either tone it down or hang up.

Works for me...........

[olddots]

9. I just repeat what they say very slowly

very , very slowly in a 2000 year old man voice . If they get strong arm I start crying then make a loud noise like a gun going off then drop the phone .

[ctsnowman]

10. K & R

They are accountable to no one unless you have the $$ to fight them. If they say you owe it's the law and it's often total BS. Found out the hard way.

[WillyT]

11. K & R !!!

[ColesCountyDem]

12. I got very lewd with these folks, and they quit calling.

I had a phone number that apparently belonged to someone else at one time, and these folks were RELENTLESS in calling. I tried to be calm and reasonable, even suggesting that they check with directory assistance to verify that I wasn't the alleged debtor, but they refused, convinced that I either WAS the debtor in question or, just as likely, not giving a damn. After the third call in as many hours, I considered becoming angry, loud and abusive, but decided to take a different approach: "You have a VERY sexy voice... what color is your bra? ... I bet you like doing it with the lights on, don't you?... etc., etc., etc.". After just ONE more call where I did exactly the same thing, they quit calling.