On January 9, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) entered a Consent Order against Works & Lentz, Inc., Works & Lentz of Tulsa, Inc., two medical debt collection law firms, and their president, Harry A. Lentz, Jr., for the defendants’ violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Furnisher Rule (Regulation
Join Us on February 22 for a Complimentary Webinar on Bankruptcy and Debt Collection – Latest Trends and Developments
Debt collection is becoming an increasingly regulated industry and the CFPB has signaled its intention to further regulate the industry by extending regulations to first party creditors. Please join Troutman Sanders Partner David N. Anthony and Of Counsel Andrew B. Buxbaum for a complimentary webinar for a discussion of debt collection issues including how debt
West Virginia Federal Court First Reconsiders, Then Restricts, Vicarious Liability for TCPA Claims in MDL
The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia recently reversed its position on vicarious liability under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, granting summary judgment for defendants UTC Fire and Security Americas Corporation, Inc. and Honeywell International, Inc. in multi-district litigation. In doing so, the court joined the growing list of federal
Student Loan Servicer Agrees to $17.5M TCPA Class Action Settlement
On January 26, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana granted preliminary approval of a $17.5 million Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action against Navient Solutions Inc.
According to the original Complaint, plaintiff Randy Johnson received multiple telephone calls on his cell phone from Navient, a student loan servicing and collection
Supreme Court Focuses on Intersection of FDCPA and Bankruptcy Code
On January 17, 2017, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of Midland Funding, LLC v. Johnson, an appeal from the Eleventh Circuit bringing to a head two issues that had been boiling for several years: (i) whether the filing of an accurate proof of claim for an unextinguished time-barred
Supreme Court To Decide Whether Financing Company Collecting Debts Is A “Debt Collector” Under The FDCPA
On January 13, 2017, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear a case presenting the question whether a financing company that purchases delinquent debts and begins collecting on those debts can be held liable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The Court will review the Fourth Circuit’s decision in Henson et al.
Telecommunications Service Provider Does Not Have Standing to Sue Under TCPA
In Telephone Science Corporation v. Asset Recovery Solutions, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently held that Telephone Science Corporation (“TSC”), a telecommunications company, did not have standing to pursue its Telephone Consumer Protection Act claims against Asset Recovery Solutions, LLC (“ARS”), a debt collection company.
TSC operates a
CFPB Monthly Snapshot Focused on Debt Collection
In its latest monthly snapshot report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported that it has handled approximately 285,800 debt collection complaints since July 21, 2011, making debt collection the most-complained-about product. Within the debt collection context, consumers’ most common complaint concerned attempts to collect on a debt that the consumer says is not owed.
Arkansas AG Files Suit Against Credit Repair Organization
On December 20, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a consumer protection lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas against Florida-based Capital Credit Solutions Inc. and Willie J. McKenzie for alleged violations of the Federal Credit Repair Organization Act, the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and the Arkansas Credit
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler Announces Resignation on Dec. 15, 2016, Signaling Potential Reform to the Telephone Consumer Protect Act (TCPA)
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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said Thursday that he’ll step down from his post on Jan. 20, 2017. Wheeler was appointed by President Obama three years ago to lead the FCC. Prior to his October 2013 confirmation as the 31st chairman of the FCC, Wheeler served as managing director at venture capital firm |