Plaintiff Yvette Palmer filed a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case against defendant debt collector, Enhanced Recovery Company (“ERC”), for ERC’s alleged concealment of its identity as a debt collector while attempting to collect a debt and to obtain information to collect debt. ERC filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing
FTC Issues Letter to CFPB on 2016 Debt Collection Efforts
On February 13, the Federal Trade Commission sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard Cordray summarizing its 2016 debt collection activities for inclusion in the CFPB’s annual report to Congress on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
In its letter, the FTC describes “its aggressive law enforcement activities against abusive, unfair, and
Validation Notice Including Request for Payment and Identifying Creditor by Acronym Does Not Violate FDCPA
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California recently dismissed all of a plaintiff’s claims in the putative class action Matthew Stuppiello v. Southwest Credit Systems, L.P. The Court held that a validation notice does not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by including a request for payment “and explain[ing]
CFPB Takes Action Against Law Firm Debt Collectors for Lack of Meaningful Involvement
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