Join Troutman Sanders attorneys James Trefil and Jonathan Floyd for a webinar hosted by the Clear Law Institute on August 17 from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. In this webinar, you will learn to navigate the various layers of rules and regulations that govern the use of debt collection telephone calls. This presentation will focus on
Fifth Circuit Affirms FDCPA Violation Where Debt Collector Failed to Mark Account as Disputed
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed summary judgment on a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim in favor of a debtor, finding that the debt collector violated the FDCPA when it failed to mark the debtor’s account as “disputed” when the collector reported the account to the bureaus.
Plaintiff Robert Sayles sued Advanced …
Debt Collector Prevails by Using Safe Harbor Language on Letters in Current Balance Case
In dismissing a claim against a debt collector, brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin found that language used by the debt collector clearly informing the consumer that interest and fees would continue to accrue on the balance did not violate the …
Florida District Court Dismisses Consumer’s “Current Balance” Claim
On June 30, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed a consumer’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act “current balance” claim.
Plaintiff Heath Bryant brought an FDCPA claim against defendant Aargon Collection Agency, Inc., alleging Aargon’s collection letter was deceptive because it falsely implied that Bryant’s account balance would increase due to …
Court Denies Cross Motions for Summary Judgment in Current Balance Case
On May 18, a federal judge in Missouri denied cross motions for summary judgment on the issue of whether a letter that did not inform a debtor that interest was, in fact, accruing violated the FDCPA.
In Mygatt v. Medicredit, plaintiff Timberly Mygatt incurred medical debt that was being collected by Medicredit. In order …
Supreme Court Refuses to Extend the Scope of the FDCPA to Consumer Finance Company
On June 12, 2017, the United States Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision holding that a company collecting debts that it purchased for its own account does not meet the statutory definition of “debt collector” under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) because the debts are no longer “owed or due another.” We previously …
Credit Score Attached to Collection Action Complaint Violates the FCRA and FDCPA, Contends New Putative Class Action Complaint
According to a new class action Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Discover Bank (“Discover”) and Kohn Law Firm S.C. (“Kohn”) violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by publishing consumers’ credit scores as part of state court collection actions…
Favorable Decision Rendered in “Current Account Balance” Case
On May 18, the Southern District of New York rendered a long–awaited opinion on “current account balance” cases, holding that current balances referenced in collection letters, with no mention of accruing interest or fees, do not violate Section 1692e of the Fair Debt C…
Supreme Court Rules That Filing a Proof of Claim on a Time-Barred Debt Does Not Violate the FDCPA
On May 15, 2017, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Eleventh Circuit erred when it found a debt buyer liable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for filing proofs of claim in bankruptcy on debts that had become time-barred. A copy of the Court’s opinion can be found here.
Background
In…
Court Rejects Bona Fide Error Defense for Collector Who Failed to Maintain Policies and Procedures
On May 8, an Arizona federal judge held that a defendant debt collector was not entitled to a “bona fide error” defense in a claim brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act because the collector failed to show it had either a policy or procedure in force to address the specific error in the…