Archive for the ‘ Collection Agencies breaking the law ’ Category

Strict Liability of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act…under question

Gary Nitzkin August 12th, 2011 Comments Off on Strict Liability of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act…under question

Leikin and Ingber are excellent collection attorneys.  Over the years, they have garnered a fine reputation for debt collection.  As my colleagues, I hold them in high regard.  I respect the way that they have aggressively pursued debt.  Unfortunatetely, they recently got into trouble with one such tactic as it was found by the 6th […]

Debt collectors – Think about the story behind the story so you do not become the next FTC casualty

Gary Nitzkin March 27th, 2011 1 Comment

It’s one thing to read news and simply acknowledge the article as containing something of interest.  It’s quite another experience to read an article, ponder it and think about the “story behind the story.”  In this case, I am thinking about the article that I read reading West Asset Management. This is a fairly large […]

Oregon Attorney loses license for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Gary Nitzkin March 19th, 2011 Comments Off on Oregon Attorney loses license for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

A Eugene, OR attorney recently surrendered his law license in connection with a settlement he entered into with the Oregon State Attorney General.   Derric McGavic specialized in representing national debt collectors that buy defaulted consumer obligations in massive quantities on the secondary market, often for pennies on the dollar.   McGavic allegedly misidentified or purposefully […]

Collection Agency for Movie Studios is going to get into trouble

Gary Nitzkin October 25th, 2010 Comments Off on Collection Agency for Movie Studios is going to get into trouble

I just read an interesting article on CNET about a Debt Collection Firm called Copyright Enforcement Group (“CEG”) that is pursuing people who violate the copyrights of movie studios. The author notes that people are bothered that CEG is seeking money damages from people before they go to court and a judgment is issued. I […]

I am announcing the formation of Michigan Consumer Credit Lawyers and its new blog

Gary Nitzkin March 15th, 2010 Comments Off on I am announcing the formation of Michigan Consumer Credit Lawyers and its new blog

For the past several years, I have blogged about issues affecting debt collectors and their opponents, consumers. Some people have taken issue with the fact that I help both the proverbial Coyote and Road Runner. Too bad. Running a successful law firm such as Nitzkin and Associates has its advantages such as taking the cases […]

Collection agency posing as prosecuting attorney gets caught and pays $2.55 million

Gary Nitzkin December 14th, 2009 Comments Off on Collection agency posing as prosecuting attorney gets caught and pays $2.55 million

Some states have a bad check diversion program that is designed to facilitate the payment of bad checks to merchant victims. These programs usually involve a district attorney and sometimes even, a private collection agency. The idea behind these programs is to give the bad check writers a chance to make their bounced checks good […]

Collectors Gone Crazy….

Gary Nitzkin May 24th, 2007 Comments Off on Collectors Gone Crazy….

I just had to report this. An article in the Boston Globe reports about a debt collector who punched a lady in face in front of her 5 year old while trying to repossess her car. I thought it was interesting because these debt collectors and their employer have probably just made this woman and […]

$100,000 jury award to consumer harrassed by collection agency

Gary Nitzkin May 10th, 2007 Comments Off on $100,000 jury award to consumer harrassed by collection agency

Following a three-day civil jury trial, a Los Angeles jury unanimously ordered debt collector Arrow Financial Services to pay Laura Nelson a total sum of $100,000.00 for false credit reporting and unfair debt collection practices. The jury awarded Ms. Nelson $85,000.00 for her emotional distress and mental anguish, and also added a $15,000.00 penalty against […]

Can one get in trouble for pursuing a time barred debt?

Gary Nitzkin January 30th, 2007 Comments Off on Can one get in trouble for pursuing a time barred debt?

The Illinois Attorney General recently filed a lawsuit against Arrow Financial Services, LLC, an Illinois company. Arrow is a collection agency that collects debts ranging from $100 to over $10,000.00 Arrow’s majority owner is Sallie Mae. Apparently, the AG’s office in Illinois has received 669 consumer complaints about Arrow since 1999. What shocks me is […]

What in hell is wrong with collection agencies these days??

Gary Nitzkin December 22nd, 2006 Comments Off on What in hell is wrong with collection agencies these days??

I am a collection attorney. I represent collection agencies…most of the time. Last month, I filed three lawsuits against three different collection agencies for blatently ignoring the FDCPA. I don’t file frivolous lawsuits. These collection agencies egregiously violated the FDCPA. For example, one agency’s collector threatened ME with legal action that she could not take. […]