On October 21, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Allied Interstate, Inc. (“Allied Interstate”) alleging that the collection agency violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) while attempting to collect consumer debts through telephone calls.
The FTC’s complaint against Allied Interstate alleged that, from January 1, 2006, through at least December 31, 2008, Allied Interstate violated the FDCPA :
“In numerous instances when Allied contacted consumers to collect a debt, those consumers told Allied that they did not owe the debt that Allied was attempting to collect. Nonetheless, in numerous of these instances, Allied continued to telephone, sometimes frequently, and attempted to collect the debt, without taking adequate steps to determine whether its information about the debtor and the debt was accurate.”
“In numerous instances, Allied telephoned a person other than the debtor multiple times to request location information for a debtor, even though : (a) that person had not requested additional calls; and (b) it was not reasonable to believe that the person’s earlier response disavowing knowledge of the debtor’s location was erroneous or incomplete or that the person then had correct or complete location information.”
“In numerous instances, Allied placed collection calls to a consumer by dialing the consumer’s telephone number many times a day for weeks or months, sometimes placing multiple calls over a short period of time. When the consumer answered some of these calls, Allied hung up, leaving the consumer with only dead air.”
“In numerous instances, Allied used abusive language during collection calls.”
“In numerous instances, when speaking with individuals other than the consumer from whom Allied was attempting to collect a debt, such as the consumer’s neighbors, co-workerxs, or non-spousal family members, Allied revealed the existence of the debts without the consumer’s prior consent or as otherwise permitted under section 805(b) of the FDCPA.”
“In numerous instances, Allied threatened to file suit against consumers if they failed to pay the debt Allied was attempting to collect when, in fact, Allied did not intend to file suit.”
United States of America v. Allied Interstate, Inc., District of Minnesota, (Case No. 0:10-cv-04295-PJS-AJB).
The FTC’s lawsuit requests that the court enter an injunction against Allied Interstate to prohibit future violations as well as an unspecified amount of fines.
(C) 2010 Donald E. Petersen
All rights reserved.
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Allied Interstate had contacted me for collection. They then called my brother many times and discussed my personal information with him. They would call me several times a day even after I made an agreement with them to pay my debit. Calling me at my job and calling me on my personal phone at all times of the day and night.
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