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Re: United Recovery Systems.acc't now with them..
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Posted by Paul
(216.127.68.137) on July 19, 2004 at 21:58:23:
In Reply to: United Recovery Systems.acc't now with them.. posted by julie on July 19, 2004 at 21:23:57:
Houston, Texas-based United Recovery Systems, Inc. (URS) has agreed to pay a $240,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve allegations that the company violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). According to the FTC's complaint, on numerous occasions, in connection with the collection of debts in both English and Spanish, the company's debt collectors communicated with consumers at improper times or places, engaged in prohibited communications with third parties, harassed and abused consumers, and used deceptive practices to collect consumer accounts. In addition to the civil penalty, the proposed consent decree to settle the FTC charges includes broad prohibitions on future FDCPA violations and would require URS to inform consumers in writing that they may stop the company from contacting them about the debt and may contact a special URS phone number or address should they have a complaint about the way URS is collecting the debt. The settlement also includes a comprehensive consumer complaint and resolution program under which every consumer complaint about URS collection practices must be thoroughly investigated and responded to by the company. According to the FTC's complaint detailing the charges, when attempting to collect debts in both English and Spanish, URS repeatedly violated the FDCPA by:
· discussing details of the consumers' alleged debts with third parties, such as the consumers' parents, children, employers and co-workers;
· communicating with consumers at times or places that the company knew or should have known to be inconvenient, including at the consumers' place of employment;
· using language the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse;
· falsely stating or implying that failure to pay the debt could result in arrest, imprisonment, or garnishment of wages; and
· threatening to take action - such as filing a collection suit against the consumer - when the company did not intend to take such action. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/04/unitedrecovery.htm
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