Multiple agencies violate Fair Debt Act

A New York-based debt collection agency is being sued for failing to comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, according to Collections & Credit Risk. Brandy Waugh of Sherman, Texas, recently filed a lawsuit against Firstsource Advantage, claiming company employees violated federal law by harassing her at work and failing to state that they were representing a collection agency. Waugh began receiving calls at her home in April, which eventually escalated to voicemails about the alleged debt at her work. She is seeking statutory damages of $1,000 plus court costs and attorney's fees. The Southeast Texas Record reports that an agency located near Waugh's hometown in the Eastern District of Texas was recently sued by a Wisconsin resident for continual phone calls before 8a.m. CMI Group is being charged with violating the FDCPA, as it made as many as five calls to Joslynn Pelletier each day, many of which came either early in the morning or at her place of business. In addition, CMI allegedly contacted a third party - Pelletier's mother - without consent, another FDCPA violation.