• Consumer Protection Law and Advocacy — Chicago, IL

Illinois Creditors' Bar Association Seminar Speaker - Stacy Bardo

Collection Law Update – ILCBA Fall Seminar

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Panel discussion from the Illinois Creditors Bar Association Fall Seminar: Collection Law Update

National Consumer Law Center - Bardo Law PC

Debt Collectors’ Defensive Strategies

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Debt Collector Harassment

Debt collectors using deceptive practices must refund consumers

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced this week that they have taken action against two large debt buyers for deceptive practices against consumers. Encore Capital Group and Portfolio Recovery Associates allegedly pressured consumers to pay unsubstantiated or out-of-date debts with false statements and churned out lawsuits using robo-signed court documents. The two companies must now refund consumers $61 million and pay penalties of $18 million. Encore Capital was found to have harassed consumers with repeated or continuous calls with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass them into paying.

“Encore and Portfolio Recovery Associates threatened and deceived consumers to collect on debts they should have known were inaccurate or had other problems,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Now, the two biggest debt buyers in the market must refund millions and overhaul their practices. We will continue to take action to protect consumers from illegal and obnoxious debt collection practices.”

Unfortunately, these actions are all too common among debt buyers. If you’ve been the victim of harassing robo calls or deceptive practices from debt collectors, we offer a free consultation to seek legal help.

National Consumer Law Center - Bardo Law PC

Ethics Panel

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Webinar with Stacy Bardo - Consumer Lawyer

Webinar Sponsored by the National Association of Consumer Advocates

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Join David Abrams of Abrams Law, Stacy Bardo of Bardo Law, P.C. and Karen Merrill Tjapkes of Legal Aid of Western Michigan as they discuss how to pursue affirmative consumer claims in the mortgage and residential landlord/tenant area.