Bardo Law PC
Teleseminar
The number of foreclosure cases filed and pending in Cook County, Illinois, remains at an alll-time high. This crisis in our courts and communities has generated legislative and policy initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels, and in the courts themselves. The foreclosure crisis has also generated a significant amount of litigation challenging unfair, deceptive, or discriminatory practices in the mortgage lending or foreclosure processes. In this timely seminar, representatives from the judiciary and foreclosure defense bar will examine some of these initiatives as they apply to foreclosure practice in Cook County, Illinois, and the Northern District of Illinois.
Panel discussion from the Illinois Creditors Bar Association Fall Seminar: Collection Law Update
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 Encore Capital Group and Portfolio Recovery Associates allegedly pressured consumers to pay unsubstantiated or out-of-date debts with false statements and churned out lawsuits using robo-signed court documents.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.
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.