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Breaking Legal News & Current Events

Abusive Debt Collection Conduct Costs $1.5 Million

Posted on Jun 03, 2010

Abusive debt collection conduct doesn't pay thanks to a Dallas County jury that awarded a Texas man, Allen Jones, $1.5 million.

In bad economic times, more and more people find themselves the subject of debt collection companies because families sometimes find themselves getting behind on their bills. And, when debt collection activity increases, so does abusive and aggressive debt collection conduct.

But, Allen Jones, wasn't even behind on a $200 credit card debt that Advanced Call Center Technologies (ACT) tried to collect from him. According to Jones, he had already paid the bill.

That fact, though, didn't stop ACT agents from barraging Jones with harassing and racially charged collection calls. Jones is African-American.

According to WFAA-TV Dallas/Fort Worth, most of the messages were laced with profanity and racial slurs: "This is your mother****** wake-up call you little lazy a**b*******. Get your mother******* n*****r ass up and go pick some mother****** cotton fields," an ACT collector said on one of the calls.

Some of the recordings that were played to the jury were so offensive that WFAA-TV News 8 decided against publishing the transcripts of the others.

On the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the jury awarded Jones $50,000 in mental anguish damages, $1.5 million in punitive damages and $143,000 in attorney's fees, which is reportedly one of the largest verdicts of its kind.

Federal and state laws prohibit abusive bill collection activities, but people like Jones are still subject to harrassment and "over-the-top" conduct all across the country. Victims of abusive bill collection techniques have rights. If you or someone you know has been the victim of abusive collection conduct, contact Phillips & Garcia for a free consultation about your rights.