Expert Global Solutions Hit With $3.2 Million Penalty

Third-party debt collector Expert Global Solutions agreed to halt harassment of consumers and pay a civil penalty of $3.2 million. This agreement came as a result of the company allegedly using debt collection practices that violated the Fair Trades Commission (FTC) Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Expert Global Solutions and its subsidiaries – NCO Financial Systems, Inc; ALW Sourcing, LLC; and Transworld Systems, Inc., which also operates under the name of North Shore Agency, Inc. – were those accused of intrusive debt collection practices. With over 32,000 employees, a 2011 income of over $1.2 billion, and offices in India, Canada, Barbados, the Philippines, Panama, and India, they are collaboratively the largest debt collection company in the world.

The list of FDCPA violations is extensive. The FTC asserted that Expert Global Solutions and its sister companies violated the FDCPA by:

• Calling individuals multiple times a day.
• Continuing to call after being asked to stop.
• Calling the workplace of individuals, regardless of the fact that the employer prohibited the calls.
• Calling late at night and early in the morning.
• Calling third parties and leaving voicemails that detailed the nature of the debt and the debtor’s name.

The complaint was filed against the Texas-based debt collector in mid-2013, and it remains the largest penalty ever obtained by the FTC against a third-party debt collection company.

FDCPA Violations

The FDCPA was initially approved in 1977 and subsequently amended several times. The act’s purpose is to protect consumers from being harassed by debt collectors. It does so by implementing debt collection regulations and providing consumers with an avenue to dispute and validate debt information. Although the act has been in place for over 40 years, debt collectors continue to violate its regulations. These include:

• Using profanity to intimidate you
• Threatening you
• Suing for time-barred debt
• Calling using an automated dialing system without your consent
• Exaggerating the debt amount
• Failing to disclose identity

With over 200 possible violations, debt collectors must work within strict guidelines. If you believe you’ve been harassed by a lender, creditor, or debt collector, get in touch with an experienced FDCPA attorney you can trust.

The Florida FDCPA attorneys at The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi can ensure that you secure the financial compensation entitled to you for each violation. We are aware of the lengths that debt collectors will go to collect payment and can ensure that they are held responsible. Trust Jibrael to fight for you! Contact us today for a free case evaluation. No attorney fees unless you get paid!