Collection Notice Class Action Settlement

Did you receive collection notices from Credit Collection Services between May 2000 and July 2004 after a car accident while residing in Washington State? If so, you may be able to receive at least $50 from a class action lawsuit settlement.

The proposed settlement resolves two class action lawsuits filed in 2004 against Omni Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance Company of Washington, and Credit Collection Services (CCS). According to the class action settlement notice, the Plaintiffs in the cases were involved in car accidents with drivers insured with Omni and Farmers. After the accidents, Omni and Farmers paid money to those insured with them under various coverages (including uninsured, underinsured, medical payments and personal injury protection coverage) for losses suffered by those insured drivers. Then, on behalf of the insurance companies, CCS attempted to recover the payments made to the insured drivers by sending collection notices to the Plaintiffs who either lacked, or appeared to lack, applicable or sufficient liability insurance. CCS sent each Plaintiff a letter titled as a “Formal Collection Notice,” and followed up with other forms of correspondence. These notices sent from CCS were for claims that were allegedly owed, which means they were deceptive and violated Washington law.

You are considered a class member if you were a Washington resident who received collection notices from CCS between May 19, 2000 and July 31, 2004, on behalf of Omni and Farmers, attempting to collect money for claims arising from an automobile accident. There are two ways you can make a claim under this class action lawsuit settlement:

Option 1: If you paid money to CCS after receiving one of their collection notices, you can submit a claim for a full refund of the amount you paid.

Option 2: If you did not pay money to CCS after receiving one of their collection notices, but incurred some amount of cost, expense or other monetary injury — of any size — related to the receipt of the CCS notice, you can submit a claim to receive $50. Examples of expenses you can claim include: the cost of consulting with an attorney about the notice, the cost of mailing letters, telephone inquiries, time lost from work concerning the notice, expenses incurred investigating or responding to the notice, etc.

All claim forms must be submitted online or postmarked by November 11, 2010. Claim forms and more information on the Omni, Farmers and Credit Control Services Notice Settlement, can be found at www.noticesettlementwa.com. The deadline to exclude yourself or opt out of the class action lawsuit settlement is October 4, 2010.