Illinois Woman Files Debt Collection Calls Lawsuit Over Diversified’s Alleged FDCPA Violations

Diversified Consultants, Inc. faces a debt collection calls lawsuit by a woman alleging the company of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The lawsuit, filed in Illinois federal court, demands a trial by jury. The lawsuit was filed on June 28, 2018.

According to the debt collection calls lawsuit, plaintiff Kristen E., says that began receiving calls to her cellular phone in early 2018. She alleges that Diversified used a number of different phone numbers to place these calls to her.

However, Kristen, a resident of the state of Illinois, says that she never had any business relationship with Diversified for the company to place these calls. Additionally, she never gave Diversified permission to contact her cell phone, the debt collection calls lawsuit states. Since she began receiving these calls, she’s been confused as to why the company was reaching out to her.

Kristen also states, moreover, that upon answering the calls, she “experienced a noticeable pause, lasting approximately three to five seconds in length, before a live representative begins to speak.” Upon speaking, she says that the representative informs her that they are a debt collector attempting to collect on a debt that she owed.

However, she informed them that they were contacting the wrong person, and that her cellular number has been hers for more than one year. Nevertheless, she continued to receive telephone calls. She says she has since received 60 phone calls for the company.

As a result of the company’s actions, Kristen says that she suffered from “invasion of privacy, aggravation that accompanies collection telephone calls intended for a different party, emotional distress, increased risk of personal injury resulting from the distraction caused by the repeated calls, increased usage of her telephone services, loss of cellular phone capacity, diminished cellular phone functionality …” among other damages.

The debt collection calls lawsuit was filed on a count of violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Overview: Debt Collection Calls

There have been millions of consumers in the U.S. who have victims of violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) who have then been forced to file a debt collection calls lawsuit due to damages they have suffered.

The FDCPA is a set of laws that help protect individuals from abusive and unethical debt collection practices. The FDCPA became enacted in 1978 and helps protect consumers against harassment and other unfair debt collection practices committed by 3rd party debt collectors.

Some of the practices that third-party debt collectors are restricted from engaging in includes the following:

• Harassment
• Making threats
• Calling at inconvenient times of the day, or calling too often
• Adding collection charges and fees to your debt
• Sending confusing letters
• Communicating with 3rd parties about your debt
• Making robo-calls
• Collecting on old debts

Additionally, any written requests made by a debtor for the cessation of communication must be followed. Other violations and illegal practices include the attempt to collect on a debt that is not owed, misrepresenting the debt amount, mailing or sending out confusing letters, lying about being government representatives or debt attorneys.

The Debt Collection Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-01239-JES-JEH, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Peoria Division.

Join a Free Unfair Collection Practices Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you’ve been hit with unfair debt collection practices, you may have a legal claim and could be owed compensation for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

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DISCLAIMER: Debt collection itself is not illegal. However, debt collection firms collecting on consumer debts must adhere to the FDCPA. Even though debt attorneys are investigating these companies, their debt collection practices may be legal.