Illinois Woman Alleges Serious Debt Collector Harassment

Debt collector harassment has been alleged in a recent Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) lawsuit, with the claimant alleging the Medical Business Bureau has been incessantly contacting her. The FDCPA suit was filed by a woman from Illinois alleging severe debt collector harassment from the medical bill collection company.

Plaintiff Debbie B. alleges that Medical Business Bureau started contacting her in February 2018, and started the debt collector harassment when she disputed it. The company reportedly sent a debt collection letter to her, stating she owed $229.36 for a medical expense.

After reviewing the letter, Debbie says she contacted Medical Business Bureau and stated that she did not owe a medical debt. According to the FDCPA lawsuit, Debbie explained that she had a surgery on Sept. 11, 2017, and had paid off all medical expenses related to the procedure.

However the company representative reportedly told Debbie that the medical debt must be paid immediately, or it would negatively impact her credit report. Debbie says she repeatedly explained that she paid for the medical expenses and that the hospital verified this.

Even though Debbie proved that this debt was nonexistent, the company had reportedly continued the debt collector harassment by once again stating that the debt must be paid immediately or it would impact her credit score.

Debbie states that she had to contact Medical Business Bureau multiple times to inform them that she owed no medical debts, but a company manager allegedly threatened to report her to credit agencies immediately if the debt was not paid.

The FDCPA lawsuit alleges that Medical Business Bureau had no intention of actually contacting any credit agencies because the company was aware there was no medical debt to be paid.

Debbie argues this alleged debt collector harassment was deceptive and misleading and was allegedly meant to intimidate Debbie into paying. Debbie opted to file legal action against Medical Business Bureau, stating the company had violated federal and Illinois state debt collection laws.

Overview of FDCPA Debt Collection Policies

The FDCPA was established in 1978, to help consumers combat aggressive and abusive debt collection practices. The FDCPA requires debt collectors and agencies to follow strict policies, including, but not limited to:

• Sending Confusing Debt Collection Letters
• Contacting 3rd Parties regarding the Debt
• Harassment
• Trying to Collect on Expired Debts
• Trying to Collect on Non Existent Debts
• Making False Statements
• Making Improper Reports to Credit Agencies
• Failure to Stop Communication when Requested

Along with the FDCPA, several states like Illinois have additional laws to help protect their residents from debt collector harassment.

According to the Illinois Collection Agency Act, all debt collectors must be licensed and regulated b the state in order to legally operate in the state. This act also allows Illinois state residents to ask the debt collector to prove validation of the debt, in which Medical Business Bureau allegedly failed to do.

The FDCPA lawsuit alleges the debt collector harassment had caused Debbie severe mental anguish and stress and was done with malicious intent to produce payments on non-existent debts through intimidation. Debbie is seeking damages for FDCPA and Illinois collection law violations, along with any other relevant damages.

This Debt Collector Harassment lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-05097, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois, Eastern Division.

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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.