TCPA Lawsuit Lodged Over Hundreds of Chase Debt Collection Calls

A Connecticut woman says she received 165 Chase debt collection calls even after asking the bank to stop calling.

Plaintiff Marva Baker filed a class action lawsuit against Chase on Wednesday over improper debt collection phone calls. Baker says that she and her family fell on hard times, like many Americans, after a job loss in early 2020 and as a result, fell behind on payments, according to her complaint.

Baker claims that in April of 2020, she began receiving collection calls from Chase Bank regarding missed credit card payments. She explained her financial situation and asked that Chase cease calling her and mail her instead, according to the lawsuit.

Baker says that despite her request and revocation of consent to the Chase debt collection calls, the bank began calling frequently – allegedly up to five times a day, according to the complaint.

Chase Debt Collection Calls Violate TCPA

In addition to calling the plaintiff on numerous occasions after she had asked for them to stop, the calls were also made using an automatic dialer, according to the complaint.

In addition, Baker says that there was not a real person on the phone when she answered calls from Chase, just a pre-recorded message.

The lawsuit alleges that Chase Bank of violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, or the TCPA. The TCPA is a federal law, enacted in 1991, that is meant to protect consumers from certain telemarketing activity. Under the law, companies, such as Chase, using the phone to conduct business must obtain the consent of the person they are calling prior to making marketing or debt collection calls.

In addition, the TCPA prohibits the use of automatic dialing systems and prerecorded messages. Violations of the TCPA can also lead to severe consequences, including $500 to $1,500 fines for each call. Indeed, penalties can potentially reach into the millions for companies that make thousands of calls in violation if the TCPA.

The lawsuit contends that Chase did not have Baker’s permission to call her about her credit card debt. In addition, the plaintiff contends that the bank used an autodialer and pre-recorded messages in violation of the TCPA.

In addition to violating her rights under the TCPA, the plaintiff contends that the Chase debt collection calls violated her privacy and caused emotional pain and anguish. Baker is seeking damages, including $1,500 for each and every alleged violation of the TCPA, as well as under state laws.

Have you received an unwanted Chase debt collection call? We want to hear from you. Tell us what happened in the comment section below!

Baker, is represented by Peter Cozmyk of Cozmyk Law Offices, LLC.

The Chase Debt Collection Calls Class Action Lawsuit is Baker v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Case No. 2:21-cv-00202-ALM-KAJ in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio Columbus Division.

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