Class action claims debt collector attempts to collect already-paid debts

Debt collector class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Mayer Silberstein filed a class action lawsuit against The CBE Group Inc. 
• Why: Silberstein claims The CBE Group attempted to collect on a debt related to his Verizon Wireless account that he says he settled in full. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court. 

Debt collector The CBE Group attempts to collect debts that have already been settled in full, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Mayer Silberstein claims The CBE Group contacted him in June 2023 to collect on a Verizon Wireless-related debt he argues he settled with a separate debt collector, according to the class action lawsuit.

Silberstein also argues “deceptive and false information” in the debt collection letter The CBE Group sent confused him and misled him to believe the debt still existed. 

“Defendant should have done its due diligence before collecting on a debt that was previously settled in full,” the debt collector class action says. 

Silberstein wants to represent a New York class of consumers whom The CBE Group sent a debt collection letter within the past year in an effort to collect an already-paid debt. 

Debt collector misrepresented amount owed in collection letter, class action claims

Silberstein claims The CBE Group violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by misrepresenting the character, status and amount of debt he owed. 

“These violations by defendant were unconscionable, knowing, willful, negligent and/or intentional, and defendant did not maintain procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such violations,” the debt collector class action says. 

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory relief and an award of actual and statutory damages for himself and all class members. 

A consumer filed a similar class action lawsuit against Transworld debt collection agency early last year over claims the company sent false and misleading debt collection letters. 

Have you been sent a debt collection letter for a debt you already paid? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Rami M. Salim of Stein Saks, PLLC. 

The debt collector class action lawsuit is Silberstein, et al. v. The CBE Group, Inc., Case No. 7:24-cv-04224, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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