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A pair of consumers accuse Kohl’s of abusive and outrageous debt collection tactics in lawsuits that claim the retailer inundated them with calls, faxes, and emails about their credit card debt.
Two separate lawsuits were filed against Kohl’s in Wisconsin and California federal courts Friday.
In one of the complaints, Wisconsin resident Victoria Bauman says that she has been subjected to unrelenting debt collection actions by Kohl’s after she fell behind on her credit card payments. She says she has asked the retailer to stop, but still receives two to three calls a day from debt collectors.
Bauman says she signed up for a Kohl’s credit card in 2012 for personal use. She says she made payments, but became financially unable to cover the credit card bill eventually. Bauman claims that Kohl’s began contacting her about the missed payments and she faxed a letter to the company withdrawing her consent to be contacted on her cell phone about the debt in October of 2020.
Despite this request, the lawsuit alleges that Kohl’s continued to use Bauman’s cell phone to demand payment on her credit card debt. Bauman says that Kohl’s uses automatic dialing technology to continue to contact her up to three times each day.
In the other complaint, California resident Ginger Paulin says she applied for a Kohl’s credit card in 2017. She says she became financially unable to keep up with the credit card debt and stopped making payments.
Paulin says that, in January, Kohl’s started contacting her about the credit card debt. Paulin says she hired legal counsel and asked the retailer to stop contacting her directly about the debt; however, the debt collection calls kept coming.
The lawsuits accuse Kohl’s of violating federal and state consumer protection laws by continuing to harass Bauman and Paulin about their credit card debts despite their repeated requests for the retailer to stop.
Bauman and Paulin say that Kohl’s continued contact and use of automatic dialing technology to contact them violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The TCPA was enacted to protect consumers from harassment from marketers by phone. The TCPA requires companies obtain the express, written consent of the consumer before using their phone number to contact them.
In addition, the TCPA restricts the use of automatic dialing technology the plaintiffs say Kohl’s used to contact them about their credit card debt. Indeed, violations of the TCPA can result in steep fines of up to $1,500 per call or contact.
Bauman and Paulin are each seeking to assess those penalties on Kohl’s, along with other damages under state laws.
Do you have a Kohl’s credit card? Have you been harassed over debt collection? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
Plaintiff Bauman is represented by Elliot Gale of Gale, Angelo, Johnson, & Pruett, PC.
The Wisconsin Kohl’s Debt Collection Lawsuit is Bauman v. Kohl’s Corporation, Case No. 1:21-cv-00519 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Plaintiff Paulin is represented by Elliot Gale and Joe Angelo of Gale, Angelo, Johnson, & Pruett, PC.
The California Kohl’s Debt Collection Lawsuit is Paulin v. Kohl’s Inc., Case No. 5:21-cv-02948-NC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division.
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38 thoughts onKohl’s Credit Card Holders Claim Harassing Debt Collection Calls in Lawsuits
I am retired and SS is my only income. When interest jumped over 30%, I could no longer make payments. I get calls at least 3 times a day no matter what I do. Obvious automatic calling and they don’t stop even when notified in writing. Thank God iPhone blocks numbers not in my contact list. Maybe ALL of us should file a class action suit??
kohls calls 2 or 3 times a day. i block the numbers and ask to not be called and they still call. I AM NOT ABLE TO PAY. I could not pay before.
I have asked. Kohls to stop calling me on my cell phone to the automatic dialing system and they continue to call in. Hr asked me three and four times a day.
My son passed away in January 2017. Until that point I had been making my payments every month on time with one payment missed in October 2016. Anyway, when my son passed away at a young age unexpectedly, I was absolutely devastated. Kohls not only harassed me for the payments but they wouldn’t work with me at all. As a matter of fact they told me my son passing didn’t matter. They wanted their money. I finally paid it in full. Now I’ve written a letter to them to get it removed from my credit. It’s destroyed my credit score
I am working reduced hours and unable to pay the minumum payment due and Kohls does not offer a hardship program, they stated “they cant help me”.
Diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in May out of work behind on payments up until payments always on time have to come up with a solution from customer service why do you not offer hardship programs have a loyal customer for years will be shopping at kohl’s in the future.