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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 have been a loyal, long-term customer for over 25 years. I have spent an entire year trying to resolve a billing problem and misled into believing would be resolved.
The phone rep advised due to Covid-19 financial hardship, I wouldn’t have to pay any late payment fees. Her exact words to me said ” I don’t want to take food off your plate, but we will accept any payment including under minimum due . However, the merchandise was already paid and charges to my account were fees for late payments. I made numerous attempts to explain how badly my life was impacted by Covid-19. It was impossible to find help. The phone reps struggled with focus and listening skills. They never seemed to have access to previous conversation notes. I had to repeat everything. They would ask for information that already was just explained and showing obvious focus and attention toward making sure they read everything on their phone scripts. Supervisors were not available. phone reps claim to request Supervisor callbacks and they didn’t t call back. I have escalated advising the phone rep that I wouldn’t hang up until I spoke with a live supervisor and both times they were transferring me to a live Supervisor and instead I was transferred directly to a voice mailbox that was full and unable to leave a message. I’ve been harassed every day, receiving repetitive calls 3-4 same day, adding to my nervous breakdown. Finally, I’m told again that the initial request was put through and take a few billing cycles to reflect, which is clearly far from the truth.
I have been TRAUMATIZED by COVID-19. I’ve lost 2 full-time jobs and each nightmare separately. Covid -19 is responsible for taking the lives of 2 friend’s which I still haven’t yet been able to mourn. I have been unemployed since 8/2019 and have worked (6) months from 11/2020-05/2021. I’m single, live alone without help. I have lived several months without income causing me to drain my savings account and 401k. I’ve relied upon cash advancements and credit cards without other options to pay rent, bills, and food.
I am requesting that as a long-term customer without any previous issues, please help me resolve this billing issue and clear my account from collections without it showing any reflection to my credit report. Please, I’m begging for your help; please forgive me for being a part of such a horrible experience, I have never experienced this before and worked so hard to maintain a high score rating and pay all bills on time.
I’ve been a Kohl’s card holder for 16 years and have stopped using it for that reason.
They are relentless.
Trying to make a payment on line, for some reason it wouldn’t let. I called customer service and they were going to fix the issue. So they started calling me a week later calling and emailing me about the late payment!!
It never was resolved, where I could pay online. So after being relentlessly hounded I finally went into the store and paid it. It’s never been resolved and I got socked with late payments even though I couldn’t pay it online because of something that they’ve done.
Yes, this happened to both my son and I. The calls were non stop and the people were absolutely relentless and pushy. They just call continuously. We’re in Arizona. Please add me.
When I lost my home in 2018 and had to have surgery immediately afterwards they wouldn’t stop calling about payments
I have had a Kohl’s credit card since 2016, and never had issues paying the bill; until I got sick and hospitalized. I was getting relentless calls, not making my health any better. If I can be added to this, I would be greatly appreciative.
My roommate was harassed during COVID but after flipping out on the caller they finally stopped. What they did next was without warning rack up late fees and then closed the card for non parent when they were supposed to be working with uhim because he’s never had any payment issues in five years! He recently settled the account for half and that includes the ns late charges in exchange for his card to be closed and listed as settle for less than balance. Instead they listed it as severely delinquent a month after he paid the requested amount and then listed account as closed charge off and half the balance is still present! What can be done
I had a Kohl’s charge account & had no issue paying the bill until I got sick. The calls were nasty in nature, harassing & belittling. I was finally able to pay off my charge account for the same reasons of inundating harassment and non stop phone calls to my cell & my job. I won’t use the account again!
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I’ve had a card with Kohls for 12 years now. Always made my pymts in time. I ended up with Covid this past March & forgot the pymt. I couldn’t get the payment caught up before they added a late fee. I struggled for a few months while I got back to work. The late fees continued to add up. I contacted them about the hardship program. They told me they would close the card & I would pay a certain amount till the card was paid in full with no more later added. Gave them my bank acct to auto draft the pymt. Just realized the pymt isn’t being pulled, the acct isn’t closed & I’m being called 6-7 times a day on numerous phone #’s.
Please add me. Had a Kohl’s credit card for years. I fell behind because I lost my job due to COVID and they would not help me . Phone calls are continues.