Weiss v Credit Bureau of Napa County Inc Chase Receivables FDCPA Complaint.pdf

8/12/2019 Weiss v Credit Bureau of Napa County Inc Chase Receivables FDCPA Complaint.pdf

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 2 of 14 PageID #: 2 . v

5 . Upon inrmation and belief endant principa pace of buine i locat within

onoma, Caiia

6. endant i regular engaged, r prot in the colection of debt alleged owed b

conumer.

7. endant i a debt collector" a that term i dened b the FCPA 15 U..C. §

1692a)6).

Judicio ad Veue

8. hi Court ha federal quetion uridiction under 15 U..C. § 1692d) and 28 U.C. §

11.

9. Venue i proper in thi ditrict puruant to 28 U..C § 191b) a the act and

tranaction that gie rie to thi action occured in ubtantial par within hi ditrict.

llegaios aiula Yekuie/ Wei

10 Upon inrmation and beief on a date better nown b endant, endant began to

attempt to collect an alleged conumer debt om the Plainti

11 On or about Augut 14, 2012, endant ent the Paintia colection letter eeing to

collect a balance allegedl incurred r peronal pupoe.

12 aid leter tate the Principal" balance a $251.19 Collection Fee" a $4521 and the

AO UE a $296.40.

1. he endant tatement in aid letter ofCollection ee" i a repreentation of an

18% collection e

14. he repreentaon hat 8% coecion e are owed iolate 15 U.C. §§ 692e

1692e2)A) 1692e5) 1692, and 692f)

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 3 of 14 PageID #: 3

S g r v AFNI Inc 2006 W 2290763 (ED Wis Aug 9 2006) (FDCPA case

against AFI nc r addng a 5% e to Cigular bills was certied to proceed is a

class action) S g r v AFNI Inc 548 F3d 1107 (7th Cir 2008) (AFNI nc's

demand r an additonal 15% collection e volated § J692f() snce the carge was

not authorized by law or the underying contract applicable state aw ony pemitted

such a recovery ifthe amount was actualy ncurred as an out-of-pocket cost of

collection ad not as attempted here to unlawlly permit[ ] a thrd-party purchaser of

an account to recover its intea costs) See also Sham v Natonal Enter Sys. 20!0

WL 38245 (EDNY Sept23 2010) (The court concluded that the complaint

suciently pleaded a cause of action r vioaton of §§ J 692f() and 692e(2) The

compaint ivoved a colection letter including the anguage you can now pay by

automated phone systemor on the inteet Transaction es wll be charged f you use

the automated phone system or the nteet to make payment on this account You are

not required to use the automated phone system or the inteet t make payment on this

account)

15 Said etter violates 15 USC §§ 1692e 1692e(2)(A) 1692e(5) 692(± and 1692f()

r atemptig to colect prohibited 18% collection fees

6 Dendant's letter also stated n pertinent part This leter is to nrm you of a specia

oer to resove your overdue account with our client We apologie that a possible

hardship or itl may have prevented you om satisfying your obigation It is with

this in mind that we would like to oer you a limited time ofer opportunity to satis

your outstanding debt (emphasis added)

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7. he Defendant's letter then went on to state thee derent settlement optons OPTION

of45 OFF that must be received in ths oce on or bere AUGUS 30th

2012OPON 2:

35 OFF

that must be received n ths ofce on or bereSETEMBER 15th, 2012," and OPTION 3 "of 25% OFF the rst payment must be

rceved on or aboutAUGUS30th,2012 and the second by SEPEMBER 30th

2012.

8 Dendant tated the above language in order to create a sense of urgency Planti

and make hm think he was under a non-eistent deadline.

9 Dendant's letter is msleadng and deceptive n that its statements such as limted

time oer opporunty and that must be received n ths oce on or bere the above

mentioned ates mply a time deadlne

20 pon inrmation and belief there was no time deadline rather Dendant made these

statements solely to create a lse sense of urgency to the Plainti

2. At all times herein, Defendants written communcations to Plainti were lse,

deceptive, ad misleading.

22. Defendat violated 5 U.S.C § 692d of the FDCPA by harassing Plainti in

connection th the collection of an alleged debt.

23. Defendant violated 5 US.C. § 692e of the DCPA by usng lse deceptve or

msleading representations or means in connection wth the collecton of a debt

24. Dendant violated 5 U.SC. § 692e() of the FDCPA by usng a lse representation

or deceptive means to collect or atempt to collect a debt.

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5 Dedat volated 5 USC § 692f o the FDCPA b usig u o ucoscoabe

meas to colect o attempt to collect a debt

Secto § l 692d povdes that a debt colecto ma ot egage a coduct theatua cosequece of whch s to haass oppess o abuse a peso coecto

wth the collecto ofa debt See 5 USC §692d he pope lega stadad ude §

1692d takes to cosdeato the ct that [whethe a cosume s moe o less ke

to be haassed oppessed o abused b ceta debt colecto pactces does ot eate

soe to the cosumes elatve sophstcato Cous stead use a stadad aaogous

to the least sophstcated cosume stadad whch eques clams ude § l 692d

shoud be vewed om the pespectve of a cosume whose ccumstaces makes hm

elatvel moe susceptbe to haassmet oppesso o abuse."

Sectos l 692e ad l 692e I) pohbt the use of a se epesetato o deceptve

meas to colect o attempt to colect a debt o to obta mato coceg a

cosume hs geeal pohbto s teded to cove the deceptve colecto acts ad

pactces that do ot t the specc pohbtos gve the subsectos of ths secto

as t would be mpossble Cogess to esee ad lst eve tpe of deceptve

colecto msbehavo.

26 the cotext of settemet lettes ma couts have held that settemet lettes ca be a

postve both debt collectos ad cosumes Neveheess keepg wth the

statuto euemets colecto ageces ma ot be decet the pesetato of

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th ttmnt or In Gowam, th ih Circuit wa prntd with a ltr om

dndant that tatd that it could or th plainti a 30% dicount a long a it

rpondd within th nt 30 day n though th dndant had authoity to or thdicount r longr than th 30 day. Id. In rring th ditrict court' grant o

ummary udgmnt in o o th fndat th ih Circuit hd that

Whil w ag it i important to prmit colction agncito or ttmnt, that poicy conidration do not rmocolction agnci' obligation udr th DCPA to dal in anon- dcit mann A collction agncy may o attlmnt howr, it may not b dcit in th pntationof that ttlmnt or, a [dndant] wa in thi ca .[h

dndant] dcption i actional und th DCPA and inot xcud bcau it i part o a dbt collctor ttlmntor.

Id at 49595. Rrring to th actual lttr at iu in Goswami th cou dtmind

that r th lowing raon, th dndant lttr wa a iolation o th DCPA

h tatmnt in th collction lttr i untru and ma itappar that [th origina crditor or o a 30% dicount waa on-tim, ta-it-or-ait or that would pi in thiy

day. Th obiou purpo of th tatmnt wa to puh [thplainti to ma a apid paymnt to ta adantag of thpupord limitd tim or.

27 Dndant u of iluory and abitrary ddlin wa mant to dci th Plainti to

ma a prompt paymnt

28 Dndant claimd that th Painti had a imitd tim to ta adantag o th tt

but upon inmation and bif, Dndant dadlin ar articia h Dndant

intndd to gi th l imprion that i th conumr do not pay by th abo

1 Campuzano-Burgos Midland Cedit Managme Inc, 50 F3d 294 99 (3d Cir. 8) cig Gowami

Am. Coio Et., 377 3d 88 6 (h i00.

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 7 of 14 PageID #: 7.

mentoned date, then the conumer wll have no rhe chance to ettle the debt

e than the ll amount

29 Upon nrmation and belef, the orgna creditor dd not put any imtation on the time

w thn whch Plaintf could accept an oer See. D G org v. Fn R cov Serv.,

212 U.S Dt. LEXIS 14966, 19-2 (ED. Pa. Sept. 27, 212) (Statng whe the a

harbor language may enure that the conumer wi not perceve thee ete a one-tme

oer plant allege that the 35-day deadne n the etter did not ext at al.

Therere whether the leat ophitcated conumer would perceve the [colecton]

letter a one-tme, take-tor-leavet oer or a potentialy renewable oer, each

etter tl contained e and meadng nrmaton becaue, a aleged by plant, no

deadlne exted at al.)

3. he ncluon of a deadlne in a ettlement oer telf doe not voate the FDCP A.

However, in order to act contently wth 692e, the debt collector may not be

decetl n the preentaton of the ettlement oer 2

Where a debt colection letter <ntain an oer to ettle by a pecied date and make t

appear theren that uch oer a onetme take-t-or-leavet oer, when n ct the

debt holder i prepared to make other oer aer the expraton date, the letter contain a

le tatement in vioaton of the FDCPA. A leter that eave a conumer with uch a

le impreon vioate l 692e becaue an unophtcated conumer may thnk that if

2 amuza 0 a 99 (quig Gswami v Am cis Er, 488, 496 (h ir 004))3 Duuy v Wima Wbr& Ri , 44 Supp 8, 88 (NDa 006); [ 19] s as Gswami, a 496

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hey don pay by he deadine hey wi hae no fuher chance o sele heir deb r

ess than he ll amoun.

See. D G or g . in. R co ry S rs., 2012 U.S Ds LEXIS 140966 19 (E.D. Pa.

Sept 27, 2012) (The cour stated "I E vory . . [T]he Seventh Circuit held that if a

collection letter contained the language, "We ar e not oblgated to renew ths of er, an

unsophisticated consumer w ould not be misled because "even the unsophistcated

consumer w l realze that there is a r enew al possibty but that it s not assured . The

saf harbor anguage n Evor did not authorize debt colectors to pr esent deadines in

coecon leers ha were n c non-eisen. herere I conclude ha painis

alegaions ha he colecon leers included lse deadlines een if hose deadlnes

were presened as renewabe oers is sucien o sae a caim under l 69e" he

co noed Moeoe conclude tha misepesenaions conceing deadlins in a

colecon eer consue maeria misrepresenaions. herere, paini has saed a

caim under l 69e een if nonmaeral, lse represenaions do no oae he

DCPA.")

Secon l 69f of the DCPA prodes ha a deb colecor may no use unr or

unconscionable means o colec or aemp o collec any deb" 15 U.SC. §69.

Secion l 69f hen goes on o enumerae eigh paricuar pracices which are unir or

unconscionable Howeer § l 69f is no limied by hs is of eigh pracices and

prohibs al unir or unconscionable conduc on he par of a deb colecor. Reed

Pinnace Credi S rvic s C, 009 W 46185 (E.D Pa. Aug. 1 009.) (he is

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of § 1692fvolatons und n the subsectons are non-exhaustve") (nteal ctatons

and quotatons omted)

A clam under FDCPA provson prohbtng debt collector om usng unr or

unconsconable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt should be vewed

through lens of the least-sophstcated consumer.

31. Dendants conduct n the curent case s not speccally enumerated n the subsectons

of § l 692f; however ts statements such as lmted tme oer oppotunty and that

must be receved n ths ofce on or bere" the above mentoned dates whch mpled a

nonexstent tme deadlne and created a lse sense of urgency to Plant s stll a

volaton of 15 U.S.C § 1692, as it was unr and uconsconable

32. The clear ntenton o the sad August 14 202 leter s to pressure Plant to come up

wth money n order to take advantage of the setlement oers bere th e llusoy

msleadng deadlnes run out.

33. Dendants August 14 2012 letter volated 15 U .SC. §§ 1692d 1692e 1692e(IO), and

1692f r engagng n deceptve msleadng ad unr practces.

AS AN FOR A FIRST CAUSE OF ACTON

Vol ati ons o f the F ai r Debt Collecti on P ractice s Act brou ght by Plai nt on beha of him se and t he

members of a class, as against the Defendant.

34. Plant re-states re-alleges and ncorpoates heren by rerence paagraphs one (I)

through thry three (33) as set rth lly n ths cause of acton.

35. Ths cause of acton s brought on behalf of Plant and the members o two classes.

36. Class A conssts of all persons whom Dendants records reect resded n the State of

New York and who were sent a collecton letter a) bearng the Dendant's letterhead

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 10 of 14 PageID #: 10 u

n ubtantially the ame m a the ette ent to the Panti ent within one yea pio

to the date of the wthn compaint (b) the collection ette wa ent to a conme

eekng payment of a conume debt pupoedly owed to VERZON WIREESS

NORTHEAS and (c) the collection lette wa not eted by the pota evice a

undelveed; and (d) the Plant ae tha the lette contained violation of 5 U.S.C.

§§ 692e 692e(2)(A), 692e(5), 692( and 692f()

37. Cla B conit of all peon whom Dendant' ecod eect eided n the State of

New Yok and who wee ent a colection lette (a) beang the Defendant lettehead

in ubtatially the ame m a the ette ent to the Plainti ent withn one yea po

to the date of the within compaint; (b) the collection ette wa ent to a conume

eekng payment of a peonal debt pupoedy owed to VERZON WRELESS

NORTHEAS ad (c) the collection lette wa not etued by the pota eice a

undeliveed; and (d) the Pant ae that the ette contaned violation of 5 USC.

§§ 692d 692e 692e() and 62f engaging in deceptve mileadng and uni

pactice.

38 Puuant to edeal Rule of Cvi Pocedue 23 a cla action i appopiate and

peable in thi cae becae:

(a) Baed on the ct that a m collection lete at the hea of th ltigation the

cla i o numeou that oinde of all membe i impactcable.

(b) Thee ae quetion of law and ct common to the cla and thee quetonpedomnate ove any quetion() aectng only ndividua cla membe. The

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 11 of 14 PageID #: 11-

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principal uestion presented by thi caim is whether the endant vioated the

FPA

c) The only individual iue involves the identication of the conumers whoeceved such collection letter (i.e the cass member) Thi i puely a matter

capabe of ministeial determination om the record of the endant.

d) The caims o the Painti ae typical o those o the class member All of the

epective cla claims ae based on ubtantialy imiar ct and egal theorie

e) The Painti wil iry and adeuatey repeent the class member inteest.

The Plainti ha retained coune epeenced in bringing cass actions ad

collection abuse caim The Plainti inteests are conitent with those o the

members of the clas.

9. A cla action is superior r the i and ecient adjudication of the clas members

caims. ongress specically enviion cass action as a pncipa mean o enrcing

the FPA 15 US § 1692k). The members o the class are geneally

unsophisticated individuals, whoe ight will not be vindicated in the absence of a class

action. Prosecution o sepaate action by individual members of the clases woud

create the rsk o inconitent or varying adudications resuting in the etablishment of

inconsitent or vaying standards r the paie and woud not be in the inteet o

judicial economy

4. the cts are discovered to be appropriate the Plainti will seek to ceiy a clapursuant to Rule 2b)) o the edera Rules of ivil Procedure

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41. Colleion aemps suh as hose made by he endan are o be ealuaed by he

objeie sandard o the hypoheial leas sophisiaed onsumer.

Volations of the Fair Debt Coection Practices Act

42. he endan's aions se rth aboe in he wihin ompain iolaes he air eb

Coleion raies A.

43. Beause he endan iolaed o he air eb Coleion raies A, he laini

and he members of he ass are enied o damages in aordane with he Fair eb

Colleion raies A.

WHEOR laini respelly requess ha his Cour ener judgmen in ainis or and

agains he efendan and award damages as llows

a) Sauory and aual damages proided under he FCA 15 U.S.C. § 192k)

nd

b) Aoey es iigaion expenses and oss inurred in bringing his aion and

) Any oher relief ha his Court deems appropriae and us under the

irumsanes.

aed: Cedarhurs New YorkAugus 1 23

Adam . Fishben C. A-958)Aoey A Law

Attorney r the Plaintif483 Chesnu SreeCedarhurs New York 15

elphone 51) 791-44asimie 51) 791441

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 13 of 14 PageID #: 13 •

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Plant usts ral by juy o al ssus so ral

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Case 1:13-cv-04401-KAM-JMA Document 1 Filed 08/02/13 Page 14 of 14 PageID #: 14·.

24 roadaySnoma, CA 96

H /DHDRPERSONAL & CONFIDENA

eur Servic Requested

u

jl 'I1•1111•11· 11·'11·11·''I1'II 1 1 ,if1·11 •YEKUSEL WESS 06219-EA VZ369 4ST S

,

BOOKYN NY 1218-350

J

I CH ERE CE I ABL A Prf essi oal Col ton Ag ec y 800-6 2 2 " 484

;

August 14, 202

Sd yments osp>ence To: ClD98hase Receivabes1247 Bradwano a A 95476

IMTN TO REE PROER REDI BE SUR T ENE THIS P WH YR PYMET=t fv ; i :............................. g·X�E PLEASE CA BEEEN ACCT#: 06219138Mnday-Fray 600am t 630pm PST Prncpal$ 25119

turday m to 2:30pm PST Collon ee$ 45.21Dr YUSIE WEISS,

AONT DUE $29640

is e is t frm you f a spec ofer rolve your overdue account wth our clent. We apgze at a possble hadshor pll y have prentd you fom sasig your bgatn I s wth s n mind that we u lke to offer yo a lmted tmefer opunity t your oundng debt We are presentng ur optns at wl enab you avo futher colnac beng ken anst you

OPTION : A setement of 4 OFF f your current balance Y OLY PY $.0 n OE P that must berv s oce on or bereAGUS3 1.

OPTI 2 A setent of 3 OFF of your current balance Y OLY PY $ n OE PYM that mu berev in s ofce or befreSEPB 1512

OTION 3 A selement f 2% OFF f your current balance S Y OLY M lO P OF $5 E et payment must be rev on r before AGUS3!202 ad the sond by SEP .2

OTION 4 othly payment pla on full balance.

If yu are ntert n akng advantage of one of these terrc oppunites or if you have any questns yu UST contact uofe as sn as ssble at 800-6220484 (tol fee). Whe yu cal plse let your representat ve know that you have ree CHASE Reivables Opton eer and tell us whether yu would lke to ke advange of the SEEENT OTION or ePAYENT Optn

f we d t hr om you we are rc to assume that you do ot ntend l resve your oblgaon on a vouny basis and we rmmed at our cent pre wth frer cltn activi.�� .Sncerely Y hve 8 - py aln:

Chase Reab1 Send us a chkake all checks payable l VERIZONWIREESSNORTHEAST ad send to the paymnt adds above. 2. Pay va a Credt Card $14.95 fee where applable) 3 Pay v Western Un. 4. Pay va e web chasercopaymethod.php PIN# 606 •5. Call us a the nuer shown abve a one of our represtaes wl be happy t assst yu! ·

6 Eleconc Chk Payments can be done over the phone $995 f � where applible �• Setg s ptin enables you to make a payment 24 hours a day;7 days a wek - and yu do not need to spk l a representive

HIS S AET TO COECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTANED WI BE USED FOR THAT PURPEIS UNICATON IS RO A COECTION AGENCY.

Ne York Cty Detment of Consumer Afrs license number 1016382 j J f?1CA153281

Documents

Weiss v Credit Bureau of Napa County Inc Chase Receivables FDCPA Complaint.pdf