Lawsuit accuses Boynton Beach debt collector of forging more documents

  Palm Beach Post | 02/14/11

Collection Agency’s Impact on Communities Acknowledged with the Silver Footprint

 PRLog.org | 02/14/11

AG Issues Debt Collector Scam Alert

  Oregon Business Report | 02/15/11

Jacksonville Bankruptcy Lawyer Exposes Junk Debt Purchasers

  SB Wire | 02/15/11

Portfolio Recovery Q4 Profits beats Streets estimate

  Reuters | 02/15/11

Washington lawmaker trying to protect debtors from jailing

  Crosscut | 02/16/11

Each week we bring you 10 of our most favorite stories from around the industry.

Week of July 25, 2010

1. Facebook makes debt collection sweet for creditors

(Business Daily Africa, 08/02/10)

Collectors overseas harness the power of Facebook.

2. Lawsuits Against Agencies, Creditors Down In Early July

(Credit & Collections Risk, 07/30/10)

Is the decline in lawsuits only temporary?

3. CSA Diploma winners celebrate at awards day

(Business Credit Management UK, 07/29/10)

Seventy-two industry professionals successfully passed the UK’s leading accredited credit and collection training program.

4. Portfolio Recovery, Asset Acceptance Q2 Profits Beat

(Rueters.com, 07/29/10)

Two collection agencies beat expectations for second quarter earnings.

5. Laguna Beach hospital chief was also its debt collector

(California Watch, 07/29/10)

Conflict of interest, yes or no? You be the judge. Share your thoughts in the comments section.

6. Could the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection be Positive for Collectors?

(insideARM.com, 07/29/10)

Kaulkin Media president Stephanie Eidelman shares her opinion on the highly anticipated BCFP.

7. Debt collection firm Affiliated Group to add up to 60 employees

(Post-Bulletin, 07/28/10)

A Rochester, Minnesota collection agency lands large municipal government contract; has plans to hire 30 new employees by the end of September.

8. New York Debt Collector Settles Wrongful Collection Charges

(Credit & Collections Risk, 07/27/10)

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo settles with yet another collection agency. This time: $125,000.

9. Terminally ill Jupiter Farms woman behind on home loan alleges collector taunted, harassed her

(The Palm Beach Post, 07/25/10)

Collection calls regarding a past due mortgage cause woman terminally ill with brain cancer to collapse in front yard.

10. insideARM.com Appoints Forward Thinking Editorial Board

(insideARM.com, 07/28/10)

With its eyes set on shifting the public conversation about the ARM industry, insideARM.comrecently unveiled a 16 member editorial board to help ensure a balanced perspective.

Each week we bring you 10 of our most favorite stories from around the industry.

Week of June 27, 2010

1. 11 arrested in Taipei for debt collection, betting operations

(The China Post 07/02/10)

The Criminal Investigation Bureau busts gang of illegal collectors and uncovers “… machetes, hammers, wooden sticks, and instant glue, among other items, which were used to assault debtors who failed to return loan fees … “. 

2. DebtCollector Harrasses, Threatens Local Family 

(WESH.com Orlando 07/01/10)

Debt collector caught on tape threatening arrest and harassing a consumer’s 10-year-old daughter.

3. Collection agency to put center in Augusta, GA

(Businessweek 07/01/10)

Convergent ERS to is bringing a new call center to Augusta, Georgia with hopes of hiring 400 employees over the next 18 months.

4. Payback? Consumer lawsuits against bill collectors skyrocket

(The Miami Herald, 07/02/10)

WebRecon’s Jack Gordon talks about the latest lawsuit statistics.

5. Missouri Court Dismisses Missouri Attorney General’s Lawsuit Against Portfolio Recovery Associates

(Market Watch, 06/29/10)

It’s rare these days to see a judge rule in favor of a collection agency, but that’s what recently happened in Missouri.

6. Debt Collector Calling Neighbors, Informing Them of Financial Trouble

(cbsatlanta.com, 06/28/10)

Contacting a consumer’s neighbor inspires investigative story. Video included.

7. CreditCard Debt Delinquencies May Lead to More Illegal Debt Collection, Creditor Harrassment, and Bankruptcy Filings

(Debt Free League press release, accessed on earthtimes.org 06/27/10)

Eric Santacruz, vice president of San Diego, California’s Debt Free League, offers some interesting predictions for the credit and collection industry.

8. Forget to pay court costs? You may get a call from a collection agency chasing unpaid fines, fees

(jacksonsun.com 06/27/10)

Florida clerk of court turns to collection agency for assistance in recovering $3.2 million in unpaid fines and court costs.

9. Portfolio Recovery Associates Appoints New Attorneys

(Portfolio Recovery Associates press release, accessed on insideARM.com 07/01/10)

Portfolio Recovery Associates’ Executive vice president and general counsel Judy Scott announces the addition of five new attorneys to the PRA team. New members include: Trey Huelsberg, Beaufort “Shawn” Martin, Franci Ware, Kevin Duffan, and Brian Pearson.

10. Very Competitive Field in ED Collection Performance Rankings

(insideARM.com, 07/01/10)

Cynthia Wilson offers the latest insight and statistics on the Department of Education’s third-party collection efforts.