Debt Collector National Enterprise Systems (Ohio) Sued by West Virginia Attorney General
July 21st, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Like I have said earlier, Karma is kicking the debt collection industries butt, and a good thing too. The West Virginia Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against an Ohio collection agency Tuesday for threatening consumers. Assistant Attorney General Norman Googel says National Enterprise Systems has made hundreds, if not thousands, of phone calls to West Virginia residents. “What we’ve seen is a pattern of complaints where the company will call up a consumer and say, ‘We have a warrant for your arrest issued. And if you don’t pay $5,000 now, you will be arrested.’” Googel said. The lawsuit alleges the threats violate both state and federal debt collection laws. “When a company uses that tactic, it’s about as bad as holding a gun to their head. That’s illegal and so is this,” Googel said. Some West Virginians already paid out the money fearing the worst. “It is never a crime to not be able to pay a debt,” he said. “And you can never be arrested for not paying a debt.”