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JUDGE TOSSES LAWSUIT FOR BEING ‘SILLY,’ BUT DENIES SANCTIONS
- A federal judge in New Jersey has tossed a potential class-action lawsuit against a collection agency, ruling that the arguments made by the plaintiffs in the case are “silly.” Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the language used by the collection agency in a letter sent to collect on an unpaid debt of $351 was confusing and that the “least sophisticated consumer” as interpreted by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act would not have understood the identity of the actual creditor.
GETTING TO KNOW KATIE GRZECHNIK NEILL OF ARS NATIONAL SERVICES
- It looks like there may be a score to settle. A few weeks ago, Jason Nesbit claimed to likely be better than anyone else at Mario Kart. Katie Grzechnik Neill may have something to say about that. Seeing the two of them race it out for the ARM industry’s Mario Kart crown would be a must-see event so anyone hosting a conference and looking to boost attendance should start working on it. Along with claiming rock star status at video games, Neill has had some very important accomplishments during her brief tenure in the ARM industry. Read on to learn more about Neill and her morning routine that puts most people to shame.
FTC SUES ALLEGED SCAMMERS FOR BILKING $3.4 MILLION IN FAKE DEBT PAYMENTS
- The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint against three individuals operating a labyrinth of collection agencies with scamming individuals to make more than $3.4 million of payments on fake debts. In attempting to collect the fictional debts, the defendants would accuse individuals of having committed a crime and threaten lawsuits, imprisonment, and wage garnishment. The defendants also attempted to contact friends and relatives of the individuals.
CITY DROPS AGENCY AFTER LEARNING OF DECADE-OLD SETTLEMENT
- The city of Bethlehem, Pa., has withdrawn a contract renewal with its current debt collector, Portnoff Law Associates, after learning of a $5 million settlement reached by the firm a decade ago after it was accused of collecting unauthorized fees. The firm had been working with the city for 15 years without any complaints from city residents.
PRA GROUP REPORTS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS
- PRA Group reported a profit of $15.6 million for the third quarter of 2017, down from $34.3 million a year ago. The company purchased $115 million in new portfolios in the U.S. during the third quarter, compared with $95 million a year ago.
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS JUMP IN OCTOBER
- Total bankruptcy filings were 2% higher in October compared with the same month a year ago, thanks to a jump in the number of filings made by consumers. Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia were the states with the highest amount of per-capita filings.
WORTH NOTING: A flight attendant is suing for her right to wear clogs on the job … How to get a whole row to yourself on an airplane … Scientists have grown new skin to help a 7-year old with a genetic disorder … A juror in the corruption trial of Sen. Robert Menendez had a very weird question … New research proves women who speak out are ignored while men who speak out get promoted … Here is a list of freebies and deals available for veterans on Saturday … Commonly misused phrases that make you sound unprofessional … Microsoft and LinkedIn are joining forces to help you with your resume … Kevin Spacey is being completely cut out a movie that has already been shot and is supposed to be released next month … Where the most educated Americans live.
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The Daily Digest is sponsored by TCN, a leading provider of cloud-based call center technology for enterprises, contact centers, BPOs, and collection agencies worldwide.