A collections agency in Connecticut, Crawford and Bain, is using Twtter to post up some rather personal information about its debtors.
David Bain, the author of the Twitter account http://twitter.com/creditrisks, has been posting up the names of people he has been assigned to collect from, using real names , the names of their businesses, and in some instances the amount of the debt. The poster goes so far as to make sarcastic remarks along with the personal information, questioning business transactions and he even goes so far as to warn others about doing business with the offenders.
One has to wonder why the laws protecting consumers from harassment of collections agencies don’t cover having a collection agency put your business on the web for anyone to see, including your friends, family, and business associates. It certainly covers harassing phone calls, doesn’t harassment on the Internet count as well ?
Here is a sample of some of the offending posts
Denise Portillo of Il Bella Events folder her company did not pay bills and opened a restaurant wonder where the money came from LA Company
Looking for Attorney in Miami trying to collect from Opium Group Hassan Benjelloun owns several clubs owes $50K
Sent collection letter to Milestone Agriculture in Florida six figures past due. Due your homework if you sell to them.
Just received a settlement from the restaurant in NY called Phillipe Chow! High end place tried to get out of paying really now??
Funds promised by Northwest Bulb and Perennial they already did not meet their promises for the first payment be wary.
Letter Rec’d from NBC Universal mandating that they are paying net 90 like it or not we are going to raise their prices like it or not
Preparing Suit against Vox magazine of Hamptons NY and against Ted Fosculo and Tom Jones of the Hamptons
..and it goes on and on.
When did collections become public information ?
The answer is, it’s not !
According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a collection agency may not act in the following ways:
Harassment or abuse: Agents can not threaten or use violence against the debtor or another person. They can not use obscene or profane language. They can not publish a debtor’s name on a “blacklist” or other public posting. Agents can not call repeatedly or contact the debtor without identifying themselves as bill collectors. Source
I am sure that Twitter is considered a public posting, so it appears that Crawford and Bain have not only crossed the line, they are out right breaking the law, with no regard.
Stunts and tactics like these are why so many Americans ignore collections agents. It’s not the debt, it’s the arrogance of the people behind phone. Attempting to shame people is the work of adolescent minds, and I am surprised that there are not more personal confrontations between the public and collections agents.
Crawford and Bain have offices in Connecticut and NY :
CT Office: PO Box 127 Kensington CT 06037 phone:1.866.336.0850
NY Office: 12 W. 37th Street 4th floor New York City NY 10018 phone: 1.866.336.0850
email us at info@crawfordandbain.com
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