Illinois Attorney General Sues Debt Collection Agency
This lawsuit against Leading Edge Recovery Solutions, LLC, a Chicago collection agency with was filed last year, we are currently researching status of the suit in Illinois courts but we wanted to warn consumers that may have experienced the same illegal methods used by Leading Edge Recovery Solutions, LLC. Numerous complaints against this debt collector can be found just by searching on the internet, if you have been harassed by Leading Edge Recovery Solutions, you can seek legal help to get the calls and letters to stop!
Jan, 2007 – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit in Jan 2007 against a Chicago debt collection agency for allegedly using unfair tactics, intimidation and misrepresentations to convince consumers to make payments when, in some instances, the consumers never owed the money.
The lawsuit names Leading Edge Recovery Solutions, L.L.C., as the defendant. Leading Edge Recovery Solutions, an Illinois limited liability corporation based in Chicago, collects debts on behalf of various entities, including credit card and installment debts.
Madigan’s Consumer Protection Division has received 53 complaints against Leading Edge Recovery Solutions. According to these complaints, consumers made payments ranging from $300.00 up to $2,900.00 and, in some instances, Leading Edge Recovery Solutions deducted payments directly from consumers’ bank accounts without the consumers’ authorization.
“Based on the numerous consumer complaints that we have received, Leading Edge Recovery Solutions and its representatives have harassed and intimidated consumers in Illinois and throughout the United States to obtain payments on alleged debts,” Madigan said.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that Leading Edge Recovery Solutions has attempted to collect on debts that are as much as 20 years old and, in some cases, are not even owed by consumers. When consumers have responded to contacts from Leading Edge Recovery Solutions by requesting proof that they actually owe the debt, the company has failed to provide such proof.
Madigan alleges that as part of its collection efforts, Leading Edge Recovery Solutions sent collection letters and contacted consumers by telephone, often using abusive language or improperly contacting consumers at their places of employment.
The complaint specifically alleges that representatives of Leading Edge Recovery Solutions made numerous misrepresentations during their collection efforts, including:
• That they are attorneys and that the company would file a lawsuit if the debt is not paid;
• That the company would file a lien against the consumer’s property if the debt is not paid;
• That the consumer could be arrested or imprisoned for failing to pay the debt;
• That the consumer’s wages would be garnished if the debt was not paid; and
• That the company would take other actions that would have an adverse impact on the consumer’s credit report if the debt is not paid.
Madigan’s lawsuit asks the court to prohibit Leading Edge Recovery Solutions from engaging in the business of collecting or attempting to collect on debts, and from further violating Illinois’ consumer protection laws. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and requests that the court order Leading Edge Recovery Solutions to pay restitution to consumers.
Original article/post from ConsumerAffairs.com
this company disguises themselves as citizens bank. this is not actually citizens bank calling you claiming that it is just a courtesy call from numbers 888-306-9063 and 888-306-9057. so you can actually sue them for stating that they are citizens bank.They charge $20 transacfion fees to make extra money for their company & pay their employees pennies. Their commision is souly based on how many people they can have pay $20 extra on their account. The higher the consumers monthly payments are the more likely your chances of having it applied to principal to collect on interest. Leading edge is the worse company calling consumers who are only 3days past due over 10xs a day. their number is 888-306-9063 or 888-306-9057
lersk
June 2, 2010