Chicago Debt Collection Agency Accused of Harassment

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers from Illinois debt collection companies that attempt to use fraudulent tactics or harassment in order to collect debts owed. According to a recent article from NBC Chicago, a debt collection agency in the Chicago area has been accused of violating the FDCPA.
It’s important to know that you have rights as a consumer. If you’re being harassed or treated unfairly by a debt collection agency, you should speak with an experienced Oak Park consumer protection attorney. The lawyers at the Emerson Law Firm can discuss your situation with you today.
Debt Collector Violated Federal Consumer Protection Laws, Consumers Say
Consumers across the country have submitted complaints about Second Chance Financial, an Aurora-based debt collection agency. Those complaints alleged that the company had “violated consumer protection laws and harassed consumers nationwide.” Now, an employee from Second Chance Financial has emerged as a whistleblower, speaking to NBC5 Investigates about the bad practices used by the debt collection company.
For instance, the employee reported, debt collectors at Second Chance Financial routinely were instructed to threaten customers with jail time. The employee described specific language used when speaking with consumers, such as “you’re going to jail, your kids are gonna be taken away.” Indeed, “a lot of people were threatened with incarceration,” the whistleblower reported. And many of these threats weren’t even used on legitimate debtors. Many of the phone calls were aimed at intimidating consumers in order to force them to “pay bogus loan amounts.”
The employee described the list of consumers to call as a “hit list” that was nationwide. Many of these consumers, it turns out, “had merely visited loan websites but never secured any loans.” As such, not only would it be illegal for Second Chance Financial to collect supposed debts from these consumers, but the agency’s debt collection practices also appear to have violated federal law.
After the Second Chance Financial employee came forward, NBC5 Investigates contacted consumers who previously complained about the debt collector. A minister in Los Angeles reported that employees from Second Chance Financial called him “75 to 100 times, 2 to 3 times per day, for four months.” Those callers also threatened to take away the minister’s driver’s license.
Second Chance Financial Owner Violated State Licensing Requirements
Chantelle Dickey, the owner of Second Chance Financial, made more mistakes than requiring her employees to violate the FDCPA. She also failed to apply for a business license for Second Chance Financial, as well as for the other company names she used to collect debts. Failing to apply for a business license is a “direct violation of state requirements.”
Altogether, the Illinois Attorney General’s office and the Federal Trade Commission have received 146 complaints about Second Chance Financial. We’ll have to wait and see about state and federal investigations into the debt collection agency.
In the meantime, it’s important to remember that the FDCPA and other state and federal laws exist to protect you from bad debt collection practices. You shouldn’t have to be harassed by a debt collection agency, even if you owe money. Contact an experienced Chicago consumer protection attorney at the Emerson Law Firm to learn more about how we can help.
See Related Blog Posts:
Effects of the Bankruptcy Abuse Protection and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA)

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