3 Rivers Billing Facing Lawsuit Over ‘Misleading’ Collection Notice

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A proposed class action filed in Wisconsin federal court accuses 3 Rivers Billing, Inc. of sending a woman a collection notice that overshadowed her rights.

The lawsuit centers on a letter received by the plaintiff in December 2017 concerning a debt incurred for ambulance and medical services. According to the case, the letter contained a validation notice advising the plaintiff of her debt dispute rights, but the disclosure was printed on the reverse side of the paper without any reference to it on the front, the case alleges. Additionally, the suit says the notice was printed in light grey ink which was “less conspicuous and difficult to read.”

The case goes on to take issue with the following statement printed below the letter’s validation notice: 

“The collection of this debt will, however, proceed in the absence of immediate full payment of the debt to our office.”

If the plaintiff were to submit a written dispute, the suit explains, collection activities would cease until the consumer was provided with verification of the debt. By threatening that collection efforts will continue absent timely payment, the defendant overshadowed the plaintiff’s debt dispute rights, the complaint argues.

Further, the suit alleges the letter was “designed to appear as an invoice from the original creditor,” which misled the plaintiff as to the nature of the notice and who the sender was. 

Lastly, the case notes the defendant falsely indicated that collection fees may be added to the debt balance without prompt payment, when, in fact, the collection agency was not authorized to impose such fees.