Consumer Claims AMCA Charges Illegal Convenience Fee

Retrieval-Masters Creditors Bureau Inc. – which does business as American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA) – is on the receiving end of a proposed class action lawsuit that claims it violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by charging an illegal convenience fee. The plaintiff says she made a payment to the defendant using its website and that the debt collector charged her a fee of $4.95. The suit argues that this extra charge was “neither expressly authorized by an agreement between AMCA and/or the creditor, and the Plaintiff, nor permitted by law.” Therefore, the complaint says, the defendant’s website violates the FDCPA.