Contract Callers, JH Portfolio Debt Equities Named in Wisconsin Debt Collection Lawsuit

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Contract Callers Inc. and JH Portfolio Debt Equities LLC are facing a Wisconsin woman’s proposed class action lawsuit that alleges violations of federal debt collection law. The suit notes that the plaintiff received two monthly bank statements from Citibank regarding her credit card account that stated she owed $1,446.53 and $1,474.10, respectively. About a month after receiving the second statement, the woman supposedly received a debt collection letter from the defendants seeking to collect a “total due” of $1,446.53 – the amount from the first statement. The lawsuit argues that the collection letter misstated the plaintiff’s balance, and, upon information and belief, failed to include the last month of interest.

Furthermore, the collection letter outlined several payment plans that the case says would confuse the least sophisticated consumer because they added up to the wrong amount.

“Because the actual balance of the account is $1,474.10, not $1,446.53, the consumer would be confused and misled about whether the payment schedules described in Options 1 and 2 would, in fact, resolve the account,” the complaint reads.

The lawsuit then takes issue with the letter’s alleged statement that “JH PORTFOLIIO DEBT EQUITIES, LLC IS NOT REQUIRED TO RENEW THESE OFFERS.” Despite implying a deadline existed for the settlement options, the letter reportedly fails to list any expiration date after which the offers would need to be renewed. The suit says this led the plaintiff to believe that the defendants could rescind the offers at any time. Moreover, the letter, the case continues, fails to explain that the settlement offers do not override the plaintiff’s right to dispute the debt and instead attempt to coerce her into paying the obligation rather than exercising her dispute rights.