Online ‘fee’ no violation of debt act

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted January 2, 2020 3:33 PM

When Gail Alleman used Collection Professionals Inc.’s website to pay a portion of the amount she owed to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System after the health system hired CPI to demand payment, the $43.22 credit card transaction included a $3 “service fee.” Alleman sued CPI alleging that this charge was an “incidental cost” that violated Section 1962f of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.The debt collection practices act’s Section 1962f, which starts by generally prohibiting &ldquo …

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