Debt Collection Sewer Service – An Illegal, But Frequent Practice

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When a debt collection agency files a lawsuit against you for an outstanding debt, it must serve you with the papers so that you are aware of the action. However, one New York agency allegedly didn’t think that was necessary and provided debtors with “sewer service” instead. Now it faces a class action lawsuit for those practices.
What is sewer service?
Sewer service is a practice in which process servers, the people who are supposed to serve you with a lawsuit, simply dump the papers into the sewer – and then claim that they served you personally. Unfortunately for debtors, if you don’t get the notice, you can’t respond to the allegations and a judgment will be against you.
That’s exactly what happened to California resident, David Youssefyeh. Youssefyeh owed a debt that New York based debt collection firm Mel Harris and Associates (Harris) was trying to collect from him. Although Youssefyeh was never served with papers, he soon discovered that his bank had levied his accounts and that Harris claimed that it had served him personally. He brought a class action lawsuit against Harris for its illegal practices.
Abusive and deceptive debt collection practices
It’s no secret that debt collectors will do whatever it takes to get a debt paid. However, some of their practices are abusive and deceptive – which are illegal. Legal experts whose practices focus in debt collection / Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) cases say consumers can find themselves having to explain their outstanding debt (if it’s even theirs in the first place) to family members, co-workers, bosses and even neighbors.
Although illegal, many debt collectors and debt buyers (those who purchase debt for pennies on the dollar and then try to collect it sometimes years later) use tactics such as calling family members and neighbors and telling them about the debt in order to embarrass the debtor. In other cases, they may call the debtor’s boss and tell him or her that something terrible has happened and that it’s urgent for the debtor to call them back. That’s a lie, of course, but the debtor may pay up in order to avoid these types of blackmail-like practices.
Don’t put up with it
Debtors do not have to put up with such practices. The FDCPA says that debt collectors cannot use “abusive and deceptive” practices in order to collect a debt. If you’re being harassed by a debt collector, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in debt collection law. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential. To speak with an experienced lawyer, please click here. We may be able to help.