Richard Cordray (D)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -Complaints in Ohio about debt collectors are on the rise, state Attorney General Richard Cordray said Monday.
The Democrat's announcement comes as the National Association of Attorneys General named debt collection as the top consumer complaint last year.
Cordray said his office has received 2,067 complaints about debt collection in 2009 year-to-date, which is on pace to be almost double the number of complaints the office received just three years ago.
"It's a clear reflection of today's economic stress. Ohioans' tolerance of illegal debt collection tactics along with credit and home loan scams has reached its limit," Cordray said in a statement.
In 2008, the Ohio Attorney General's Office received 2,446 debt collection complaints; 2,123 were received in 2007, and 1,699 were received in 2006.
Earlier this year, Cordray filed a lawsuit against National Enterprise Systems, Inc., a collection agency based in Solon, Ohio, for allegedly harassing consumers.
"A line must be drawn to keep debt collection from crossing over into harassment," Cordray said. "Consumers have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. Overly aggressive tactics, such as making threats and repeated phone calls, are not allowed. Ohioans have enough financial worries without the added stress of harassing collection practices."
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.