Plano debt collector hit with record $3.2M FTC penalty www.privateofficer.com

Plano TX July 10 2013 A Plano-based debt collection company has agreed to pay a $3.2 million civil penalty and to stop harassing consumers with what the Federal Trade Commission called "allegedly illegal debt collection calls."
Expert Global Solutions, which the FTC said is the world's largest debt collection operation, was hit with what the agency said was the largest penalty ever obtained by the FTC.
In its complaint, the commission alleged that Expert Global Solutions violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the FTC Act by utilizing such tactics as calling early in the morning or late at night; calling multiples times in one day, even after being asked to stop; calling the workplaces of consumers even knowing that the employers prohibited such calls; and by leaving phone messages with third parties that included information about the debtor's name and the existence of the debt.
The FTC said that Expert Global Solutions also continued to make collection efforts without verifying a debt, even after consumers told the company they did not owe the debt.
A request for comment by Expert Global Solutions had not been answered Tuesday afternoon.