Shame, Shame, the FTC Knows Your Name: Now Listing "Banned Debt Collectors"

Ghastly design choices aside, one thing I came to miss after all the Bud Hibbs websites died with the man was his "worst debt collectors" list. It was at times a handy thing to rub in the faces of shills who recite the misused "few bad apples" defense, and a primer in just how bad consumer abuse can get.

On Monday the FTC announced the launch of its own variant of a collection industry rogues gallery, a hefty list of "Banned Debt Collectors". Both businesses and individuals of ill repute from Corona to Buffalo are named with links to already existing case details and court orders.

The roster of Fallen Zeroes includes names I wish were unfamiliar:
* Jason "Don't Tell the Feds I'm Hocking My Gold Coins" Begley and his bud Wayne "Spiff Money Legacy Gift Trust" Lunsford
* Tobias "ThugMotivation" Boyland and his "Final Asset" crony Dorian Wills
* Harold "Hang Your Dead Daughter From a Tree" Bolling
* Varang "I Am Also a Victim" Thaker
... and how could we omit the Corona Cabal gang of Thai Han, Keith Hua, James Novella, and Jim Tran Phelps, roasted alive by the legendary Diana Mey well before the FTC showed up.

The Commission website has hosted link pages for enforcement actions for years, so in one sense there is nothing new here. But I would guess this isn't about delivering information but sending a broad message. The FTC can't mop every mess or win the full judgment value of every lawsuit, but it can raise the shame profile of heinous industry predators. Implied is a warning: The worst at-large offenders could one day join this list.

Banned Debt Collectors
http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/banned-debt-collectors

The blog post is already attracting casual nominees for future banning ...

The FTC’s new Hall of Shame — Banned Debt Collectors
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/ftcs-new-hall-shame-banned-debt-collectors

When Frederick J. ("People just need to pay their bills") Hanna makes the list, that will be a cause for celebration.

Thanks for sharing, Res!

Wow! Great to know this is out there. Here's to adding lots more names to the list!!

Harold Bolling from your list intrigued me so I had a little look-see on the net to find out more about him. Here's one of several articles I found.

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Foul-Mouth-Debt-Collectors--107059238.html

Love to see how he (if that is indeed him) in the comment section, justifies the behavior by insinuating that both collection agent and victim were responsible for the ramp-up of emotions which led to the threats. Its always a good practice to blame the victim when all other defenses will likely fail. Good work Harry!

Thanks for a great post and a "hat tip" to Bud Hibbs.  He is missed.

The exact phrase in that broadcast where debtors lie in wait and try to bait collectors into making a mistake so that they can sue was just posted in another thread by a company shill.  Can't remember who it was, but for some reason I think it was that idiot Susan.  Well at least now if I see it again I can throw it back in their face.  Thanks Herman.

Bolling sure didn't help his cause by writing that idiotic and poorly-written response.  "Ventilated emotions" - I mean, really?!
"career debtors" become "professional litigants" laying (sic) in wait.  Oh boo hoo - is this moron really trying to cry entrapment? Here's an idea for ole Harold  and his peeps - obey the law, including the FDCPA, and they wouldn't have any reason to fear all those horrible, evil "career debtors".

Our old pal Alfalfa brought us the first of four KMOV stories 4.25 years ago. We tried to have a sober discussion but it was overrun with victim-blaming disruptors.

https://800notes.com/forum/ta-21b4891662b2e1b ... and-eat-her-dog
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-21b4891662b2e1b ... 439422595494099

} in the comment section, justifies the behavior

Actually, Mr. Bolling had emailed the Saint Louis reporter directly with that claptrap about blaming both sides of the phone and his poor collectors coming "under attack" so much they need a "scream line" to buffer them and "career debtors" turning naturally into "professional litigants". (I suspect on the last point he was thinking only of outlier gadfly Craig Cunningham of Texas, who got blasted by a judge two months prior for filing an overreaching FDCPA action "in bad faith".)

I often find TV news "investigators" to be sloppy and self-aggrandizing, but Chris Nagus did a sincere job over several months, finding another tortured victim and a dissatisfied client of Rumson-Bolling. A pattern emerges in the evidence audio, suggesting that the nasty agents behaved routinely like failed insult comics and backpatted each other's ugly zingers.

Belleville woman irate after vulgar phone calls from debt collectors
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Foul-Mouth-Debt-Collectors--107059238.html

Debt collector apologizes, offers payment to local woman after making vulgar threats
http://www.kmov.com/home/Debt-collector-apolo ... -107588144.html

Foul-mouth debt collector resurfaces, rips off local businessman
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Foul-mouth-deb ... -111423744.html

Harassing debt collector banned from one state; still operates in Missouri, Illinois
http://www.kmov.com/news/investigates/Harassi ... -116790248.html

Upon the FTC shutdown of RBA, the local Ventura County Star provided more insider details of a gonzo agency which had cycled through several aliases, including comments from a short-term employee who "couldn't stomach" how much the agency expected its reps to abuse and mislead consumers.

Feds take over debt collection business accused of harassment
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/04/feds-s ... ction-business/

A case strikingly similar to Henshaw's was noted prior to the FTC action, in which the same bunch worked a funeral debt as "Forensic Case Management Services". Within months of burying her two sons in 2003, a Texas woman missing a leg was repeatedly harassed and insulted, and eventually asked how she'd like one of the bodies exhumed and "dropped outside" her home. When the RBA joker is heard taunting Ms. Henshaw in the KMOV clips ("You're the piece of crap, you're the deadbeat piece of trash crackerhead.") it's in a bored sing-song manner like he's reciting lines delivered to a couple hundred past victims.

Clearly Bolling had no room for his "meanie debtors hit us back first" defense. His teams of angry clowns were not prodded or forced to break the law. If anything, their outrageous behavior was well rehearsed.

I came to hear of these outrageous bullies just the other day via one of the threads posted above. It is wonderful to know that these criminals are out of business now. Their stomach turning tactics, IMO, should have earned them prison time.

Although the original posts were made over a year and a half ago, I agree.
Even 4chan trolls would find the collectors' behavior a bit much.