ST. LOUIS — A consumer is suing a debt collector, citing alleged misrepresentation in debt collection.
JL Parks Jr. filed a complaint July 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division against AFNI Inc. alleging the defendant violated the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Oct. 24, 2016, he filed a bankruptcy petition for his alleged debt of $412.69 to CentryLink that defendant had been attempting to collect. After being granted a discharge of his listed debts, the plaintiff claims he continues to receive letters attempting to collect the debt that add a discounted payment offer to create a sense of urgency for the plaintiff to pay his debt. As a result, Parks claims he was confused and suffered humiliation, emotional distress and frustration.
The plaintiff holds AFNI responsible because the defendant allegedly used oppressive, deceptive and unfair collection tactics, including attempting to induce him to pay an amount that was not legally owed and falsely represented the character, amount or legal status of the alleged debt since the debt was discharged in his bankruptcy.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for statutory damages of $1,000, actual damages, pre and post-judgment interest, costs, attorneys' fees, and such other or further relief as the court deems just and proper. He is represented by Nathan D. Sturycz of Nathan D. Sturycz in Edwardsville, Illinois.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division case number 4:17-cv-01925-DDN