ST. LOUIS — A consumer is suing a debt collector, citing alleged misrepresentation in debt collection.
Valerie Chavez filed a complaint on July 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against National Healthcare Collections LLC, alleging that the defendant violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she received a collection letter from the defendant on Dec. 21, 2016, seeking to collect an alleged debt in the amount of $515 on behalf of St. Lukes Physician Specialist. The plaintiff claims that the letter failed to indicate any date of service, charge-off date or include a validation notice and is time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations. As a result, Chavez alleges that she was confused and misled by the letter.
The plaintiff holds the defendant responsible for allegedly failing to provide the prerequisite disclosure and validation requirement and inform her of her rights to obtain verification of the alleged debt, advising her to pay the full amount of the alleged debt.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for actual and statutory damages, costs, attorneys' fees and any further relief deemed just. She is represented by Boris E. Graypel of the Law Office of Boris of Graypel LLC in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:17-cv-02020-RWS