Lawsuit claims Portland State debt collector violated state, federal law with 'excessive fees'
A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court claims a private debt collection company contracted by Portland State University violated Oregon and federal laws by charging fees as high as 25 percent of the debt owed to the university
Tara Bowman filed the lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court in Portland "on behalf of herself and potentially thousands of former PSU students," the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit names Rock Hill, South Carolina-based Todd, Bremer & Lawson Inc. as the debt collector that levied "unfair and excessive collection fees." According to documents, Bowman received an invoice last summer for money owed to PSU. But the invoice also included $3,775.72 in fees for the debt collection agency, amounting to 25 percent of the principal and interest Bowman allegedly owed.
"We have never seen a debt collector be as bold to charge 25 percent flat fee" on behalf of a public entity, said Michael Fuller, Bowman's attorney.
Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2017/07/lawsuit_claims_portland_state.html
