Is GC Services, LP Calling or Harassing You?

GC Services LP (GC Services) is a third-party debt collector for clients in auto, banking, student loans, and telecommunications industries. GC Services was founded in 1957 and is based in Houston, Texas with call centers across the United States, Caribbean, and Philippines.

Within the last three (3) years, the Better Business Bureau has received 108 complaints against GC Services. These complaints included numerous illegal debt collection practices, but the most common complaints involved the following:

• Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
• Attempting to collect a debt that has been paid;
• Attempting to collect more than what is owed;
• Harassing consumers by repeatedly and frequently calling;
• Improperly discussing the consumer’s debt with a third party; and
• Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.

In February 2017, GC Services entered into a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and ensuring that creditors do not use abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices when they collect debts.

The FTC charged GC Services with using unlawful practices to collect on federal student loans. Specifically, GC Services illegally disclosed debts to third parties or persons other than the consumer. The FDCPA regulates debt collectors’ communications with third parties. Debt collectors are prohibited from informing any third party, other than a spouse or attorney, that a consumer owes a debt.

Additionally, GC Services made repeated phone calls to individuals after being told that they had called the wrong person or that the debt was not owed. When a debt collector mistakenly contacts somebody other than the intended consumer, then the debt collector has effectively contacted a third party and is not permitted to continue to contact that person.

Due to these violations of the FDCPA, GC Services was forced to pay $700,000 in civil penalties.

Creditors and debt collectors should be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being harassed or subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold GC Services accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 800-219-3577.