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NYS shuts down 'predatory' debt collector in Getzville

A calculator, credit cards and a bundle of paper money with the label "DEBT COLLECTION" on it.
Pix4Free

New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have closed down what they described as a predatory debt collection operation based in Getzville.

In a written release, the Attorney General's office said the operation, running under several different company names, attempted to collect debts from up to about 293,000 consumers, generating gross revenues of approximately $93 million between 2015 and 2020.

The operation "falsely threatened consumers with harsh consequences if they did not pay, inflated the true amount of debts owed, and contacted consumers’ friends, family members and employers to harass consumers," authorities said.

Monday's announced action resolves an earlier lawsuit filed by the AG and CFPB against the operation for its illegal and deceptive tactics. The owners, Christopher DiRe, Scott Croce and Susan Croce, and managers Brian Koziel and Marc Gracie, must now pay $4 million in damages and penalties. They also have been permanently banned from the debt collection industry.

The state said the companies went under the names JPL Recovery Solutions; Regency One Capital; ROC Asset Solutions, which does business as API Recovery Solutions and Northern Information Services; Check Security Associates, which does business as Warner Location Services, Pinnacle Location Services, and Orchard Payment Processing Systems; Keystone Recovery Group; and Blue Street Asset Partners.

Consumers can submit complaints about debt collection activities, or about financial products or services, by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

WBFO's Marian Hetherly contributed to this story.