OCALA – A Leesburg resident alleges a debt collector attempted to collect an unlawful fee.
Doni Mason filed a complaint on Jan. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division against Helvey & Associates Inc. citing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
According to the complaint, on June 21, 2016, the plaintiff suffered damages from receiving a collection letter from the defendant, which included a collection fee that was not authorized by the loan agreement or permitted by law. The plaintiff holds Helvey & Associates Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly attempted to collect on an amount not owed by plaintiff and caused plaintiff to retain and pay for legal representation.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, actual and statutory damages, attorney's fees, costs, expenses, declaratory relief and further relief as the court may deem just. The plaintiff is represented by Michael Jay Ringelheim of RC Law Group PLLC in Hackensack, New Jersey.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division Case number 5:17-cv-00022