Military Base Retailer Hit for “Unfair” and “Abusive” Debt Collection Acts

CFPB settles with retailer and related companies with stores near military bases for practices it deemed "unfair" and "abusive," including filing debt collection lawsuits "far away" from where the credit agreements commenced, hitting back-up payment methods without the servicemembers' awareness and before they were due, contacting the servicemembers' commanding officers to request their intervention in collecting debts, and hitting a family member's account for payment multiple times after the family member had authorized only a one-time payment. [12/19/14]