Debt Collector Threatened Active Duty Military, NY AG Says

[ToddP]

Debt Collector Threatened Active Duty Military, NY AG Says

by DON PETERSEN on MARCH 7, 2011

 

On February 18, 2011, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that Stephanie Lowinger, plead guilty to Scheme to Defraud in the 2nd Degree, a Misdemeanor. Ms. Lowinger is also permanently banned from conducting any debt collection activities in New York State.

 

The New York Attorney General's Office stated that their investigation found that:

 

"Lowinger specifically targeted military personnel, referring to their alleged debts as "special accounts." Investigators discovered Lowinger said that if payment was not made immediately, the active duty family member would be arrested by the military police and would face a dishonorable discharge."

 

The New York Attorney General described additional misconduct besides preying on our service men and women. According to the New York Attorney General :

 

"Lowinger and her debt collectors falsely claimed to be lawyers, harassed consumers through repeated calls and abusive language, inflated the amount allegedly owned by debtor and levied unauthorized charges on the credit card accounts of consumers."

 

The New York Attorney General explained that the debt collection agencies that Ms. Lowinger owned and operated were Neiman, Rona & Associates, formerly Morgan Stone & Associates and later known as Gordon, Cappolli and Associates. All of these debt collection companies were based in the Buffalo, New York metro area.