Collection agency J.E. Robert Co. Inc., also called JER Revenue Services, faces a lawsuit that charges that firm with inflating attorney fees owed by residents in New York who were late on their water and sewer bills.
Consumers Joan Grant Boyd, Sybil Taylor and Tonya Warters filed the lawsuit late last month in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York. The plaintiffs seek class-action status for the lawsuit, believing there could be thousands of people in the state of New York who were wrongfully charged fees.
The plaintiffs seek damages of at least $5 million, plus court costs, and are represented by attorneys Paul Grobman and Curtis V. Trinko in New York City.
The complaint alleges that J.E. Robert also charged so-called debt cancellation fees and other process fees for services that were never performed.
J.E. Robert also allegedly misrepresented specific amounts owed for designated items, collected the excessive amounts and did not pay interest on the overpaid funds, the lawsuit claims. J.E. Robert officials were not immediately available for comment. Legal Newsline first reported the story.
