Collection company USCB Inc. agreed to pay $2.75 million to settle a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action lawsuit.
The lawsuit, Jonsson v. USCB Inc., claimed USCB used an automated dialer to call plaintiffs' cell phones without consent to collect debt. The case, settled last Friday, cited violations of the TCPA and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Lead plaintiff Brenda Jonsson specifically alleged USCB repeatedly called her cell phone to collect on someone elses debt using an autodialer and an artificial/pre-recorded voice. She filed the suit in November 2013.
An estimated 12,000 U.S. consumers who received a pre-recorded call on their mobile phones from USCB between November 2009 and May 2014 are entitled to money from the settlement, according to California federal court documents.
At least $1.47 million will be distributed among the qualified class members, after attorneys fees and costs are subtracted. The amount per class member will vary based on how many class members file claims, but the motion for certification of the settlement said class members should expect to receive at least $45 each.
The plaintiffs were represented by the Consumer Advocacy Center PC. Klinedinst PC represented USCB. The attorneys did not respond to attempts to contact them about the suit.
USCB America is the largest privately held receivable and resource management company in California, according to the companys website. The company has more than 300 employees and locations in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Calif., Santa Rosa, Calif. and Henderson, Nev.
