Slidell man sues collection agency for discloses financial information to employer

A Slidell man has filed a lawsuit against a collection agency for allegedly violating federal regulations by calling his employer and disclosing information about his debt.

Claiming violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Jeffrey Allday filed suit against Worldwide Recoveries on Sept. 9 in federal court in New Orleans.

According to the lawsuit, the defendant began to place collection calls to Allday in July 2011 regarding an alleged debt owned on a Best Buy credit card. Allday states the initial collection calls were placed directly to his employer. He contacted the defendant and provided the collection agency with his cell phone number, asking that the company not call his place of employment.

However, Worldwide Recoveries continued to call his place of employment, leaving messages with various supervisors and other employees. Allday states the messages stated that if he does not return the calls, the police would get involved and he would be arrested at work.

The defendant is also accused of disclosing details about the debt to a supervisor, threatening to garnish Allday's wages and using obscenities and vulgar language in an attempt to secure payment on the debt.

Worldwide Recoveries is accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by communicating with the consumer's place of employment knowing that the employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication, communicating with third parties in connection with the debt, harassing in connection with the collection of the debt, using obscene or profane language, causing a telephone to ring repeatedly to harass a person and threatening to take action that cannot be legally taken.

The plaintiff is seeking an award of statutory damages, costs and attorney's fees.

Allday is represented by Metairie attorney Kelli Denise Mayon.

Case No. 2:11-cv-02262