Community News
Page 4 – April 16-20, 2012
The Putnam Standard
Attorney General suing debt collection agencies By Jessica M. Karmasek www.wvrecord.com
CHARLESTON - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is suing seven unlicensed collection agencies, and their owners, to enforce investigative subpoenas and stop them from engaging in unlawful practices in the state. On Tuesday, McGraw's office said it began investigating the companies after receiving complaints alleging they engaged in "abusive" and "unlawful" debt collection practices. The attorney general said the practices included repeated harassing phone calls, impersonating law enforcement and judicial officers, making false threats that non-payment will result in arrest or criminal prosecution, and collecting non-existent debts or
debts that have already been paid. Spokesman Norman Googel said McGraw's office received at least one complaint, if not a few, for each company. "When we receive even one complaint, we investigate," he explained. "From that one complaint, we can tell if they are a licensed company or if they are violating the law." Googel said unlicensed debt collection agencies tend to operate in a similar, systematic way. "If a certain type of threat was made to one person, we find that that's what they do to everybody. That's why, after receiving any complaints, the Attorney General's Office issues an investigative subpoena, Googel said. "We want to find who you are,
what kind of debts you are collecting, etc.," he explained. In this case, McGraw's office issued subpoenas requiring the seven companies and their owners to produce records of all their collection activities in the state. The companies refused to comply, which led to the attorney general's filing of the enforcement action this week. "These types of companies are the kind that tend to not comply with our subpoenas," Googel said. "And that's what brings us to this type of action. "As long as we have a good address, we will do everything we can to enforce those subpoenas." The companies and individuals sued by McGraw's office include: • County Filing Services Inc. and Portfolio Investment Finan-
cial, and owner Todd Loop; • Investment Management and Recoveries Inc. and Randall Ray Goins; • Rosenthal, Stein and Associates LLC and Sharisse Williams; • Vision Credit Solutions LLC and James P. Belstadt; • National Capital Management Inc., and Ryan Daniel Todora and Natalie Lynn Rowe; and • Dorsey Thornton and Associates LLC, and Wyteria Dorsey and Michael Thornton. All seven of the companies are from out of state, Googel noted. He said a hearing will be held and a court will most likely order the companies to comply with the subpoenas. The companies will most likely be given 30 days from the court order to turn over the requested information.
If they don't, Googel said the next step is to file for petition of contempt. "Then another hearing would be held, and they would have to show good reason as to why they can't turn over the documents," he said. Most likely, the companies, or their owners, won't show up to any of the hearings, he said. "The court then can issue other actions, like fines, to force them to comply," Googel said, adding that is a common remedy. Fines, he said, might finally get the companies' attention. "I have directed my staff to aggressively pursue all such violators and to do whatever it takes to force compliance with laws governing the conduct of collection agencies," McGraw said in a statement.
Putnam County Schools April breakfast, lunch menu Wednesday, April 18: French Toast Sticks LUNCH: GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH, VEGETABLE BEEF
SOUP w/Crackers, Sliced Pears, Yogurt Cup, Milk Thursday, April 19: Egg & Cheese on English Muffin
LUNCH: SPAGHETTI w/MEATSAUCE, Tossed Salad, Corn on the Cob, Mixed Fruit Cup, Wheat Roll, Milk Friday, April 20: Pizza Bagel LUNCH: BREADED CHICKEN ON A BUN, Romaine Lettuce/Tomato, French Fries, Marinated Bean Salad. Watermelon Wedge, Milk Monday, April 23: Mini Pancakes LUNCH: PIZZA, Steamed Spinach, Fresh Carrots w/Dip,
Apple Crisp, Vanilla Ice Cream, Milk Tuesday, April 24: Breakfast Pizza LUNCH: CHICKEN FAJITA, Lettuce/Tomato/Cheese, Refried Beans, Orange Wedges, Chips w/Salsa, Milk Wednesday, April 25: Scrambled Eggs, Canadian Bacon/Toast LUNCH: PORK BBQ ON A BUN, Cole Slaw, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Gelatin w/Fruit,
Milk Thursday, April 26: Blueberry Muffin, Yogurt Cup LUNCH: PEPPERONI ROLL, Caesar Salad w/WW Croutons, California Blend Veg’s, Sliced Peaches, Milk Friday, April 27: Biscuit w/Gravy LUNCH: HAMBURGER ON A BUN, Romaine Lettuce, Tomato/Cheese, Potato Wedges, Fresh Melon Cup, Milk
Business After Hours set for April 24 at Broadmore
April Birthdays!
Happy Birthday to ALL
Willa Mae Roberts (celebrating her 93rd birthday in April) Lisa Templeton Denny Paugh Morgan Porter Tanner Paugh Lauren Milton Jakob Link Casey Chapman Jenny Johnson Bud Faulkner Cornell Jones Stephen Rogers Maude Loges If you - or someone you know - will Melissa Martin be celebratrating a birthday in the Tondalaya Martin coming months... Call 304-743-6731 Eva Massey and give us their name - OR just Michael Mullins Juanita Berry White email the information to Taylor White trudyblack@theputnamstandard.com
TEAYS VALLEY -- The next Business After Hours sponsored
by the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce will take place at
Broadmore Senior Living – Teays Valley from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. Broadmore Senior Living – Teays Valley is located at 4000 Outlook Drive Hurricane, WV 25526. Participation is open to all Chamber members and their guests. The cost to attend is $15 per person, RSVPs are required and pre-payment is appreciated. There will be a cash drawing sponsored by BB&T valued at $400, but you must be present to win. RSVPs are required by Monday, April 23. To obtain membership information or to make reservations, please contact the Chamber at 304.757.6510.