A national class action has been filed in New York against collection specialist, Maximus, Inc. The action is brought on behalf of all U.S. residents who received a collection letter from Maximus which demanded payment within 30 days. Consumers claim this demand has the effect of overshadowing the statutorily required statement entitling consumers to challenge the validity of the alleged debt. The action is brought under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and seeks statutory damages as well as injunctive and declaratory relief.

This action arises from what consumers allege is an intentional attempt to coerce consumers into making immediate payment of alleged debts while at the same time overshadowing statutorily mandated language under federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The consumers claim that the collection letters sent by Maximus demand payment within 30 days. This demand, consumers allege, leads them to believe that the debt needs to be paid immediately. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, consumers are given 30 days from the receipt of an initial collection letter to dispute the validity of the debt. Information regarding this must be included in all initial collection letters. Any and all statements that overshadow this information are strictly prohibited by the Act. Additionally, the Act forbids any communication that has a misleading, unfair or coercive effect. Consumers allege that the demand for payment within 30 days
Contained in Maximus' letters satisfy this standard, entitling them to damages.