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On October 29, 2004, the court dismissed a class action that had been filed against Citibank, Toyota and several debt purchasing and collection services, alleging that these companies have engaged in a systematic and intentional violation of federal law by attempting to collect debts from customers who have filed for bankruptcy and thus received an automatic stay regarding their debts pending discharge.

A statewide class action has been filed in California against collection specialist, Bleier & Cox. The action is brought on behalf of all California residents who received a collection letter from Bleier & Cox which failed to include statutorily required information about disputing 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.

A national class action has been filed against collection agency Allied Interstate, Inc. alleging that the company violated federal law in its efforts to collect outstanding debts for its clients. The action asserts that Allied's actions violate the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from engaging in abusive, deceptive and unfair practices.

A company that has a great deal of power in one market should not be able to legally use that power to leverage its way into other markets--this is the heart of many antitrust actions. A class action has been filed against American Express Company on behalf of merchants who accept the company's charge cards, alleging that American Express uses its market power unlawfully to force class members to accept its credit cards at excessive rates in violation of federal antitrust laws.

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.

A class action has been filed against debt collection agency Enhanced Recovery Corporation on behalf of all persons with Illinois addresses, to whom a collection letter was sent between July 16, 2003, and July 16, 2004. The action alleges that the defendants violated the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by using deceptive trade practices in its attempts to collect a debt.