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If you have
incurred a debt that was turned over to NCO Financial Systems for collection,
a proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit against NCO Financial
Systems Inc and other companies, including NCO Group, NCO Fin CFS, NICO
Credit Services, Trans Union, Equifax and Experian may apply to
you. The class action lawsuit was filed by Carolyn Thomas (the
plaintiff) on her own behalf and on behalf of any consumer who incurred
a debt primarily for personal, family or household purposes (other than
officers, directors and employees of NCO) which was previously owned or
serviced by Commercial Financial Services and which was reported by NCO
to one or more credit reporting agencies at any time between October 10,
1999 and March 31, 2004.
The
lawsuit alleges that NCO violated the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act by reporting false, deceptive and misleading information about the
plaintiff to the three national credit reporting agencies.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
has granted preliminary approval of a settlement in the class action
lawsuit. The settlement provides $120,000 for distribution
to class members and provides for separate payment to the Plaintiff
for her actual damages, statutory damages and an incentive award.
If you believe that you are entitled to a portion of the settlement
amount, you must file a claim form with the court. To obtain
this form, call the claims administrator toll free at 1-877-867-5700,
or write to: Claims Administrator, First Class, Inc. (J5920-Thomas),
626 S. Clark Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60605-1711. Your
letter must be postmarked on or before June 29, 2004.
If you wish to be excluded from the lawsuit you must send a letter via
first class mail setting forth your name, present address, and a statement
that you wish to be excluded from the Class. The letter must be postmarked
on or before August 2, 2004. Address the letter to: Claims Administrator,
Attn: J5920-Thomas at First Class, Inc., 626 S. Clark St., Seventh Floor,
Chicago, IL 60605. If you request exclusion, you will not be
bound by the class action settlement and you will not be entitled to
receive any money from it.
A final hearing on the proposed settlement will be held at 9:30 a.m.
on September 14, 2004 before the Honorable James Knoll Gardner in Courtroom
B, Edward N. Cahn United States Courthouse, 504 West Hamilton Street,
Allentown, Pennsylvania to determine if the settlement is fair, reasonable
and adequate.
To obtain a copy of the full Notice of Settlement and Claim
Form related to this lawsuit or if you have any questions,
contact the Claims Administrator at: First Class, Inc., J5920-Thomas,
626 S. Clark St., Seventh Floor, Chicago, IL 60605-1711 or call 1-877-867-5700.
John Ventura,
Attorney and Author
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