Plano couple sues debt collection company after threats to garnish social security checks

SHERMAN - A Plano couple has filed a lawsuit against a debt collection company after the company threatened to garnish their social security checks.

Arguing the collection company was using deceptive means in an attempt to collect a debt, Charles and Shelbie Sykes filed suit against Hunter Warfield Collections and Asset Investigations on June 10 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.

According to the court document, one of defendant's representative Wayne Rivers, threatened to garnish Plaintiffs' social security checks if they did not pay the alleged debt.

Rivers threatened that he would write on their file their refusal to pay and would "take action" against them if they did not pay the debt.

The defendant is accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by threatening to garnish wages or file a lawsuit when it did not intend to take such action.

Sykes is seeking an award of statutory damages, court costs and attorney's fees.

The plaintiffs are represented by Michael S. Agruss of Krohn & Moss, Ltd. in Los Angeles.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Schell is assigned to the case.

Case No. 4:11-cv-00338