Alvin man says collection agency used abusive tactics

GALVESTON � Alvin resident Michael Price claims Asset Management Professionals LLC placed harassing calls to his cell phone and his place of work, recent court documents say.

A federal lawsuit filed June 13 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas alleges Asset engaged in abusive tactics when contacting Price about his account with Providian Bank.

The suit says the defendant called Price on his cell phone twice, adding an individual collector failed to indentify the name of the debt collection agency when speaking with him.

Price says the employee also failed to inform him that the communication was an attempt to collect a debt and everything the plaintiff said would be used for that purpose.

He notified the defendant that the account in question was discharged in bankruptcy and that the statute of limitations ran out on it, the suit says.

The original petition shows Asset disagreed with the complainant and threatened to put a lien on his property, freeze his bank account and seize his vehicle if he failed to pay the debt.

The defendant then proceeded to call Price's workplace, leaving voicemails regarding the dispute which were apparently heard by the plaintiff's colleagues, the suit says.

Price pleaded with Asset to stop calling him at work to no avail.

According to the suit, he suffered from humiliation, anger, anxiety, emotional distress, fear, frustration and embarrassment.

Consequently, the plaintiff seeks at least $1,000 in damages and a jury trial.

He is represented by attorney Diana P. Larson of Houston.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt.

Case No. 3:11-cv-260