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Article: COLLECTION AGENCY 'RENTING' DA CLOUT.(Capital Region)
- Article from:
- Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)
- Article date:
- March 15, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Albany Times Union. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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An agency that makes money by helping district attorneys collect restitution for bounced checks has used some questionable tactics that consumer advocates like myself have characterized as a shakedown.
Until last year this company was also operating in Rensselaer County.
American Corrective Counseling Services Inc. has made a practice of sending threatening letters to people who have bounced checks, often for amounts less than $100. The letters threaten those who receive them with prosecution unless the check writers pay hundreds in fees and take a "diversion" class on "financial accountability."
The problem is this company has no legal ...