Capital One has a very clear and well-documented strategy for dealing with millions of credit card holders who fall behind on their debt and can’t make payments, even on small loan amounts.
The company’s business mantra whenever that occurs is essentially this: We’ll see you in court.
ProPublica, a nonprofit group engaging in investigative journalism, recently released findings of a probe into lenders’ responses to card holders with delinquent accounts. In doing so, the organization stated that one of its main goals was “to illuminate the scope of debt collection lawsuits.”
What ProPublica’s research revealed in a big way was this: Capital One stands virtually alone for what might reasonably be described as its litigious fervor for going after debtors.
In fact, evidence indicates that “no lender sues more of its customers than Capital One,” with the company reportedly taking delinquent debtors to court far more than does any other lender.
Indeed, relevant statistics are starkly revealing, if not shocking. ProPublica scrutinized court data in 11 states, with researchers finding that Capital One “stood out” in every state examined.
In fact, for three years running during the height of the recent and so-called Great Recession (2008 through 2010), Capital One commenced debt collection litigation against more than half a million borrowers annually. On an “average” day during those years, that number equated to about 1,370 lawsuits filed — every day of each of those years.
The adverse effects suffered by many litigants facing lender lawsuits have been notable and obvious. Foreclosure, among other things, has been cited as a “common fear” among defendants.
Credit card debt is a well-known nemesis of many debtors, who can face insurmountable financial challenges that wreak havoc on home and family life.
A proven debt relief attorney can provide candid guidance and experienced legal representation concerning viable options that might be available in a given case to combat insuperable debt levels.
Many consumers gain material benefit and a fresh start through a careful examination of their options and the sound employment of a responsive strategy that can appreciably — or even entirely — reduce the debt they owe.