Debt collector Unifin Inc. and Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC have been hit with a class action lawsuit accusing them of violating federal debt collection laws. The plaintiff, Vicki E. Wexler, of Florida, alleges that Unifin sent text messages to her son in an attempt to collect a debt allegedly owed by her.
The lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on April 5. Wexler's complaint accuses Unifin and Jefferson Capital of engaging in unlawful collection practices and violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The plaintiffs seek to expand the action to include all others in Florida who may have received similar communications from Unifin in the past year.
Wexler claims that Unifin attempted to collect a Barclay's credit card debt supposedly owned by Jefferson Capital. However, she denies that the debt is hers, despite her birth date being connected to it in some way.
According to the lawsuit, Jefferson Capital contracted with Unifin to conduct collection activities on its behalf. Both companies are accused of devoting almost all their resources and deriving most of their revenue from debt collection.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Daniel A. Edelman, Tara L. Goodwin and Caileen M. Crecco, of the firm of Edelman Combs Latturner & Goodwin, of Chicago.