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[gillivray5]

I stupidly borrowed from a payday loan company in my town and I was unable to repay all of the debt. I tried working with the company but they wanted too much money. They then sold my debt to a 3rd party collector whom I contacted to try to make payment arrangements. They informed me they would need payment in full which was my amount borrowed plus a ton of interest, I think it was $1600. I asked if there were any possibilities of making payments on that amount and I was told that I would be pursued under a class 3 Misdemeanor for theft as the company believed I didn't have any intentions of paying the loan back. So they left me pay them in 3 payments and I considered it done with. Now I'm reading that under the Fair Debt Collection Act (Federal Law) that if these type of places threaten criminal action, they are in violation of Federal Law. They can bring a civil litigation but they cannot threaten Criminal, which this company did. So my question is this; Should I contact my state attorney general, a private lawyer, or who do I tell about this? Can I get any money from this company for them violating the law?

[baigh]

start by checking with consumer protection in your area and if they broke the law file all the complaints you can - consumer protection, better business bureau, go to the newspapers, blog it, etc.
To sue you will need to find a lawyer who will work on contingency, however the DA might take a criminal case against them if you, and others, are willing to testify!