Pinnacle Financial Group In Direct Violation of FCPA Minneapolis Minnesota

Are you in debt to RBI? That's the only company I know that uses Pinnacle. Honestly, I would rather pay Pinnacle than deal with Regency. Pinnacle may be a shady company, I never get receipts for any of the payments I make, but other than that I haven't had much problems with them. After I made my first few payments on time they gave me my own payment schedule so it coincides with my pay check. Their hours are really odd though. My first payment was due on a Sunday, and they aren't open on Sundays. I called on Friday, and Laurie is only there until noon so I left her a message. She called me on Saturday and I made my payment, but she never called back one of my friends who also left RBI and her bill went straight to collections on Monday. This didn't seem right because she had called on Friday right after I did. Just pay off the bill as quickly as possible if you owe Pinnacle money. Take out a loan through a bank if you can. Oh, and Laurie doesn't work there anymore.

Are you in debt to RBI? That's the only company I know that uses Pinnacle. Honestly, I would rather pay Pinnacle than deal with Regency. Pinnacle may be a shady company, I never get receipts for any of the payments I make, but other than that I haven't had much problems with them. After I made my first few payments on time they gave me my own payment schedule so it coincides with my pay check. Their hours are really odd though. My first payment was due on a Sunday, and they aren't open on Sundays. I called on Friday, and Laurie is only there until noon so I left her a message. She called me on Saturday and I made my payment, but she never called back one of my friends who also left RBI and her bill went straight to collections on Monday. This didn't seem right because she had called on Friday right after I did. Just pay off the bill as quickly as possible if you owe Pinnacle money. Take out a loan through a bank if you can. Oh, and Laurie doesn't work there anymore.

Do Collection Agencies skirt or outright violate various laws on a regular basis..YES. Is this company one of the worst ones..Yes.

But a little knowlege can be a dangerous thing. The first problem is that you don't even have the name of the Act they may be violating correct. The act you are looking for is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act(FDPA). If you talk to them as if you "know it all" and don't even have the basics right they will see right through you. Which brings up the point that you should never talk to them over the phone, all communications need to be through the mail.

"Pinnacle Financial practices, harassment as described in section 803 parts a1 and section 806 parts 2,5,6."
- There is no 803(a)(1). The closest I see is 803(1) which states "The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission." - Not quite what you meant.
806(2) - The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.
(5) - Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.
(6) - Except as provided in section 804, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.

While harrassement is very subjective, if you get a very sympathetic judge you may be able to prove it, but in most cases it is very tough especially based on what you have described. (2)Yelling, Disrespectful, and being immature does not quite get to the level of Harrasement. (5)This is meant that they constantly ring your phone, such as as soon as you hang up they call again, and repeat this for a given period of time. If they are calling you only a few times a day again this generally falls short of harrasement. (6)This refers to the company not the person. That is they have to disclose their company name and can not say they are a different company. Such as they can't say they are a government agency, or that they are a lawyer if they are not. There is no requirement that the person must give their full name. In fact I can guarantee you that the person you were talking to was not named Laurie as there are probably 5-6 people named "Laurie" in the office.

"I have sent my return-receipt-requested cease and assist letter today!"
- There is no such thing as a "cease and assist"(and I really hope you did not put that in the letter to them). While I think you are thinking of "cease and desist", the actual term you are looking for is a "Cease Communications" letter. As for sending it I really hope you sent it Certified and did not sign the letter. Because once they have your signature they can scan it in and put it on documents you never signed.

"I haven't decided if I want to pursue a civil suit, I may...I could use 1,000 bucks!"
- Yes, it wouldn't be the first time they were sued, and I am not telling you not to do it. Just that while judges are often sympathetic to debtors, if you are totally off base and have no proof they have no choice but to rule in the Collection Agencies favor. In fact if the debt is legitimate(which by you paying it, seems as if you agree that it is), may have the Collection Agency sue you for the balance. Of course paying it without trying to not only have them prove it was a vaild debt but a debt that was still collectable is another mistake that you may have wanted to look into before you sent anyone any money.

A good way to get this proof is through your "Cease Communication" letter. If once they receive that they contact you that is a violation. The exception to this is for them to notify you of an actual suit, or that they will no longer contact you.

"Please...KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
...and exercise them!!"
- Yes, but make sure you get your rights correct before you exercise them.

Do Collection Agencies skirt or outright violate various laws on a regular basis..YES. Is this company one of the worst ones..Yes.

But a little knowlege can be a dangerous thing. The first problem is that you don't even have the name of the Act they may be violating correct. The act you are looking for is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act(FDPA). If you talk to them as if you "know it all" and don't even have the basics right they will see right through you. Which brings up the point that you should never talk to them over the phone, all communications need to be through the mail.

"Pinnacle Financial practices, harassment as described in section 803 parts a1 and section 806 parts 2,5,6."
- There is no 803(a)(1). The closest I see is 803(1) which states "The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission." - Not quite what you meant.
806(2) - The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.
(5) - Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.
(6) - Except as provided in section 804, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.

While harrassement is very subjective, if you get a very sympathetic judge you may be able to prove it, but in most cases it is very tough especially based on what you have described. (2)Yelling, Disrespectful, and being immature does not quite get to the level of Harrasement. (5)This is meant that they constantly ring your phone, such as as soon as you hang up they call again, and repeat this for a given period of time. If they are calling you only a few times a day again this generally falls short of harrasement. (6)This refers to the company not the person. That is they have to disclose their company name and can not say they are a different company. Such as they can't say they are a government agency, or that they are a lawyer if they are not. There is no requirement that the person must give their full name. In fact I can guarantee you that the person you were talking to was not named Laurie as there are probably 5-6 people named "Laurie" in the office.

"I have sent my return-receipt-requested cease and assist letter today!"
- There is no such thing as a "cease and assist"(and I really hope you did not put that in the letter to them). While I think you are thinking of "cease and desist", the actual term you are looking for is a "Cease Communications" letter. As for sending it I really hope you sent it Certified and did not sign the letter. Because once they have your signature they can scan it in and put it on documents you never signed.

"I haven't decided if I want to pursue a civil suit, I may...I could use 1,000 bucks!"
- Yes, it wouldn't be the first time they were sued, and I am not telling you not to do it. Just that while judges are often sympathetic to debtors, if you are totally off base and have no proof they have no choice but to rule in the Collection Agencies favor. In fact if the debt is legitimate(which by you paying it, seems as if you agree that it is), may have the Collection Agency sue you for the balance. Of course paying it without trying to not only have them prove it was a vaild debt but a debt that was still collectable is another mistake that you may have wanted to look into before you sent anyone any money.

A good way to get this proof is through your "Cease Communication" letter. If once they receive that they contact you that is a violation. The exception to this is for them to notify you of an actual suit, or that they will no longer contact you.

"Please...KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
...and exercise them!!"
- Yes, but make sure you get your rights correct before you exercise them.

Do Collection Agencies skirt or outright violate various laws on a regular basis..YES. Is this company one of the worst ones..Yes.

But a little knowlege can be a dangerous thing. The first problem is that you don't even have the name of the Act they may be violating correct. The act you are looking for is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act(FDPA). If you talk to them as if you "know it all" and don't even have the basics right they will see right through you. Which brings up the point that you should never talk to them over the phone, all communications need to be through the mail.

"Pinnacle Financial practices, harassment as described in section 803 parts a1 and section 806 parts 2,5,6."
- There is no 803(a)(1). The closest I see is 803(1) which states "The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission." - Not quite what you meant.
806(2) - The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.
(5) - Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.
(6) - Except as provided in section 804, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.

While harrassement is very subjective, if you get a very sympathetic judge you may be able to prove it, but in most cases it is very tough especially based on what you have described. (2)Yelling, Disrespectful, and being immature does not quite get to the level of Harrasement. (5)This is meant that they constantly ring your phone, such as as soon as you hang up they call again, and repeat this for a given period of time. If they are calling you only a few times a day again this generally falls short of harrasement. (6)This refers to the company not the person. That is they have to disclose their company name and can not say they are a different company. Such as they can't say they are a government agency, or that they are a lawyer if they are not. There is no requirement that the person must give their full name. In fact I can guarantee you that the person you were talking to was not named Laurie as there are probably 5-6 people named "Laurie" in the office.

"I have sent my return-receipt-requested cease and assist letter today!"
- There is no such thing as a "cease and assist"(and I really hope you did not put that in the letter to them). While I think you are thinking of "cease and desist", the actual term you are looking for is a "Cease Communications" letter. As for sending it I really hope you sent it Certified and did not sign the letter. Because once they have your signature they can scan it in and put it on documents you never signed.

"I haven't decided if I want to pursue a civil suit, I may...I could use 1,000 bucks!"
- Yes, it wouldn't be the first time they were sued, and I am not telling you not to do it. Just that while judges are often sympathetic to debtors, if you are totally off base and have no proof they have no choice but to rule in the Collection Agencies favor. In fact if the debt is legitimate(which by you paying it, seems as if you agree that it is), may have the Collection Agency sue you for the balance. Of course paying it without trying to not only have them prove it was a vaild debt but a debt that was still collectable is another mistake that you may have wanted to look into before you sent anyone any money.

A good way to get this proof is through your "Cease Communication" letter. If once they receive that they contact you that is a violation. The exception to this is for them to notify you of an actual suit, or that they will no longer contact you.

"Please...KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
...and exercise them!!"
- Yes, but make sure you get your rights correct before you exercise them.