Encore Capital Can’t Compel Arbitration of Debt Collection Suit

Encore Capital Group Inc. and others can’t compel arbitration in a proposed class action brought against them by a consumer who says they violated federal and state law by attempting to collect credit card debt at interest rates higher than authorized, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled.

Lloyd Williams received a My BJ’s Perks Mastercard with Comenity Capital Bank in March 2016, but he became unable to make the minimum payments when his hours at work were cut. His account was reported as bad debt and sold to Midland Funding LLC, which engaged creditor Midland Credit Management Inc. to service ...