Receiving relentless calls from Catherine’s or Comenity Bank about your Catherine’s credit card debt can feel overwhelming and invasive. You might be getting multiple calls per day, sometimes early in the morning or late at night, causing stress and anxiety that affects your daily life.
If Catherine’s or Comenity Bank has been calling you repeatedly about your Catherine’s store card payments, federal law protects you from harassment. You have the right to stop these calls and potentially recover damages if collectors violate your legal protections.
Who Is Catherine’s
Catherine’s is a plus-size women’s clothing retailer that has been serving customers since 1960. Founded by Catherine Weaver in Memphis, the store specializes in fashions for sizes 16W-34W and 0X-5X. With nearly 400 locations nationwide plus online shopping at Catherines.com, the brand is part of the Ascena Retail Group family of stores.
When you open a Catherine’s credit card and fall behind on payments, you might start receiving collection calls. Understanding who is contacting you and why helps you recognize when collection tactics cross legal boundaries.
Who Issues Catherine’s Credit Cards
Catherine’s credit cards that work both online and in physical store locations are issued by Comenity Bank. To apply for a Comenity Bank Catherine’s card, you can call Comenity Bank at 1-888-332-4728.
When you fall behind on Catherine’s payments, Comenity Bank or their third-party collection agencies may contact you to collect the debt. Comenity Bank issues credit cards for many retailers including Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Big Lots.
Speaking with an attorney about harassment does not restart your debt or admit you owe the money. Your rights exist whether the debt is valid or disputed.
What Phone Numbers Does Catherine’s Use
Catherine’s and Comenity Bank contact consumers from multiple phone numbers when collecting debts. If you received calls from any of these numbers, you are likely being contacted about your Catherine’s account:
This list is not exhaustive. Catherine’s or Comenity Bank might use other numbers not listed here. You might also receive text messages from these numbers. Document every call you receive, including the number, date, time, and what was said.
Federal Laws Protecting You from Catherine’s Harassment
Federal law shields you from harassment by Catherine’s and Comenity Bank when collecting credit card debt. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) prohibit specific abusive tactics.
Under the FDCPA, collectors cannot:
- Call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time
- Contact you at work if told your employer prohibits it
- Use harassment through repeated calls designed to annoy
- Threaten violence or use obscene language
- Falsely claim to be attorneys or government officials
- Discuss your debt with family, neighbors, or coworkers
- Misrepresent the amount you owe or add unauthorized fees
Under the TCPA, companies must:
- Maintain a “Do Not Call” list and honor removal requests
- Obtain prior express consent before using auto-dialers or robocalls
- Allow consumers to opt out of robocalls during the call
- Identify themselves and the company they represent when calling
You have these rights even if you owe the Catherine’s debt. Many people believe missing payments means collectors can do anything, but this is false.
Signs Catherine’s or Comenity Bank Violated Your Rights
Catherine’s or Comenity Bank violates federal law when they use illegal tactics to collect credit card debts. Common violations include:
- Calling you multiple times per day despite requests to stop
- Using automated dialing systems without your consent
- Calling outside permitted hours (before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.)
- Failing to identify themselves or the company they represent
- Revealing your debt to family members, neighbors, or employers
- Threatening legal action they cannot or will not take
- Adding unauthorized fees to your Catherine’s account balance
- Continuing to call after you sent a written cease letter
- Leaving voicemails that reveal debt details where others might hear
If you experienced any of these violations, documenting them strengthens your case for legal action. Keep records of dates, times, phone numbers, and specific statements made during calls.
How to Stop Catherine’s Collection Calls
To stop calls from Catherine’s or Comenity Bank about your credit card debt, send a written cease communication letter demanding they stop contacting you. Federal law requires debt collectors to honor this request.
Your cease letter should clearly state you demand they stop all contact, reference your Catherine’s account number, and be sent via certified mail with return receipt. Once they receive your letter, they can only contact you to confirm they will stop or notify you of lawsuits.
Stopping contact does not eliminate the debt. Comenity Bank might still sue or report to credit bureaus, but this provides immediate relief from constant calls while you evaluate options.
Demanding Debt Validation from Catherine’s
To demand validation from Catherine’s or Comenity Bank regarding your credit card debt, send a written request within 30 days of their first contact requiring them to prove the debt is yours and the amount is accurate.
Credit card debts often involve billing errors, fraudulent charges, or payments not properly credited. You might be contacted about charges you dispute, returned items not credited, or amounts that include unauthorized fees. Validation is your legal right.
Your validation letter should state you dispute the debt, demand written proof of the Catherine’s account and charges, and include your contact information. Send via certified mail with return receipt.
Once they receive your validation request, they must stop collection activity until providing proper documentation. If they continue calling without validation, this violates the FDCPA.
Can Catherine’s or Comenity Bank Sue You
Catherine’s or Comenity Bank can file a lawsuit if the credit card debt is valid, properly documented, and within your state’s statute of limitations. Credit card lawsuits are common when accounts remain unpaid for extended periods.
However, threatening to sue without intent violates the FDCPA. Many collectors use lawsuit threats as pressure tactics to force quick payment. Warning signs of false threats include repeated warnings without ever filing, unrealistic deadlines to “avoid legal action,” and claims of criminal charges for civil credit card debts.
If served with an actual lawsuit about your Catherine’s account, respond immediately. Ignoring court papers results in default judgments allowing wage garnishment and bank levies. Contact an attorney right away to review your defenses.
Removing Catherine’s from Your Credit Report
If Catherine’s or Comenity Bank reported your credit card debt to credit bureaus and the information is inaccurate, you can dispute it under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Send dispute letters to all three credit bureaus identifying specific errors, request debt validation from the collector, and document all communications. Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate. If they cannot verify the debt, they must remove it.
Common credit reporting errors include reporting debts already paid, incorrect balances, accounts belonging to someone else, and debts past the seven-year reporting time limit. Challenging inaccurate reporting can improve your credit score significantly.
What Catherine’s and Comenity Bank Cannot Legally Do
Catherine’s and Comenity Bank cannot threaten arrest or criminal charges for credit card debt, use automated dialers without your consent, call outside permitted hours, reveal your debt to unauthorized third parties, add fees not authorized in your original agreement, or ignore your written cease communication requests.
Understanding these limits helps you recognize violations. If they engage in illegal tactics, you can hold them accountable through legal action and potentially recover damages.
How Consumer Rights Law Firm Stops Catherine’s Harassment
Consumer Rights Law Firm holds Catherine’s and Comenity Bank accountable when they violate consumer protection laws, collecting credit card debts. If you experienced harassment, illegal robocalls, or deceptive tactics, we can help.
Our services include:
- Investigating FDCPA and TCPA violations in your case
- Filing lawsuits against illegal collectors
- Stopping harassment immediately through legal action
- Recovering statutory damages up to $1,000 per FDCPA violation
- Seeking up to $1,500 per illegal robocall under TCPA
- Obtaining compensation for emotional distress and anxiety
- Ensuring collectors pay your attorney fees when you win
Most cases are handled on contingency. You pay nothing unless you win. When Catherine’s or Comenity Bank violates federal law, they pay your attorney fees.
Call (877) 700-5790 for a free consultation or visit www.consumerlawfirmcenter.com for immediate assistance.
What Our Clients Say
Daily Robocalls Stopped
A client received 15-20 automated calls daily from Comenity Bank about a Catherine’s account despite repeatedly asking them to stop. We filed a TCPA lawsuit, the robocalls ended immediately, and the client recovered damages for the violations.
Workplace Harassment Ended
Another client faced calls to her workplace about Catherine’s debt even after telling collectors her employer prohibited personal calls. We took action under the FDCPA, stopped the harassment, and secured compensation for the violations.
Debt Validation Ignored
A client requested validation of Catherine’s charges but collectors continued aggressive collection without providing proof. We forced them to stop, proved FDCPA violations, and recovered damages for our client.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catherine’s Credit Card Harassment
1. Can Catherine’s call me about someone else’s debt?
No. Collectors cannot discuss another person’s debt with you except in very limited circumstances to locate the debtor. Revealing debt details to third parties violates the FDCPA.
2. Does requesting debt validation hurt my credit?
No. Demanding proof of a debt is your legal right and does not affect your credit score or restart the statute of limitations.
3. Will talking to a lawyer about Catherine’s calls make things worse?
No. Consulting an attorney about your rights does not restart debts, admit liability, or harm your position. It protects you from further violations.
4. Can I sue Catherine’s or Comenity Bank for robocall harassment?
Yes. If they used automated dialers without your consent or violated TCPA rules, you can sue and potentially recover up to $1,500 per illegal call.
5. How much does hiring Consumer Rights Law Firm cost?
Nothing unless you win. Cases are handled on contingency, and the collector must pay your attorney fees if you prevail under the FDCPA or TCPA.
6. What if Catherine’s keeps calling after my cease letter?
Document every call with dates, times, and details, then contact us immediately. Continued calls after a cease letter violate federal law and strengthen your case.
7. Can Comenity Bank garnish my wages for Catherine’s debt?
Not without suing you first and obtaining a court judgment. Threatening wage garnishment without legal authority violates the FDCPA.
