Is Big Lots Harassing You?

Is Big Lots Harassing You?

Is Big Lots Harassing You? Are you receiving debt collection calls from Big Lots/Comenity Bank and wondering how to stop the harassment stemming from these calls? Big Lots Stores, the retail chain formally known as Big Lots Stores, operates as a business with various commercial activities, including offering credit cards and rewards programs. Have you asked agents of Big Lots to stop calling, yet they continue to call you? Wish there was a way to make the calls stop? Congress enacted Telephone Consumer Protection Act, (TCPA) to stop harassing phone calls from companies like Big Lots. In many cases the offending companies are required to pay damages to those who were being harassed.

Who is Big Lots?

According to Wikipedia Big Lots!, Inc. is an American retail company and business headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with over 1,400 stores in 47 states. The Big Lots Credit Card is managed through Comenity Capital Bank and is linked to a consumer account that is established and maintained by the bank.

Understanding Debt Collection

Dealing with debt collection practices can be a stressful and confusing experience, especially when you’re receiving persistent phone calls from debt collectors. A debt collector is any person or company that collects debts owed to others, and collection agencies are businesses that specialize in collecting debts on behalf of creditors. These collection efforts can include repeated phone calls, letters, and other forms of contact, which can quickly feel overwhelming for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main government agency overseeing debt collection practices in the United States. The FTC sets strict guidelines that debt collectors and collection agencies must follow, including rules against harassment, threats, and deceptive tactics. Despite these laws, many consumers still report being harassed by debt collectors—sometimes through excessive calls, misleading statements, or unfair collection efforts.

If you have a Big Lots credit card, managed by Comenity Bank, you may find yourself on the receiving end of collection calls if you miss payments. Big Lots, as a major American retail company, works with Comenity Bank to manage its credit card accounts, and both companies may use collection agencies to collect unpaid debts. In many cases, these collection efforts can cross the line into harassment, which is strictly prohibited by law.

Consumers have the right to request that debt collectors stop calling them. Once you make this request, the debt collector must comply, although they may still contact you in writing about your debt. If a debt collector continues to call after you’ve asked them to stop, or if they use threats or intimidation, you may be entitled to statutory damages, attorney fees, and other compensation. It’s important to be aware of your rights and to keep a record of all calls, letters, and other forms of contact as evidence.

Managing debt can feel daunting, but there are options available, such as credit counseling, debt consolidation, or even bankruptcy in some cases. A law firm experienced in debt collection laws can help you understand your options and protect your rights throughout the process. If you’re being harassed by debt collectors working on behalf of Big Lots, Comenity Bank, or any other company, don’t hesitate to seek legal advice.

Who’s calling?

If you are getting calls demanding payment for your Big Lots credit card, then it is EXTREMELY important to first determine who is calling. These calls may be about a debt you owe on your account.

The calls may be from the Biglots credit card internal collection department, or it may be from a third-party collection agency.

You may receive calls from a third-party collection agency because Big Lots is allowed to either transfer or sell the debt to a third party; this does not mean that you will no longer be contacted for repayment. It is very important to know which among these two is calling so that you may know what laws exist to protect your rights in your respective situation.

After you have ascertained who is calling to collect the debt, you then need to take the following steps to end harassment:

• ➢ Get evidence
• ➢ Speak to the collector
• ➢ Requesting in writing that the collector stop contacting you
• ➢ Sue, or report them to a professional body if the harassment persists. You may also consider filing a lawsuit against the collector if the harassment continues.

We will now take each point one after the other

Get evidence

In order to support your harassment claim, you will need to provide sufficient evidence. This can include the following:

• ➢ Keeping a record of the number of calls and visits (date and time included).
• ➢ Keeping a record of conversations either through writing or recording.
• ➢ Keeping a record of all letters and documents you have received, including any legal notices or documents received as part of service of process.
• ➢ Getting statements from people who can bear witness to the harassment, such as family members who may have witnessed the debt collector’s actions.

Speaking to collector

In writing, inform the collector that you are aware of your rights and ask for the harassment to stop. If you have previously requested in writing that the collector stop contacting you, they are required by law to comply. You may also let them know how you wish to be contacted henceforth and point out that harassment is a criminal offence and you intend to take further action if it doesn’t stop.

You can get your lawyer to send this on your behalf or send it yourself via certified mail with a return receipt included. If you do not have a lawyer representing you, you can contact our team of A+ accredited attorneys at 877-700-5790.

Suing or reporting the collector to a professional body

If the harassment persists, then you can sue the collection agency for harassment. If the harassment continues, litigation may be necessary to resolve the ongoing dispute. The court may award statutory damages of $1000 in addition to actual damages if you prove a valid case of harassment. Courts may also issue summary judgment if there are no genuine disputes of material fact in your case, allowing for a quicker resolution. What’s more, you won’t need to pay us a dime if you hire us to represent you and win.

You may also report them to the CFPB, which may be a slower and more drawn-out process, as the CFPB responds to thousands of complaints against debt collectors every day.

Is Big Lots Harassing You?

There are several ways companies like Big Lots harass consumers and violate the law. The TCPA limits when and how often a company like Big Lots can call. The TCPA also bans the use of automatic dialing systems. The FTC has expressed concern about aggressive debt collection practices, especially those that compromise consumer protection and regulatory oversight. The intended purpose of the TCPA is to protect consumers from harassment and ensure fair communication practices. Some of the key parts that Big Lots must follow when making calls are below:

• ➢ Companies must maintain a “Do Not Call” list and honor any request from a consumer to not be called again.
• ➢ Marketers may not send unsolicited advertisements by auto-dialer, prerecorded voice message, or fax to anyone without prior express consent.
• ➢ Customers must be able to opt-out of future robocalls during a robocall.
• ➢ Calling without identifying themselves or without revealing the identity of the person or company on whose behalf they are making the calls.
• ➢ Companies must clearly disclose any interest or fees associated with the debt when contacting consumers.

Big Lots Phone Numbers 

Are you receiving any harassing phone calls from any of these numbers?

800-251-1344, 913-312-9496, 901-881-9965, 650-200-1467, 866-326-0809, 202-417-2116, 360-868-6188, 303-255-5348, 614-754-4136, 800-695-2912, 614-534-2516

If the answer is yes, then you are receiving calls from a known Big Lots phone number. You may be a victim of Big Lots Phone Harassment. The list above is not all the numbers that Big Lots uses. The calls can be from different phone numbers and still be Big Lots calling you. Cardholders might also receive text messages from these numbers in relation to collecting a credit card debt. Collection agencies are often trying to recover money owed on credit card accounts. Sometimes, debts are sold to collection agencies for pennies on the dollar, and these agencies then attempt to collect the full amount from consumers. If harassment is proven, you may be entitled to be paid damages under laws like the FDCPA. Contact our office right away so we can start the process to stop Big Lots from calling you illegally. No one should live with the harassment!

Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC