Senator Joins Bill Bartmann in Collection Industry Crusade
And now a senator’s involved.
Republican Senator Gary Stanislawski has teamed with industry favorite Bill Bartmann to file something called “Bartmann Ethical Debt Collection Practices Act.” The bill, according to the press release, also honors Bartmann’s father Louie. Louie, Bartmann claims, died after a particularly exacerbating call with a collection agency years ago.
“But don’t we already have the FDCPA?” I can hear you asking. And yes. Yes, we already have the FDCPA, and it already has protections in it, and while some of it is out of date, it’s not like it’s been waiting all this time for another DCPA-styled bill to join it.
Recently, Bartmann has proposed himself as an industry reformer as well as the head of a new collection agency, CFS II (after CFS I got into some legal scrapes and was forced to close down). He has been a very audible voice in discussions about what to do with the collections industry. And…I know. It’s weird because Bartmann’s own ethical track record is questionable at best.
It’s also frustrating because, at least to this writer, a lot of the current attention on the collection industry has been fueled by consumers and legislators looking to point blame-fingers outwards, and away from themselves. A recession coupled with often piss-poor employment numbers puts a lot of consumers in awkward positions regarding their finances. Messages about personal responsibility have a short shelf-life; no one’s sure how to hold corporations accountable; it’s easy to blame the collection industry because, to be frank, no one likes the collection industry much in the first place.
This is what makes Bartmann’s posturing and messaging so attractive to the media and legislators: here’s someone from within who’s willing to blame the industry — his movement is called “Stop These Criminals!”; and guess who the criminals are — but not himself, and wants to implement a 10-point solution that’ll fix EVERYTHING because that’s how fixes work! FINALLY!
What makes Bartmann’s position even more interesting is that it’s not like what he’s suggesting is beyond the pale; and it’s also not like he’s the first to suggest ethical behavior from the industry. However, he is the most visible voice out there because no one else has necessarily stepped up to the national media plate with a similar plan/dog-and-pony-show.
insideARM.com has a call in to Senator Stanislawski’s office to get some more detail on the story. As we learn more, we’ll pass it on to you.
Sounds like Bartmann is the Dennis Rodman of the collection industry, Good work on the story Mike. Your personal retorts are exactly what I was thinking. Solid.
Congratulations Bill Bartmann! It’s time for a change the industry to treating people with dignity and respect.
Uh, yeah, Bartmann’s a real shining light. Sigh..
I realize it’s your business to report on the industry, however, giving Bartman any publicity may convince the unknowing that he is deserving of some credibility. Few individuals have created a worse impression of our business than Bill Bartman.
Bill Bartman is a lying conniving vermin filled scumbag, a totally treacherous hack of the lowest slithering variety, and then there’s the negative side to him. That anyone in our industry endorses this criminal is quite astounding to me after the pounding our industry took following his illegal shenanigans. His cohort and partner in crime took the fall for him and that guy served time in prison for what they perpetrated, for Gods sake.
Whoever authored this, used the exact amount of tongue-in-cheekness that is appropriate for this story. A well-written piece. It is ridiculous that Bartman claims to be in a position of leading reform in this industry. Its akin to Syria asking that the rest of the nations of the world acknowledge human rights…or perhaps like former Penn State coach Sandusky talking about the need for reform of current child protection laws. Some people claim that the magnetic poles are shifting…but I think that the world is just turning upside down.
Although it’s a fair point the economy fell off a cliff and employment is historically high I would add that third party debt collection ranks second on the FTC’s Consumer Complaint List for the last four years. We applaud Bill’s efforts at Ropay Asset Investors (http://www.ropayassetinvestors.com) and are happy be part of the solution.
@ Brian Rose:
Your point — about debt collection’s ranking on the FTC complaint list — is one that gets trotted out frequently. But I don’t know how much stock we should put into that statistic.
I believe (though please correct me if I’m wrong) that the FTC number is simply raw data. It doesn’t split those complaints into “actual, legitimate complaints about abuses” and “I’m angry and with access to a complaint form: GO!” The number also doesn’t take into consideration those consumer complaints that turned out to be unjustified.
I don’t want anyone to come away from this comment thinking, “Mike Bevel thinks consumer complaints are illegitimate” or that there aren’t things that can be fixed in the industry. I just think the FTC’s numbers should not be used as the barometer that you’re attempting to use it as.
Thanks for reading the article — and I’m a big fan of all of these thoughtful comments. Be sure to participate in the new poll on our homepage about Bartmann and his latest endeavor.
Wow. @ Brian, us ETHICAL collectors have been trying for reform for YEARS! Why do the legislators ignore all the good players and associations, such as ACA and the masses of the agencies, and partner with a freakin’ CROOK! That is not the way to get the masses industry behind it. The whole FTC complaint issue is so stale, first of all it represents way less than 1% of all our contacts, not to even mention Mike Bevel’s point, which is correct. Any industry would like those stats. Randy Slovin absolutely nailed it.
This sounds fabulous :)
Gentlemen, didnt we miss the recent CFPB invention?? I think FTC is getting outdated and we now have CFPB taking the charge. Any comments??
Great Story. I have ready other articles on Mr. Bartmann and have to wonder, how is he getting this much press?
The problem as I see it is media coverage, including some members of Congress seem to thrive upon focusing upon bad issues versus positive issues. I have a message for Mr. Bartman: “Tell him and them I am coming and hell is coming with me”. I am willing to debate face to face with Bartman anytime and anyplace, even the OK Corral. Certainly I have seen bad things in my career, but I have seen more good than bad since 1964. I think industry people would agree that experience is when you get something you do not expect and learn from it. Mr. Bevel-bring on Mr. Bartman.
Stop to think about it! Why is Bill Bartmann looking to expand to other states? Maybe because he as hung so many people out to dry! These people that have families to support do have friends that they voice their opinions, experiences and you have to believe that word of mouth does spread like wild fire. He has to look in other states because his true colors have been revealed here. We must not forget some of the proverb sayings “A leopard never loses his spots, every rose has its thorn, false friends are worse than open enemies. He took those that were ready to believe and deceived them. I hope enough of those he has done wrong do speak up.
There is a reason Forbes did a article in November calling him the Billionaire Huckster. You should put that link on here and let the people read that. I agree that people need to be aware they are offered big salaries to leave there jobs, which some have had for a long time to be terminated within in 90 days and no one usually sees that annual salary and it is short lived. One key point also is he says people know what they are getting into and calls it a BootCamp. I beg to differ no one is told up front the truth its liked they are lured in and setup for failure. I really feel sorry for the investors that have funded this operation I think a small percentage of them have seen any returns if anything they have been sold on a Bankrupt Dream. The Tulsa World should start interviewing those people. One thing that concerned me is my Managers and Staff stopped getting collection reports and production numbers it was all kinda secret to me thats kinda off wierd, but anyway I hope the wonderful people in Tulsa that are lucky enough to survive save some of that money.
Here is the motive. Mr.Bartmann gets so much media , because he has a paid publicist and the real motive is to paint a real bad picture of the industry and a real good picture of himself, so he can go to the Big Banks and say look here I am the one you want to be collecting on your chargeoffs.
If you’re unemployed or under employed, chances are you are not going to be able to pay your way. People are getting arrested for their unpaid debts in six states. And collection agencies are behind it.
A petition has been started on moveon.org to prevent the return of debtor’s prison in the USA. Once enough signatures are obtained, it will go to the US Congress and President Obama.
To sign the petition go to
http://signon.org/sign/outlaw-the-return-of
@sky-fairlane:
We at insideARM.com have actually published quite a bit of content on this subject, and your statement, “People are getting arrested for their unpaid debts in six states. And collection agencies are behind it” isn’t quite correct.
I’d suggest taking a look at some of these posts:
http://www.insidearm.com/opinion/debtors-prisons-dont-exist-nor-are-they-returning/
http://www.insidearm.com/daily/debt-collection-news/accounts-receivables-management/debt-collectors-dont-want-to-send-debtors-to-prison/
http://www.insidearm.com/opinion/npr-jumps-into-debtors-prison-fracas/
http://www.insidearm.com/opinion/fixing-the-issue-of-debtors-prisons/
The last article in particular concedes that state level problems do exist in this arena, but the root causes are legislative and judicial–not collection industry-related.
Regards,
Kloz
I take no issue with any new legislation that I believe can make government and the private sector more competent, efficient, and innovative. Helps to remove the law that create unnecessary burdens upon good business and strengthens those laws that legitimately protect the consumer. As a society we can do all; ethically, honorably, fairly and profitably. We are all consumers.
I find this proposed Bartmann bill distressing only in the sense that it re-directs the focus from necessary reform and places the conversation, good or bad, upon the author. In the end it will not matter if the content was brilliant or banal; it will be Bartmann.
Sincerely,
Susann Bouchillon
SBouchillon@professionalcollector.net
Question I have managed in a call center for years and personally we check employees background as far as seven years back. I have seen probably over 1000 employees in the past 6-7 years and not once has there been any fraud or theft of personal information stolen from our data bases. I also have friends that owe agencies across the country and I still have yet to have heard any incidents regarding fraud by ex-felons. I am a god fearing man I feel as though if a person is giving the chance to succeed them most likely will. How can we as society Judge a person based on a mistake they may have made 20 years ago? So if we don’t give an ex-felon the chance to have a normal life and be productive. What are they supposed to do? Work at McDonalds? I’m sure there are more fraud incidents in the field involving people without any convictions. Fail of the housing market, that Bernie guy, Enron etc. America is so focused on the little guy why the big guy is the real problem. China imports masses of counterfeit items to America, Mexico imports masses of people to America every country on the planet imports something to the American consumer. We are the targets of the world, the American consumer. Most felons in American are drug related, imported drugs. Pharmaceutical companies pollute us with dangerous pills that kill thousands of Americans yearly. So what are we supposed to do with all these ex-felons? Deny them the chance to make an honest living and feed their family? Then worry about your home or your business being robbed. My belief is that if you have paid your debt to society you have to suffer for the rest of your life. This is the land of opportunity, or at least I thought it was. Seems like to me people with money have nothing better to do than sit and bicker on minor problems. We need to help our fellow American instead of internal self-destruction. We are all on the same team. God bless!