Century Negotiations informs its clients about a record $2.8 million settlement a debt collection agency must pay to settle FTC charges. CNI President says consumer awareness can lead to industry-wide improvements.

North Huntingdon, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/28/2011 -- Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) executives are informing their clients about a record settlement a debt collection agency agreed to pay to settle charges they violated fair debt collection laws.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that debt collection agency, West Asset Management, violated the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) on multiple occasions, leading to thousands of consumer complaints.

Century Negotiations President Amy Michalo-Rojas urged clients, and the general public, to stay informed about these types of cases so they can recognize when a debt collector violates their legal rights.

West Asset Management allegedly violated the FDCPA—the law designed to protect consumers against deceptive and harassing debt collection tactics—by calling consumers multiple times a day, using rude and abusive language, taking funds without consumer permission, falsely claiming consumers would be jailed or sued, and even contacting consumers regarding debts that did not belong to them.

"Many factors can inspire a debt collector to break the law, from an unethical work environment to the challenge of collecting in a recessed economy," explained Michalo-Rojas. "But individual consumer awareness and reported complaints can stop these violators and warn potential lawbreakers against similar behavior."

She pointed to the FTC's annual FDCPA report which tracks consumer complaints against debt collectors and helps the FTC make recommendations. According to the report, the "FTC believes that consumer complaint data provide useful insight into the acts and practices of debt collectors." In addition to specific cases such as the West Asset Management settlement, the FTC can use complaints to observe overall trends and determine how best to deter future violators.

"Century Negotiations has understood for years that being proactive with debt collector violations is essential to the well-being of our clients," said Michalo-Rojas. "That is why we work with UCAN to directly help clients who believe their rights have been violated."

UCAN, or the United Consumer Advocacy Network, is a consumer group that assists debt settlement clients in stopping harassing debt collection practices through both consumer education and free FDCPA attorney referrals.

"Consumer awareness not only helps the FTC prosecute violators and deter future violators, but can also provide consumers with peace of mind," said Michalo-Rojas. "Consumers have rights even when they owe a debt, and it's important to ensure those rights are protected"

To learn more about consumers' rights, visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm. To read the FTC's 2011 Annual FDCPA Report, visit http://ftc.gov/os/2011/03/110321fairdebtcollectreport.pdf.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.CenturyNI.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Century Negotiations explains the importance of debt buying and debt collection industry changes in light of consumer reports and recent court rulings.

North Huntingdon, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2011 -- Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) executives are applauding a recent court decision requiring debt buyers to provide more information before filing lawsuits against debtors.

The additional information includes the names of the debts' previous owners, the dates they were assigned the debts, and the amount paid by the debt buyer. A court ruled that this information is needed to ensure the debt buyer has the right to sue the debtor.

Previously, only minimal information was needed for debt buyers to begin lawsuit proceedings.

"This decision is one of several that demonstrate a positive trend in the debt buying and debt collection industries," said Amy Michalo-Rojas in reaction to the Illinois court's ruling.

This decision comes on the heels of the Consumers Union report, "Past Due: Why Debt Collection Practices and the Debt Buying Industry Need Reform Now," released in January. According to the report: "There is a massive industry buying and selling large portfolios of debt for pennies on the dollar, and a court system in which debt collectors are able to get court judgments without proof that they own the debt or even that the consumer owes any debt." The report includes real stories of blatant debt collection abuse, statistics, and policy recommendations.

But the Illinois court ruling is evidence that states are taking abuses into their own hands, as was suggested by the Federal Trade Commission in a 2010 report. In that report, the FTC called the debt collection industry "broken" and urged states to enact more consumer protections in litigation.

"Basic consumer protections are in the best interest of the industry as well as the debtors," said Michalo-Rojas. "Innocent consumers will be protected from undeserved lawsuits, and debt buyers could benefit from an improved reputation and possibly higher returns by pursuing only legitimate debts."

For more information about the FTC's report, "Repairing a Broken System: Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration," visit FTC.org.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.CenturyNI.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

North Huntingdon, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/28/2011 -- Century Negotiations, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based debt settlement company, this month launched its brand new website. The site, which can still be found at CenturyNI.com, is more visitor-friendly and includes added pages and resources for clients, affiliates, and the general public.

"For years we have offered our online visitors information on debt settlement, debt collection issues, and information on getting help with overwhelming credit card debt, but now, accessing that information will be even easier," explained Century Negotiations Founder and CEO Dave Leuthold.

In addition to the accessible layout, the new site now includes more pages that are of interest to many visitors. Consumers and affiliates can read the latest information about both the company and the industry on the News & Media page. The Homepage features a video introduction from Leuthold and a cumulative debt-settled chart.

Affiliates now have their own section where they can gain answers to basic questions, and they can gain access to graduated client surveys and see for themselves what CNI graduates report to an independent third-party about their experiences with the program.

The site also includes new testimonials from real CNI clients and a new education page where clients can access resources and their monthly newsletter.

"On top of providing valuable information to our clients and affiliates, we also aimed to incorporate the warm colors of our original site into an aesthetically-pleasing, usable design," said Century Negotiations President Amy Michalo-Rojas. "And I'm proud to say we reached our goals."

To see the new Century Negotiations website, visit http://www.centuryni.com.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.CenturyNI.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Century Negotiations CEO explains why voluntary financial auditing improves the company’s standing in the eyes of clients, bankers, and the general public.

North Huntingdon, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/15/2011 -- The head of Century Negotiations, Inc, a Pennsylvania-based debt resolution company, recently told the Wall Street Journal that voluntary financial auditing has greatly helped his company.

CEO and Founder Dave Leuthold explained that banks and regulators look favorably on companies that hire third-party certified public accountants to audit their finances, despite the upfront costs. A voluntary audit can be pricey – many thousands of dollar each time – but Leuthold said the benefits outweigh the costs.

"As a consumer debt resolution company, it is imperative that our own finances are in perfect order," said Leuthold. "And no one has to take our word for it—we have a professional third-party that has double-checked our bookkeeping every year since 2005."

The audits not only earn the company the trust of its clients and bankers, but audits are required for licensure in some states. Leuthold said that staying on top of voluntary audits has helped Century Negotiations reach clients throughout the country.

"It is our goal to help every qualified consumer who requests our services, and we're thrilled to be able to serve clients in many states," he said.

As a result of the upfront costs to companies, very few choose to hire third-party accountants. Moreover, only about 25 percent of small businesses (with less than 500 employees) keep financial statements at all, according to the Federal Reserve Board's National Survey of Small Business Finances. Leuthold said this is just one more example of how Century Negotiations goes above and beyond for their clients.

"I've always said it's our mission to treat our clients with respect, and I have long felt that responsibility and transparency on our end is the best way to achieve that mission," he said.

To read the Wall Street Journal article on voluntary auditing, visit http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703791904576076474014311438.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#printMode

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled approximately $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.CenturyNI.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm