Collection Agency Responds to Settlement Announcement from Cuomo

The debt collection agency that was the target of an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has responded to the announcement Tuesday from the AG’s office that a settlement agreement had been reached.

Cuomo’s office said Tuesday that Buffalo-area debt collector LHR, Inc. had agreed to a settlement in which the company would pay $125,000 in “penalties and costs” and amend its collection practices (“NY AG Settles Case Against Debt Collector for $125,000,” July 27).

Late Tuesday, LHR’s President , Wayne Lewis, issued a statement noting that his firm had cooperated with the investigation and did not admit to any wrongdoing.

“Over the last year LHR has been fully cooperating with the Attorney General’s office regarding a review of the debt collections industry,” said Lewis. “LHR has reached a settlement agreement with the Attorney General to resolve this matter in which LHR does not admit to any wrongdoing.”

“LHR believes it is important for the community to know that LHR is a locally owned and operated company that provides good paying jobs to hundreds of individuals throughout Western New York. LHR is a good corporate citizen that gives back to the community and the company is proud of its work on behalf of its clients,” said Lewis.

In 2007, LHR was named as one of the Top 10 best places to work in New York State. The company placed 10th in the small/medium companies category in a program run by the independent Best Companies Group.

Lewis continued: “LHR takes compliance measures very seriously and invest significant corporate resources to provide employees with training to ensure they are complying with all state and federal laws that regulate the collections industry.”