D.C. Credit Services Settles FTC Charges

D.C. Credit Services Inc., a Canoga Park debt collection firm, and its co-owner David Cohen have agreed to pay a $300,000 fine to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated federal fair credit reporting laws.

In addition to the fine, the settlement permanently bans Cohen from the debt collection business, the FTC said. Cohen could not be reached for comment.

The agency accused D.C. Credit of providing inaccurate information on consumers’ credit histories to credit-reporting bureaus, which could hurt their chances of getting loans. The agency also accused D.C. Credit of harassing consumers while trying to collect debts.

The settlement requires D.C. Credit to remove all adverse credit information it reported to the credit bureaus over the last seven years.