Feds Sue Debt Collection Agency For Deceptively Using CA District Attorney Seals On Letters To Debtors

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- A federal lawsuit is trying to stop a debt collection company from using the seal and letterhead of California district attorneys to go after state residents who owe money.

The suit says CorrectiveSolutions falsely claims the authority of a district attorney to intimidate debtors into paying fees and their debt. According to the lawsuit, the letters sent by CorrectiveSolutions threaten criminal prosecution, though no prosecutor has reviewed the evidence and the person is unlikely to be charged with a crime.

The suit was filed Tuesday in federal court in San Francisco. A call to CorrectiveSolutions was not immediately returned.

Alameda County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Teresa Drenick said her office lets CorrectiveSolutions know which debtors it can contact on the district attorney's behalf.