The CFPB ordered Syndicated Office Systems to pay $5.4 million in refunds to customers and pay a $500,000 fine for “mishandling credit-reporting disputes.” The CFPB claimed “Syndicated Office Systems prevented customers from knowing their full rights in medical debt collections.”

• The CFPB issued a consent order to Syndicated Office Systems, LLC, d/b/a Central Financial Control. [CFPB file no. 2015-CFPB-0012 (Syndicated Office Systems, LLC), filed 06/18/15]

• The CFPB ordered Syndicated Office Systems to pay $5.4 million in refunds to customers and pay a $500,000 fine for “mishandling credit-reporting disputes.” The CFPB claimed “Syndicated Office Systems prevented customers from knowing their full rights in medical debt collections. Specifically, the bureau claims Syndicated Office Systems violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by neglecting to respond to 13,000 consumer credit report disputes, and by not having a system in place to handle credit disputes. Additionally, the bureau said that Syndicated Office Systems failed to give customers legally required information about how to request proof that a debt is owed, and information about how to dispute debt-collection attempts.” [Colin Wilhelm, “CFPB Fines Medical Debt Collector for Handling of Disputes,” American Banker, 06/19/15]