Kinney v. Tasman Credit Corp

On May 5, 2025, plaintiff Sarah Kinney filed a class-action lawsuit against Tasman Credit Corp in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Kinney alleged that Tasman Credit Corp, a debt buyer, violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by reporting inaccurate, unverified debt information to credit bureaus and engaging in aggressive collection tactics, including repeated harassing phone calls and threats of legal action without intent to follow through. Kinney claimed she had disputed the debt multiple times, but Tasman failed to conduct a reasonable investigation and continued to report the debt as valid, damaging her credit score. The suit sought statutory damages and injunctive relief to halt these practices.

Pending class certification and a motion to dismiss filed by the defendant. No final judgment has been rendered.

Whether Tasman Credit Corp violated the FCRA by negligently or willfully failing to investigate the disputed debt and continuing to furnish inaccurate information to consumer reporting agencies, and whether its collection methods constituted abusive, deceptive, or unfair practices under the FDCPA.

The case draws attention to aggressive debt-buying industry practices and the challenges consumers face in correcting erroneous credit reports, potentially shaping standards for debt verification and collector liability nationwide.