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Regional Mediation Associates; 5651 Main Street, Suite 225; Williamsville, NY 14221
December 14, 2017
NOW COMES the Superintendent, State of Maine, Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, and issues the following Order to Cease and Desist and For Affirmative Sanctions for costs of investigation: WHEREAS Title 32 M.R.S. ? 11031(1) provides that a person or entity may not conduct the business of debt collection in this state without first being licensed by the Superintendent of the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection; and WHEREAS on November 16, 2017, the Bureau received a written complaint from S. G., a Maine consumer, regarding contact from a debt collector using the name of Regional Mediation Associates, purportedly located at 5651 Main Street, Suite 225, Williamsville, NY 14221; and WHEREAS the consumer received multiple telephone calls in in November of 2017 from Regional Mediation Associates stating that they were attempting to collect a debt originating from a payday loan; and WHEREAS the consumer alleges that no such loan was ever obtained; and WHEREAS Bureau staff searched the Bureau?s debt collection licensing records and found no license for Regional Mediation Associates; and WHEREAS Bureau staff sent a certified letter (copy attached) to Regional Mediation Associates at 5651 Main Street, Suite 225, Williamsville, NY 14221; and WHEREAS the certified letter outlined the consumer?s allegations involving the telephone communication received by the consumer from Regional Mediation Associates; and WHEREAS the letter also outlined Regional Mediation Associates? failure to obtain a valid license with the Bureau prior to attempting to collect consumer debts in Maine; and WHEREAS the certified letter from the Bureau was received by Regional Mediation Associates representative ?Chelsea E. Black? on November 25, 2017; and WHEREAS Regional Mediation Associates failed to respond to the Bureau?s certified letter; NOW, THEREFORE, Regional Mediation Associates is hereby: ORDERED to forthwith cease and desist all contact with Maine consumers for the purpose of collecting any debts until such time as it has obtained a debt collector?s license from the Bureau; and it is further ORDERED to pay the sum of $500 to the Bureau within 30 days of the date of this Order for the costs of this investigation, pursuant to 9-A M.R.S ? 6-106(6) and 32 M.R.S. ? 11051.
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NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS Any party aggrieved by this Order may appeal to the Superior Court pursuant to 5 M.R.S. ? 11001 et seq. within 30 days of receipt of this Order. Any other person aggrieved shall have 40 days from the date the Order was rendered to petition for review.
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