WASHINGTON — So, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went ahead and filed an amended complaint against Global Circulation, Inc. (GCI) and its owner, Kenneth Redon III. Apparently, they were up to some shady stuff, using threats of jail time, lawsuits, and wage garnishments to force consumers into paying debts that weren’t even real or ones that GCI couldn’t collect on. Sneaky, sneaky.
The FTC came out swinging on May 3, 2025, announcing a proposed order that would kick GCI and Redon out of the debt collection game for good and slap them with a hefty $9.6 million judgment. Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.
Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, didn’t hold back, saying, “Using intimidation and threats of jail time to squeeze money out of people for debts they don’t owe is just not cool, man.” The FTC isn’t playing around when it comes to cracking down on these phantom debt collectors.
The FTC is claiming that GCI and Redon were playing make-believe, using fake company names to catch consumers off guard and demand payment for debts that either didn’t exist or weren’t even theirs to collect. Not cool, guys. The agency says they also pretended to be buddies with certain lenders, breaking the FTC’s Impersonation Rule. On top of that, they forgot to mention they were debt collectors, which is a big no-no under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). And as if that wasn’t enough, they went ahead and snooped around consumers’ financial info, breaking the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Tsk, tsk.
Back in November 2024, the FTC hit GCI with a temporary restraining order to shut down their operation. Now, with this amended complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the FTC is really laying it on thick, exposing how GCI and Redon were out there scaring folks left and right. The Commission’s vote of 3-0 authorized the complaint and the final order, pending approval by a District Court judge.
The proposed order is no joke, slapping GCI and Redon with some tough consequences. They’re looking at a lifetime ban from the debt collection world and some strict rules about misrepresenting themselves or breaking any more laws. And let’s not forget that nearly $10 million judgment hanging over their heads. Yikes.
If things weren’t already rough for GCI and Redon, they’ve got FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection attorneys Gregory Ashe and Sarah Abutaleb on their case. The FTC is all about taking action against those they suspect are breaking the law, and once a judge signs off on it, those final orders carry some serious weight. The FTC wants to make sure consumers are protected from shady debt collectors who use scare tactics and lies.
The FTC is urging anyone who’s been through a similar ordeal to speak up and report it. They’re keeping a close eye on the debt collection industry and won’t hesitate to step in when things get out of hand. This whole situation serves as a reminder that following the rules and being honest with consumers is the name of the game. No funny business allowed.
So, there you have it. The FTC is cracking down on GCI and Redon for their not-so-friendly debt collection tactics. Let this be a lesson to all the other wannabe debt collectors out there: play by the rules or face the consequences. It’s as simple as that.
