A Pennsylvania resident has taken legal action against a major financial institution, accusing it of harassment and unfair trade practices. Layth Tawalbeh filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on February 28, 2025, against Comenity Capital Bank. The plaintiff alleges that the bank engaged in aggressive debt collection tactics that violated state laws.
According to the complaint, Layth Tawalbeh opened a line of credit with Comenity Capital Bank for personal use. However, starting in June 2024, Tawalbeh claims that the bank began a campaign of harassment through incessant phone calls to collect an overdue debt. Specifically, between July 5 and July 11, 2024, Tawalbeh reportedly received 22 calls from the bank. This pattern continued with another 15 calls between July 14 and July 19, totaling numerous attempts to contact him within a short span.
The plaintiff asserts that these actions by Comenity Capital Bank constitute violations under the Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (FCEUA) and the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL). The complaint highlights that "Defendant caused Plaintiff’s telephone to ring repeatedly and continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass Plaintiff," which is prohibited under FCEUA regulations.
Tawalbeh further argues that the bank's conduct resulted in an ascertainable loss of money due to what he describes as "fraudulent or deceptive conduct" likely to cause misunderstanding among consumers. The plaintiff maintains that by violating the FCEUA, Comenity Capital Bank inherently breached provisions of the UTPCPL as well.
In seeking redress from the court, Layth Tawalbeh requests treble damages—a tripling of actual damages as permitted under certain legal statutes—alongside attorney’s fees and costs. He also seeks any other economic or equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court within its jurisdiction.
Representing Layth Tawalbeh is attorney John T. Shaffer Jr., Esq., from Starks Law P.C., based in Pittsburgh. The case does not yet have an assigned judge or Case ID number as it awaits further proceedings.