MEMORANDUM & ORDER On July 23, 2019, plaintiffs Eliezer Smaia, Joshua Feldman, and Naftela Deutch initiated this action, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, against defendant Nationwide Credit, Inc. (“Nationwide”) for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §1962, et seq. (“FDCPA” or “the Act”). Plaintiffs assert that Nationwide violated three FDCPA provisions, §§1692g(b), 1692e, and 1692e(10), through its use of allegedly confusing debt collection letters. Nationwide now moves for summary judgement on all of plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the reasons set forth below, defendant’s motion is granted. Background1 Plaintiffs’ lawsuit concerns the substance and formatting of three nearly identical letters. Given that wellspring, the relevant facts are found almost entirely within the four corners of those letters. Between December 2018 and March 2019, all three plaintiffs received notices from defendant by mail informing them that their debts owed to American Express had been referred to Nationwide for collection. See Dkt. 22-5 (“Pls’ SoF”)
1-3; Dkt. 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 (the “Collection Notices”). The front fold of each mailing (i.e. the side that was partially visible under the clear plastic of the envelope) contains the name and address of the recipient, as well as a return address in the form of a PO box in Des Moines, Iowa (“PO Box 10354″), with only the words “PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL” printed above the address. The front fold also contains instructions to “remit to” a different Des Moines, Iowa, PO box, this one with the name “Nationwide Credit, Inc.” printed above the address (“PO Box 14581″). On the reverse side of each mailing is the letter itself, which comprises a total of two pages. At the top of the first page, in large font, is a heading with the name “Nationwide Credit, Inc.” and the address for PO Box 14581 right underneath, and just below that hours of operation and a telephone number. Below the heading, the first paragraph of the letter consists of a single sentence stating that the recipient has an outstanding balance that has been referred to Nationwide.2 The second paragraph of each letter then contains the following standard disclaimer required under 15 U.S.C. §1692g(a)(4): Unless you notify this office within thirty days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume the debt is valid. If you notify this office in writing within thirty days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will obtain verification of the debt or obtain a copy of a judgment and mail you a copy of such verification or judgment. Upon your written request within the thirty-day period after receiving this notice, this office will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor. Further down, in the middle of the first page of the letter, is a table providing two different means of payment. The first is to use Nationwide’s online portal and the second is to pay by mail to Nationwide at PO Box 14581. The remainder of the first page of the Collection Notices contains various additional disclaimers required under federal and state law. The second page contains still more disclaimers, as well as a contact information update form. There is no evidence in the record that plaintiffs ever sent a dispute or request for verification to Nationwide. See Pls’ SoF at
