Couple sues over ‘WWJD’ on notice

A Minnesota couple is suing a debt collection agency for putting the initials “WWJD” on its collection letters, arguing that it breaks an anti-harassment law by portraying debtors as hell-bound sinners.

Sara and Mark Neill of Becker, Minn., received three letters from Bullseye Collection Agency Inc. in 2008 with the acronym commonly understood to mean “What Would Jesus Do?” printed in the corner.

The Neills claim the phrase invokes shame or guilt and “portray(s) the debtor as a sinner who is going to hell,” and thus violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which outlaws abusive or harassing collection tactics.

This month a judge denied a motion to dismiss the Neills’ claim.

Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel, a religious freedom firm based in Orlando that is representing Bullseye, said the phrase simply means the company adopts Christian principles.