$8.5 million settlement reached against National Check Resolution.

A debt collection company is giving up $8.5 million in consumer debt under a settlement with the state of Georgia.

The Lawrenceville company, National Check Resolution Inc., illegally threatened consumers with imprisonment and garnishment of wages, according to the allegations in the settlement announced Wednesday.

Attorney General Chris Carr said the company repeatedly harassed and deceived consumers in violation of federal and state debt collection laws.

"Our office will hold debt collectors that try to coerce and intimidate consumers by employing abusive, deceptive and illegal tactics accountable," Carr said in a statement.

The company’s CEO, Samuel Tulumello, and its compliance manager, Rhonda Tulumello, denied engaging in unfair or deceptive acts, according to the settlement.

The company will cease collections on the $8.5 million in consumer debt and hand over 11,980 affected accounts to the Attorney General’s Office so they can’t be sold or collected on in the future.

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