Riverside County DA Secures $10.2M Debt Collection Settlement

Credit One Bank to pay penalties and costs over alleged unlawful collection practices

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced a $10.2 million settlement with Credit One Bank over a civil lawsuit alleging the company and its agents engaged in unlawful debt collection activities, including making unreasonable and excessive calls to California residents.

Why it matters

This settlement is the fourth judgment obtained by a statewide task force of district attorneys targeting alleged abusive debt collection practices, signaling an ongoing crackdown on companies accused of harassing consumers with excessive phone calls and other tactics.

The details

The complaint alleged Credit One, directly and through its agents, made debt collection calls to California residents with unreasonable and excessive frequency, and persisted in calling consumers after they stated they no longer wished to receive the calls or when the calls were made to wrong numbers. Credit One denied the allegations but agreed to pay $9 million in civil penalties and $1.2 million in investigative costs.

  • The civil lawsuit was filed in Riverside Superior Court.
  • On February 19, the court ordered Credit One to pay the $10.2 million settlement.

The players

Mike Hestrin

Riverside County District Attorney who announced the settlement.

Credit One Bank, N.A.

A Nevada-based credit card company that agreed to the $10.2 million settlement over alleged unlawful debt collection practices.

California Debt Collection Task Force

A statewide law enforcement team composed of district attorneys from Riverside, San Diego, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles counties that handled the investigation and prosecution of the case against Credit One.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by state and local authorities to crack down on debt collection companies accused of harassing consumers, underscoring the importance for businesses to comply with consumer protection laws around debt collection practices.