Capital One Ordered to Pay $10.2M in Riverside Court Judgment

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Capital One Bank N.A. has been ordered to pay $10.2 million in civil penalties and investigative costs after a Riverside County District Attorney's Office investigation found the financial institution engaged in unlawful debt collection activities in California. The settlement was reached in a civil lawsuit filed in Riverside Superior Court by a statewide team of district attorneys from Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Clara counties.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by state and local authorities to crack down on aggressive and illegal debt collection practices that can harass and burden consumers. The large penalty imposed on Capital One sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

The details

The complaint alleged that Capital One, directly and through its agents, made debt-collection phone calls to California residents at "unreasonable and excessive frequency." The company also persisted in calling consumers after they stated they no longer wished to receive the calls or when calls were made to wrong numbers. Capital One denied the allegations, but the $10.2 million stipulated judgment requires the company to comply with state and federal laws governing consumer debt collection calls and maintain certain business practices to ensure compliance.

• The civil lawsuit was filed in Riverside Superior Court.
• The $10.2 million stipulated judgment was signed and entered by Riverside Superior Court Judge Harold Hopp on February 19, 2026.

What’s next

The $10.2 million judgment requires Capital One to comply with state and federal laws governing consumer debt collection calls and maintain certain business practices to ensure compliance.