The $625 million Clearview Federal Credit Union has filed a lawsuit against Clearview Credit, a Florida debt settlement company claiming misrepresentation to the cooperative's members.
Filed May 20, the federal trademark suit is seeking a cease and desist including stopping the distribution of materials with the Clearview Credit name. The CU first learned of the Tampa, Fla.-based company after members came into the branches with mailers from Clearview Credit asking if the CU endorsed the firm or if it had expanded into debt settlement services, said Matt Pritchard, the attorney representing Clearview FCU in Moon Township, Pa.
"We look forward to protecting the reputation and goodwill of the credit union," Pritchard said. "We've given [Clearview Credit] the opportunity to respond. The ball is in their court as to what they want to do."
For that reason, Clearview FCU has not served Clearview Credit with the suit yet but has sent a copy of the complaint and a demand letter. Clearview FCU was originally chartered to serve US Airways. It has members in all 50 states, Pritchard said.
A comment from Clearview Credit was not immediately available.
