Update: WWJD lawsuit withdrawn

(RNS) A Minnesota couple has abandoned its lawsuit against a debt collection agency that put the initials “WWJD” on collection letters after their ties to a rival company were discovered. Sara and Mark Neill of Becker, Minn., had received three letters from Bullseye Collection Agency, Inc. in 2008 with the letters “WWJD” — an acronym […]

(RNS) A Minnesota couple has abandoned its lawsuit against a debt collection agency that put the initials “WWJD” on collection letters after their ties to a rival company were discovered.

Sara and Mark Neill of Becker, Minn., had received three letters from Bullseye Collection Agency, Inc. in 2008 with the letters “WWJD” — an acronym commonly understood to mean “What Would Jesus Do?” — printed on the upper right-hand corner.

The Neills claimed the phrase invokes shame or guilt and portrays 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.


But Liberty Counsel, a religious freedom firm that represented Bullseye, filed a counterclaim against the Neills and discovered that Mark Neill is president of a Minnesota debt collection company that competes with Bullseye.

Liberty said the Neills have dropped both of their claims against Bullseye and can never bring them again in any court.

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