CJ-2026-1178 - TTCU Federal Credit Union fka TTCU The Credit Union v. Mary Garland

What's This Case About?

Let’s cut to the chase: a full-grown adult owes a credit union nearly $20,000 and now the debt collector is suing her in Tulsa County District Court — not for fraud, not for identity theft, not even for buying a luxury speedboat or funding a llama farm, but for not paying her credit card bill. That’s it. That’s the crime. Mary Garland, allegedly, swiped her TTCU VISA Platinum Card like she was on a Black Friday bender, and now the bill has come due — and it’s not backing down. The amount? $19,925.03. Yes, the three cents is included. This is not a drill. This is American capitalism at its most petty and precise.

So who are these players in this high-stakes game of financial chicken? On one side, we’ve got TTCU Federal Credit Union — formerly known as “TTCU The Credit Union,” because even credit unions aren’t immune to midlife rebranding crises. They’re a federally chartered financial institution based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which means they’re not some sketchy payday lender operating out of a converted laundromat (though, let’s be honest, some of those laundromats look more trustworthy). TTCU offers things like savings accounts, car loans, and — you guessed it — credit cards with APRs that can climb as high as 19.49%, depending on how badly your credit score has been ghosted by its ex. On the other side of this legal showdown is Mary Garland, a private individual whose name appears once in this filing, right next to a signature on a credit card application, and now again in bold font as the defendant. We don’t know if she’s a schoolteacher, a TikTok influencer, or someone who just really, really likes avocado toast — but we do know she once applied for a credit card, agreed to its terms (including letting TTCU raid her savings account if needed), and now finds herself on the receiving end of a lawsuit that includes a formal notice that this is an attempt to collect a debt. Spoiler: it is.

Now, let’s walk through the timeline of this financial tragedy. At some point — probably before March 9, 2017, since that’s the last date the credit card terms were confirmed — Mary Garland filled out an application for a TTCU VISA Platinum Card. She signed it. She agreed to the terms. She gave them permission to contact her via text, email, robot voice calls, carrier pigeon — you name it. She even granted them a security interest in her other accounts at the credit union, meaning if she defaulted, TTCU could just yank money from her savings like a bank heist with paperwork. This wasn’t a secret clause buried in 47 pages of legalese; it was right there, and she signed it. Fast forward to today, and something went sideways. Whether Mary stopped making payments because of hardship, forgetfulness, or a sudden philosophical objection to capitalism, we don’t know. What we do know is that the balance grew, the reminders were sent, the late fees piled up (up to $22 each time, which adds up faster than you’d think), and now TTCU has decided to stop playing nice. They’ve sent the big guns — not a collections agency, but their actual lawyer, Collin M. Hinds of the Hinds Law Firm, PC, who’s not only suing Mary for $19,925.03 but also asking the court to force the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to hand over her employment records for the past four quarters. That’s right — they want to know where she’s working so they can potentially garnish wages. This isn’t just a bill reminder. This is war.

And what exactly are they suing for? Legally, it’s a “collection of indebtedness” claim — which, in plain English, means “you borrowed money, you didn’t pay it back, now we want the court to make you pay.” There’s no allegation of fraud, no claim that Mary used the card to buy gold bars and flee the country. It’s simply that she used a credit product as intended — making purchases, possibly cash advances — and then failed to repay the balance. The credit union says she owes $19,925.03, and they’re demanding not just the principal, but interest at the statutory rate (which in Oklahoma is 5% unless otherwise specified), plus attorney’s fees and court costs. They’re also asking for a judgment that would allow them to track her employment — a procedural move that suggests they’re preparing for the long game if she doesn’t pay up voluntarily.

Now, is $19,925 a lot? Well, yes and no. It’s not a million-dollar lawsuit. It’s not even close to the kind of debt you’d rack up buying a car or a house. But for an individual, especially in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nearly twenty grand in credit card debt is massive. For context, the median household income in Tulsa County is around $60,000. This debt is roughly a third of that — and it’s all on a credit card. Even at the high end of TTCU’s interest rates, that balance could have snowballed fast if only minimum payments were made (or none at all). But here’s the kicker: the card had no annual fee, no transaction fee on cash advances, and promised a grace period if you paid in full each month. So how did it get here? Did Mary lose her job? Did an emergency drain her savings? Or did she just keep spending while ignoring the monthly statements? We don’t know — and the filing doesn’t say. But the lack of drama in the petition is what makes it so fascinating. There’s no sob story, no counterclaim, no wild allegations. Just cold, hard math and a signature on a form.

So what’s our take? The most absurd part of this case isn’t the amount, or the fact that a credit union is suing someone — it’s the sheer banality of it. This is how debt works in America: you sign a piece of paper, you get a shiny plastic card, you spend, you forget, you fall behind, and suddenly you’re in court with a lawyer demanding you pay back every penny, plus interest, plus fees, plus legal costs. And the court? It will likely rule in favor of the credit union, because Mary agreed to the terms, and unless she files an answer disputing the debt (which, given the lack of representation mentioned in the filing, seems unlikely), this will be a default judgment — a legal rubber stamp on a financial defeat. We’re not rooting for the debt collector. We’re not rooting for the defendant, either, unless she can prove the debt was incurred under duress or error. But we are rooting for a system where people understand what they’re signing, where credit isn’t dangled like candy in front of struggling households, and where a $20,000 credit card bill doesn’t end in a courtroom instead of a conversation. But hey — this isn’t a policy podcast. This is CrazyCivilCourt. And in our world, the real crime isn’t the debt. It’s charging $22 for a late payment while also taking three cents so seriously they write it out to the penny in the lawsuit. Priorities, people. Priorities.

Case Overview

$19,925 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

Tulsa County District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Collin M. Hinds

Hinds Law Firm, PC

Relief Sought

$19,925 Monetary

Plaintiffs

TTCU Federal Credit Union fka TTCU The Credit Union business
Rep: Collin M. Hinds, OBA # 17391

Defendants

Mary Garland individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	collection of indebtedness	non-payment of a credit agreement

Petition Text

1,342 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT WITHIN AND FOR TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA TTCU Federal Credit Union fka TTCU The Credit Union, Plaintiff, vs. Mary Garland, Defendant. PETITION FOR COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS COMES NOW the Plaintiff, TTCU Federal Credit Union fka TTCU The Credit Union, and for Plaintiff's cause of action against the Defendant alleges and states: 1. Mary Garland owes Plaintiff, TTCU Federal Credit Union fka TTCU The Credit Union, nineteen thousand nine hundred twenty-five and 03/100 ($19,925.03) for non-payment of a credit agreement attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and made a part hereof. 2. That the cause of action occurred in Tulsa County and this Court has jurisdiction over the persons and subject matter of this action. 3. That the undersigned attorney, in order to comply with federal debt collection law, states: THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. That the name of the creditor is TTCU Federal Credit Union fka TTCU The Credit Union. That the amount of the debt in default is $19,925.03. That Mary Garland is/are entitled to verify or dispute the debt which is the subject of this petition by contacting the undersigned attorney at the telephone number or address shown below. The debt which is subject to this Petition or any portion of the debt may be disputed by Mary Garland in writing to the undersigned attorney within thirty (30) days and if not disputed will be assumed to be valid. That upon written request of Mary Garland within the period of thirty (30) days, the Plaintiff will provide such information, data and documentation as may be reasonably necessary to prove the debt. That written communications concerning the debt should be directed to the undersigned attorney. Such communication will not relieve Mary Garland from the obligation of payment of the debt or the requirement to file an Answer or otherwise respond to this Petition as provided for by law. 4. Plaintiff requests that upon entry of judgment in favor of the Plaintiff that the Court also enter an Order directing the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission ("OESC") to produce information in its possession concerning the employment of the judgment debtor(s) for the preceding four quarters, upon service of certified copy of said Order on the OESC in accordance with 40 O.S. § 4-508(D). WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against the Defendant, Mary Garland, for the sum of nineteen thousand nine hundred twenty-five and 03/100 ($19,925.03), with interest accruing at the statutory rate, until paid, reasonable attorney's fees, all costs expended herein, and all other relief this Court may deem just and equitable. Hinds Law Firm, PC [Signature] Collin M. Hinds, OBA # 17391 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 410 Tulsa, OK 74103 (918) 514-3203 [email protected] Attorney for Plaintiff TTCU credit card information: The information about the costs of the cards described in this application is accurate as of 3/9/2017. This information may have changed after that date. To find out what may have changed, call us at 1-800-234-8828. Write us at PO Box 4999, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74159. Note: Platinum Card minimum credit line is $1,000. <table> <tr> <th>Features</th> <th>VISA PLATINUM CARD</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases</td> <td><b>7.40% to 19.49%</b> based on your creditworthiness when you open the account. After that, your APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate as set out in the Variable – Rate Information section of your Agreement.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Cash advances and Balance Transfers</td> <td><b>7.40% to 19.49%</b> based on your creditworthiness when you open the account. After that, your APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate as set out in the Variable – Rate Information section of your Agreement.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>How to Avoid Paying Interest on purchases</td> <td>Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle. We will not charge you any interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance by the due date each month. We will begin charging interest on cash advances and balance transfers on the transaction date.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>For Credit Card Tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau</td> <td>To learn more about factors to consider when applying for or using a credit card, visit the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at http://consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.</td> </tr> </table> <table> <tr> <th>Fees</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Annual Fee</td> <td>None</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Transaction Fees</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Transaction fee for Cash Advances and Balance Transfers</td> <td>0% of advance</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Foreign Transaction</td> <td>.8% of each transaction in US dollars</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Foreign Transaction</td> <td>1.0% of the converted transaction amount</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Penalty Fees</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Late Payment</td> <td>Up to $22.00 – if your minimum monthly payment is not received by us on the due date on your monthly statement, we may impose a late fee of up to $22.00 which will be reflected on the following monthly statement.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Returned Check or ACH Fee</td> <td>Up to $22.00 – We may charge a return check or ach fee for each return by a bank or other depository institution.</td> </tr> </table> How We Will Calculate Your Balance: We use the method called the "average daily balance (including new purchases)". Billing Rights: Information on your right to dispute transactions and how to exercise those rights is provided in your account agreement. I/We are making application for a TTCU credit card account indicated above. I/We, by signing, using, or permitting another to use the credit card, agree that I/we will be bound by the terms and conditions of the Card Holder Agreement which will be provided as well as all amendments. Everything that I/we have stated in the application is reasonably correct and is made for the purpose of obtaining credit. I/We authorize the dissemination of the information contained herein, on the application and other loan documents to joint applicants. I/We understand that you will retain this application and all supporting documents you require whether or not it is approved. You are authorized to periodically check my credit and employment status and history. You are authorized to answer questions about your credit experience with me, from other lenders, other departments of the credit union and appropriate credit reporting agencies. You are authorized to store personal and financial information and loan documentation electronically in lieu of paper documents. I/We understand that approved identification will be required to complete this transaction. I am giving express consent that TTCU and its agents may try to contact me in writing, by e-mail, or using prerecorded/artificial voice messages, text messages, and automatic telephone dialing systems as the law allows regarding this account or any other account or relationship I have with TTCU. I agree that TTCU may try to contact me in these and other ways at any address or telephone number I provide TTCU now or in the future, even if the telephone number is a cell phone number or the contact results in a charge to me. I/We grant TTCU a security interest in all of my credit union shares and deposits to secure this credit card account. TTCU may apply funds from my accounts toward any amount owing on my credit card account at any time without further notice. Mary Garland Applicants Signature MARY GARLAND Date Co-Applicants Signature Date Information Necessary for Balance Transfers 1. Name of Company ___________________________ Account Number ___________________________ 2. Exact payoff balance $ ________________ Address: ________________________________________ 3. Service Phone Number __________________ 4. Attach the most recent statement from the credit card company(ies) to be paid off. If a cash advance is made for the purpose of paying off another card please understand that you should continue to make payments on that account until you receive a statement showing a zero balance as TTCU makes no warranty regarding the timeliness of such transfers.