If debt collectors are calling you constantly, jeopardizing your job by calling your workplace when they know it is not allowed by your employer or harassing your friends or neighbors, a cease communication letter can be sent. You can request that debt collectors communicate with you only in writing or cease communication altogether. Afterward, the debt collector may only communicate with you in order to inform you that collection has been terminated or to let you know about a specific action, such as a lawsuit, the collector intends to make.
If you are represented in the debt collection case by an attorney, the law states that debt collectors must communicate directly with the attorney rather than the debtor, unless the attorney fails to respond to the debt collector in a reasonable time period. Using or threatening to use violence or other criminal actions to harm consumers, their property or their reputation are illegal under the fair debt collections law. Obscene, profane or offensive language is also not allowed by law.
Calling you repeatedly, hanging up, calling and not saying anything, anonymous phone calls or any other telephone behavior intended to annoy, harass or abuse you, your family members, neighbors or co-workers is also prohibited by the law. If you consider the calls to be harassing, you can ask that they stop. For example, if the debt collector is calling repeatedly throughout the day, if there are threats, if they are abusive in their language or intimidating, those kinds of things can be shown to be harassment and that is prohibited by the Fair Debt Collections Act.
When harassing phone calls are a problem, you can and should request that all communication and harassment stop by sending a more strongly worded cease communication letter informing debt collectors that they are in violation of the federal law. Debt collectors and collection agencies are also banned from publishing lists of consumers who refuse to pay their debts. However, they are allowed to send information to a credit reporting bureau or other authorized people such as the original creditor or the creditor’s attorney.
Some consumers have reported debt collectors that show up at their homes, flashing something that looks like a badge and claiming to be plain clothed police officers. The fair debt collection law prohibits false, deceptive or misleading tactics when trying to collect debts. Impersonating an officer is a crime in many jurisdictions and consumer credit counselors advise consumers to contact their local police departments if this occurs. Debt collectors also cannot claim to be attorneys or credit reporting agencies if they are not. They also can’t claim that letters are legal court documents if they’re not.
If you feel that you are being treated unfairly by a creditor or collection agency, please contact us immediately. Legal Rights Advocates, Inc. is a consumer advocate law firm that focuses on consumer rights protection services across the Unites States. We have well over twenty-five (25) years of combined experience helping consumers that are experiencing Debt Collector Harassment, Social Security Disability issues, and a whole lot more. LRA is truly your consumer rights advocate. We take great pride in the fact that our job is to protect you from deceptive and or abusive debt collection practices.
LRA is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, and we have well over 500 Five Star Rating Reviews online from across the United States. Our goal is to assist you each and every step of the way regarding your rights for consumer protection. Please call us today for more information at 855-254-7841 or click here to visit our website. We look forward to working with you.
(855) 254-7841
(855) 254-7841
