Did you know that debt collectors, including collection agencies and attorneys have restrictions on how they can pursue you for payment? In fact, their tactics are limited by a federal law called the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. The law clearly states that a debt collector can’t show up at your workplace in order to attempt to collect payment. They may, however, call you at work, though they can’t reveal to your co-workers that they are debt collectors. To stop these calls, ask the debt collector not to contact you at work. They must stop, according to the law. The law was put into place in order to stop debt harassment.
In essence, debt harassment from a debt collector may come in many forms including repeated calls, threats of violence, publishing negative information about you, and the use of abusive or obscene language when communicating with you. Each and every one of these activities is illegal under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. Some devious debt collectors will resort to empty threats to arrest you or have you arrested if you don’t pay them. The bottom line is that you can’t be arrested for a debt you owe to a debt collector. However, if a debt collector sues you over debt and you fail to show up in court, you may lose by default and be ordered to pay.
Then if you defy that court order, the collector may pursue an arrest warrant. However that is a far cry from the false threat of being arrested simply because you owe the debt. It is also illegal for debt collectors to pursue you for debt that you simply don’t owe. However, it happens all of the time. This is due to the fact that the debt collection industry is full of inaccuracies. Incomplete or inaccurate documentation can lead a debt collector to pursue the wrong person for payment, or pursue the right person for a debt he or she already paid.
This issue isn’t uncommon, but it is illegal. If you doubt a debt you’re being asked to pay, start by checking your credit report. Perhaps the most common violation of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act is when debt collectors call you whenever they want to. The fact of the matter is debt collectors can’t call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. You can also request that a debt collector stop calling or writing in pursuit of payment on a debt that you owe. Your obligation to pay that debt remains, however.
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.
