If you are behind in your credit card payments, it won't be
long before you are contacted by debt collectors!
Here are 3 Illegal Debt Collection Practices to look out for!
#1 CALLING OVER AND OVER AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are prohibited from using abusive methods to try to collect a debt.
A collectors main tatic is INTIMIDATION and their favorite method is to call several times a day at all hours.
The FDCPA states that a collector MAY NOT contact you before 8am (your time zone) or after 9pm at night.
#2 HARASSMENT
Again, the FDCPA specifically states that a debt collector MAY NOT:
- Use any threat of violence or harm
- Publish your name on a list of people who refuse to pay their debts
- Use obscene or profane language, including telling you how bad a person you are for not paying your bills!
#3 MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS
A debt collector also MAY NOT:
- Falsely claim to be an attorney or government representative
- Implying that you have committed a crime
- Falsely claim that they work for a credit reporting agency
- Tell you that you may be arrested if you don't pay
- Flasely claim that they will seize, garnish or sell your property UNLESS they are permitted by law to take action or THEY FOLLOW THROUGH.
- Send you anything that looks like an official court document if it isn't
What can you do if you have been a victim of these Illegal Debt Collection Practices?
To put a stop the harassing phone calls, you need to send a letter demanding that they stop.
Click here for a FREE GUIDE TO STOP THE CALLS.
You can contact your state's attorney general's office or the FTC to file a complaint. Most state's have separate divisions to handle consumer complaints. (For example, in Oregon, you would contact the Oregon Department of Justice.)
If you feel overwhelmed, you may want to contact an experienced company that specializes in helping people deal with debt.
The point is...YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT!
