Stop Debt Collectors Harassing You
Author: Deepak Dutta
If you've been a victim of job loss, medical emergency or other
cause of income loss, you may be one of the millions of
individuals facing a pile of debts that you cannot cover. Miss
one or two payments and you can expect to get a call from a
debt collector.
Calls from debt collectors trying to find you at your place of
employment can be humiliating. You may already be screening
your calls, your chest tightening as you realize it's them -
again.
While not every debt collector is unsympathetic and berating
they likely do have to steel themselves for many of the sad
stories given to them as explanations for past due debts. They
are also frequently rewarded for their efforts in collecting
the debt with a commission based on the amount obtained. It is
easy to see why it is not uncommon for individuals who are
already in a desperate state to fear encounters with the more
aggressive collectors who are determined to get their fees.
"What Are They Allowed to Do?"
Debt collectors are allowed to contact you by in person, by
mail, by telegram, by fax and by phone; at home or at work -
unless they know your employer would disapprove. They may also
not contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless you have
agreed to the contact at that time.
They must contact your attorney unless you don't have one. They
may then contact other people to find out your telephone number,
work place or address, but in most cases they are not allowed to
inform them that you owe money or contact them more than once.
"What If I Don't Want to be Contacted?"
Whether or not you actually owe a debt you can write a letter
to the collector telling them to stop contact. They may then
contact you only once to inform you that they will make no
further contact or to tell you what action may be taken against
you.
Stopping contact will not clear the debt. If you do not believe
you owe the debt make that clear in your letter.
"What Can I Do If I Am Harassed?"
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has a Fair Debt Collection
policy to protect consumers. Knowing your rights will put off
even the most determined collector since they already know the
law and are pressing you on the assumption that you don't.
Debt collectors are NOT allowed to harass, abuse or oppress you
or other individuals on your behalf - that includes obscene
language, threats of violence or repeated calling in an effort
to annoy.
They are not allowed to misrepresent themselves as government
agents, attorneys or representing a credit bureau if they are
not. They cannot imply they are sending legal documents if they
aren't or that you've committed a crime, if you haven't.
They cannot imply legal action, including seizing property or
garnishing wages unless they are legally allowed and intend to
do so.
You can find out more about your rights from the FTC. If you
want to report an agent you can do so by contacting the FTC or
your Attorney General. If they are breaking the law you have
the right to sue.
About The Author: Dr. Deepak Dutta is the creator of
http://www.semanticbay.com - an interactive social network
website based on user shared text and picture contents on any
topics. His other website http://www.classifiedsforfree.com -
is one of the oldest online classifieds site where users can
post ads in more than 600 US cities and 60 countries.
cause of income loss, you may be one of the millions of
individuals facing a pile of debts that you cannot cover. Miss
one or two payments and you can expect to get a call from a
debt collector.
Calls from debt collectors trying to find you at your place of
employment can be humiliating. You may already be screening
your calls, your chest tightening as you realize it's them -
again.
While not every debt collector is unsympathetic and berating
they likely do have to steel themselves for many of the sad
stories given to them as explanations for past due debts. They
are also frequently rewarded for their efforts in collecting
the debt with a commission based on the amount obtained. It is
easy to see why it is not uncommon for individuals who are
already in a desperate state to fear encounters with the more
aggressive collectors who are determined to get their fees.
"What Are They Allowed to Do?"
Debt collectors are allowed to contact you by in person, by
mail, by telegram, by fax and by phone; at home or at work -
unless they know your employer would disapprove. They may also
not contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless you have
agreed to the contact at that time.
They must contact your attorney unless you don't have one. They
may then contact other people to find out your telephone number,
work place or address, but in most cases they are not allowed to
inform them that you owe money or contact them more than once.
"What If I Don't Want to be Contacted?"
Whether or not you actually owe a debt you can write a letter
to the collector telling them to stop contact. They may then
contact you only once to inform you that they will make no
further contact or to tell you what action may be taken against
you.
Stopping contact will not clear the debt. If you do not believe
you owe the debt make that clear in your letter.
"What Can I Do If I Am Harassed?"
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has a Fair Debt Collection
policy to protect consumers. Knowing your rights will put off
even the most determined collector since they already know the
law and are pressing you on the assumption that you don't.
Debt collectors are NOT allowed to harass, abuse or oppress you
or other individuals on your behalf - that includes obscene
language, threats of violence or repeated calling in an effort
to annoy.
They are not allowed to misrepresent themselves as government
agents, attorneys or representing a credit bureau if they are
not. They cannot imply they are sending legal documents if they
aren't or that you've committed a crime, if you haven't.
They cannot imply legal action, including seizing property or
garnishing wages unless they are legally allowed and intend to
do so.
You can find out more about your rights from the FTC. If you
want to report an agent you can do so by contacting the FTC or
your Attorney General. If they are breaking the law you have
the right to sue.
About The Author: Dr. Deepak Dutta is the creator of
http://www.semanticbay.com - an interactive social network
website based on user shared text and picture contents on any
topics. His other website http://www.classifiedsforfree.com -
is one of the oldest online classifieds site where users can
post ads in more than 600 US cities and 60 countries.
