Are you feeling like you receive more phone calls from bill collectors than you’re your friends and family combined? Getting those calls can make you feel awful – chances are that you are well aware of the debt but you are simply not able to pay it at the present time. You may avoid picking up the phone because you do not feel like there is anything that you can do about the debt, so why bother.
Unfortunately, bill collectors are allowed to call you in an attempt to collect money from you. Fortunately, there are rules that they must follow. Many bill collectors do follow the rules, but some use bad business practices to kick you when you’re down. It is important that you educate yourself about the following things that bill collectors can and cannot do.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers from bad debt collection practices. The FDCPA applies only to outside collection agencies and not to the internal collections departments within the original creditor’s company. Creditors often refer past due accounts to the outside collection agencies after they become a certain amount past due.
According to the FDCPA, collection agencies cannot call you so frequently as to harass you. They also have to call between the hours of 8AM and 9PM. There are restrictions as to what they can say to you once they have you on the line, too. They are not permitted to use obscene language, and they are not allowed to threaten you. They also can’t call other people like your friends, neighbors, or parents and reveal information about your finances.
If you feel as though a collection agency is not following the rules, write them a letter making a formal request that they stop communicating with you except as permitted by Federal law. If you send a letter and the unethical tactics continue, contact the Federal Trade Commission and enter a formal complaint. They should be willing and able to help you. If you are in debt, you are not a bad person. Stand up for yourself and against unfair debt collection practices.
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