Your Rights Under The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Debt Collectors Often Go Too Far
Most debts are taken on with good intentions of paying them back. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances can leave you unable to pay off what you borrowed. Once your account is turned over to debt collectors, things can go from bad to worse.
How Are You Protected
Many companies pass off the problem of debt collection to businesses focused on that job. This often means that the company trying to collect what you owe does not care about protecting its reputation or being a responsible member of the community. These third-party debt collectors can behave in outrageous, offensive ways in their efforts to get money from you. There are laws in place to limit their abuses, however. The most important of those laws is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA.
The FDCPA restricts debt collectors in many ways. Just a few of the behaviors that debt collectors cannot engage in include:
- Threatening to use violence or other criminal conduct to harm you, your reputation, or the property of any person
- Using obscene or profane language
- Falsely representing or implying an affiliation with the state or federal government
- Communicating with you at an unusual time (very early or very late, generally) or an inconvenient place, unless the collector has court permission
- Publishing your name except to consumer reporting agencies or certain other approved parties
- Annoying, abusing or harassing you by repeatedly calling or allowing their phone to ring continually
Abuses Are Common
The debt collection industry is governed by the FDCPA, but that doesn’t mean it always complies. Businesses in the field regularly employ tactics that violate the rights of consumers like you. The key to stopping these abuses is to hold the debt collectors accountable when they break the rules.
At Costello, Mains & Silverman, LLC, our experienced lawyers know how to protect people from abusive debt collectors. Our team has the resources and skill to fight for you in state and federal courts. If a debt collector is harassing you or your family, threatening you, or generally making your life miserable through poor conduct, you need to speak to an attorney.
Contact us online or call 866-944-3371 today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation. We can advise you of your rights and formulate a plan to address the unacceptable practices of debt collectors.