People are often scared of debt collectors and feel guilty when they have debt trouble, so they’re hesitant to seek recourse against debt collection agencies. But you should know that having a delinquent account is not grounds for anyone to harass you and call you at all times of the day and night. You still have rights as a citizen, and it is your responsibility to know what they are so you can defend them. Let’s take a look at some things that debt collectors are forbidden to do by law and what you can do if you’re being harassed.
Act Like a Government Agency
Some debt collecting agencies will try to get government-sounding names, but that’s not illegal. What’s illegal is for them to act as if they are a government agency or part of a consumer reporting agency. In one particular case, six employees of a credit reporting company and the owner threatened people saying that they were contractors for the U.S. Marshals and the DOA. This is in clear violation of the FDCPA and you may have grounds to sue if that happens. The company could also face criminal charges.
Threaten to Put You in Prison
Another thing that debt collecting agencies can’t do is threaten to put you in prison. You cannot go to prison for not paying a medical bill, mortgage payment, personal loan payment, or a car note. So, if someone has threatened you with this, we strongly suggest that you contact a firm like Fair Credit attorneys. People like this will help you gather evidence from these sometimes-murky cases and make sure that you get compensated.
One thing you should know, however, is that there are some things related to your debt that could indeed put you in failure. For instance, if you were handed a legitimate court order for your debt and you didn’t show up, then a judge can decide to issue a warrant. The same can happen if you refused or omitted to pay a fine related to your debt.
Harassment
Debt collectors are allowed to call you up to a certain extent. They have rules that they have to abide by and if they cross the line, it can count as harassment. For instance, you can forbid companies to call you at work and if they keep calling you there, then this constitutes harassment. You can also tell a company in writing that you do not want to get phone calls anymore. Once they’ve received the letter, they are forbidden to call you, or you could have recourse against them.
You should also know that they can only call you from 8 AM to 9 PM and they cannot make repetitive calls. They’re also not allowed to use profane language, insults, or threats of any sort.
These are all things that debt collectors aren’t allowed to do. If one commits any of these offenses, you should try to seek legal counsel as soon as possible and start looking at what you could do to get retribution.
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