What Debt Collectors Can't Do

By Author: Graeme Byers
Total Articles: 14
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When it comes to collection of debt, there are certain rules and regulations are designed to protect consumers and prevent them from detriment. If you are a debtor, along with the financial consequences and have excessive debt burden, bearing with the harassment of the debt collectors, make sure you are aware of the truth, what debt collection agencies are not allowed to do!

According to FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act), there are rules on how debt collector may contact you and how their behaviors’ will be with you! Something that is against it is against the law, which as a debtor, you need to ensure it to protect your rights.

Below are the few details (the law, citations) have been provided, simply follow through them to know your rights –

A collection agent cannot cross the line –

According to federal regulations, you can fight back, if things go beyond your tolerance. For instance, if your collection agent is troubling you by calling over and over repeatedly, you have the right to tell him to stop doing that!

Even according to the law, a debt collection agency only ...
... can call a debtor during the 8 am to 9 pm (your local time) Monday to Saturday and allowed to call between 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday for debt recovery. Any timing outside those hours isn’t allowed. If a debt collection agent is calling you at midnight, you have the right to force them to not do that again.

A debt collection agent cannot threaten you –

There is also a rule that clearly clarifies that, an agent cannot threaten or use abusive language or harass a debtor at any means. If your collection agency’s behavior is making your life even more miserable, you can take the matter to the court.

A collection agency is not allowed to share your debt information –

Debt information is subject to the collection agency and the creditor. They are not allowed share your debt problems to your neighbours or someone else. Even they are not allowed to publish any information about your debts. They are strictly instructed to keep your debt problems private and not to disclose it with anybody.

You have rights to ask for details –

If in case, you feel some of the debt statements are not real or something that you are not sure about, you have complete right to ask for details and proof to confirm about your acquired debt.

Graeme Byers is the debt collector, who helps small businesses to avoid bankruptcy situation by enabling them to recover their debts.