At one time or another in our lives, we might have taken out a loan or a debt. The vast majority of people want to repay their loans if they are able to do so. One good reason is our fear of being harassed by creditors if we don't pay.
When a debt is past its due date for payment, the creditor entrusts the responsibility of collection to a debt collector. The debt collector approaches the debtor to collect the dues. These tactics can often move beyond the realm of the acceptable into the realm of the illegal.
In fact, debt collection techniques that are considered outright debt collection harassment have been made illegal under the US FDCPA - Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. In spite of this effort to protect consumers from harassment, many debt collectors continue to use unacceptable methods. They can often get away with this because consumers are unaware of the protection they have under the law.
Unscrupulous debt collectors play on the good conscience of people who owe money. The vast majority of people want to repay their debts. Bill collectors, however, have a job to do. They don't really care about retaining good relations with past customers who have gone delinquent. They are usually third parties who have only one objective: to get the money you owe, and they can be quite ruthless in their attempts to get it.
There are many methods of harassment, but under the law there are certain prohibited tactics that cannot be used for the collection of debts. Abusive language is one of them, as well as communicating with third parties in the effort to collect.
Learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - FDCPA - and how it protects you from debt harassment. Visit FairDebtHelpers.com for a free evaluation of your case by an experienced fair debt attorney.
Telephone calls can only be made between eight in the morning and nine at night. They cannot call your employer if you tell them not to. If the debtor is represented by an attorney, demands for payment must be made to the attorney.
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