The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: Your Weapon Against Abusive Bill Collectors
There is help to deal with the dreaded debt collector, thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Because of this act, there are certain debt collection laws that collectors must abide by. This gives you a weapon against abusive bill collectors.
According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a collection agent collector can contact you by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. They can also approach you in person, but that’s not a common. Collectors aren’t allowed to contact you at bad times, including in the morning or late at night. Calls cannot be placed to your work.
To stop the collection agency from contacting you, write a letter to the collector telling him or her to stop. Once they receive a letter, they can’t contact you again regarding a payment. The only other reasons you would hear from them again would be them notifying you that they will not contact you, and that the creditor is taking legal action.
When you write this letter, it’s important to understand that this does not meant the debt is eliminated. It only means the collection agency cannot bother you regarding this credit report collection. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act states this specifically.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Credit says that collectors also can’t participate in unfair practices, including threatening you. If you believe that an agent has broken the law, you can sue the specific collector.
To delete a collection that the bill collector is calling you about, negotiate with the bill collector. Have the creditor put in writing that after the payment in full, this collection will be removed from your report. You can also follow up with the credit reporting agency and dispute the collection.
If ideas above don’t work, you can consult an attorney. Legal counsel will be very familiar with the debt collection laws, and will be able to help you.
