Sun Herald (Biloxi, MS)
Copyright 2005 The Sun Herald
April 20, 2005
Section: C
Keep the debt collectors from hounding you
Law protects consumer rights
By MARSHALL LOEB, MARKETWATCH
If you're being hounded by creditors for unpaid bills, keep in mind that there are limits to what you, the debtor, can be subjected to.
If you're being hounded by creditors for unpaid bills, keep in mind that there are limits to what you, the debtor, can be subjected to.
Quite possibly, you're already facing dire financial straits - you've lost your job, had your identity stolen, or have mountains of debt from money mismanagement. It's important to know your rights so that you can get back on track without being harassed.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides a number of protections. Under it, debt collection agencies may not:
Contact you at inconvenient times or places. This includes phone calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Debt collectors are also not permitted to call you at work once you have informed them you are not allowed to receive personal calls.
Harass you. They cannot threaten you with violence, use obscene language, or repeatedly call you to be annoying.
Engage in unfair behavior when collecting a debt. They may not collect an amount larger than your debt unless state law permits it, and they may not engage in deceptive practices to make you pay for services they use to contact you, such as telegrams and collect calls.
Make false statements. This includes falsely implying that they are attorneys or other government officials or misrepresenting the amount of money you owe. They also cannot threaten you with action such as a lawsuit or property seizure unless the lender they represent can legally take that action and intends to take it.
Give others - including credit bureaus - false credit information about you.
If you experience any of these problems, or encounter other behavior from a debt collector that seems inappropriate, file a complaint with your state's Attorney General's Office.
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