You’re late on a payment and not only do you have the stress of paying late fees and interest, but now you have to worry about the debt collector that keeps calling you. If you’re being contacted by a debt collector it’s important to know the rules they must follow.
While every business certainly has the right to get the money that’s owed to them, they must stick to the rules when doing it, according to a report by KOMO. “Not allowed to yell, to scream, to use profanity, to threaten you, nor are they allowed to use those tactics on your family or your relatives such as your parents of your children,” Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna told KOMO. Add to the list that they’re not allowed to threaten to have you arrested, either. “It is not a crime not to pay debt,” said McKenna. “They’re not going to send the sheriff over to have you arrested.”
So what do you do if a debt collector comes calling for a bill you don’t believe you owe? Request background information and more details. You are not required to pay the debt instantly. Make sure the claim is legitimate and that you’re not about to be the victim of a scam. Some crooks will pretend to be debt collectors, just to get your personal information and your money.
According to the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, here is a list of things a debt collector or collection agency can NOT do:
- They cannot call or write you more than three times a week.
- Cannot contact you at work if they know that this is not allowed by your employer.
- Cannot call you between 9pm and 8am.
- Cannot harass you, intimidate you or embarrass you.
- Cannot threaten you with violence.
- Cannot use offensive language.
- Cannot continue to contact you for payment if you send a written statement requesting them to stop.
If a collection agency or debt collector violates any of these rules, you may report the situation to your state attorney general’s office. You can also file complaints with the ACA, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, if the collection agency is a member of this organization.
Tags: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair debt collection, Collection agency, Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, debt
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