We told you previously that complaints regarding debt collectors have skyrocketed. According to the Federal Trade Commission, harassment complaints jumped up by 50% in 2009. So what if you find yourself on the receiving end of harassment from a debt collector? Do you know what to do? It’s important to know your rights.
Debt collectors are allowed to be persistent– that’s their job. “debt collectors are allowed to engage in legitimate practice in order to try to collect debt. They are allowed to call the consumer at reasonable hours. They are allowed to contact the consumer through the mail. But there are certain things that they are not allowed to do,” FTC Commissioner Julie Brill told CNN Money. They can’t, however, harass you about your debt. They are allowed to call your home and workplace during certain hours, but they’re not allowed to use foul language.
If you feel you are being harassed by a debt collector, keep in mind that you are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. And there are many more things that could get a debt collector in trouble besides just using foul language. Here are a few to keep in mind:
- Debt collectors can not threaten to garnish your wages.
- Debt collectors can not threaten to press charges.
- Debt collectors can’t contact your family, friends or neighbors to discuss your debt.
It may seem a little surprising, but debt collectors are allowed to contact you through your social media accounts. They must tell you they are a debt collector, though. “What they can’t do is they can’t start contacting you and friending you unless they tell you they are a debt collector,” Brill told CNN.
If you do feel you are being harassed by a debt collector, you are urged to contact the Federal Trade Commission or your state attorney general, according to experts. And if the debt collectors are found guilty, they can face big fines.
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