Federal laws prohibit collections agencies from engaging in
abusive activities. But if debt collectors are not following the law and become
too insistent, you should know that you have a legal right to make them stop.
If your debts are becoming overwhelming, King and King can put a stop to debt
collectors and give you a fresh start.
Debt collectors from collection agencies are prohibited from
the following:
·
Calling repeatedly
·
Calling at unreasonable times
·
Use of obscene language
·
Threats of violence
·
Claiming that your debts are higher than they
really are
·
Claiming that you’ll be imprisoned if you do not
pay by a certain date
·
Adding illegal interest or fees
If debt collectors engage in any of those behaviors, you
have a legal right to take action. The following are steps you can take if
collection agencies are harassing you:
Tell them to stop.
You have the right to simply tell collectors to stop contacting you. Send a
letter to the collections agency asking it to cease all communication. Agency
employees are then prohibited from contacting you.
Document illegal
behavior. Document all violations. Record what happened, when it happened
and if there were any witnesses. Try to have a friend or family member witness
the harassment to testify on your behalf, if needed.
File a complaint with
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC oversees collection agencies.
When filing an official complaint, include copies of all offending material you
received, in addition to the name of the collection agency, name of the
collector and the dates and times of the conversations. Lastly, send the FTC
complaint to the creditor and collection agency.
Sue the debt
collector. The final and most drastic option is to file a lawsuit against
the collection agency. This is usually only a good idea if the behavior has
been extremely harmful to you or your loved ones.
Filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will put a
stop to all debt collection and give you fresh start. Call King & King today at 404-524-6400 for a free consultation.
