collection attorney

Debt Collectors and Unfair Treatment

In these tough economic times, debt collectors can be especially ruthless. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), was put into place to protect consumers. Still, some debt collectors will stop at nothing to get what is owed. If you think you’ve been treated unfairly by a debt collector, but you aren’t sure if it is illegal or not, contact a collection attorney. Here are the most common violations:

Harassing calls

There are very strict rules when it comes to when bill collectors can call you. According to the FTC website, they absolutely cannot call you at an unusual time. For example, they cannot call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Also, if you tell the collector that they can’t call you at work because your employer doesn’t allow calls, then they can’t call you at your place of employment. This still counts whether you state it in writing or orally.

Contacting a third party

A more recent issue with bill collectors is that they are starting to call unauthorized third parties. This might include your family, friends or employer. They aren’t allowed to talk about your debt to anyone else besides you or your attorney, and in some cases, your spouse. The only time they can contact someone else is to find out where you work, your phone number or address; however, they can never talk to someone else about your debt.

Validation notice

A debt collector must send you a proper notice of your debt. They must do this no more than five days after they first contact you. The validation notice must include: the creditor, the amount owed, and a way to dispute the debt if you believe you don’t owe it.

Contact a Collection Attorney Today

If any of these things have happened to you, it’s important to make the debt collectors pay the price. An experienced collection attorney at Northwest Debt Relief would be more than happy to assess whether you have a claim under the FDCPA and help you enforce your rights. Are you unsure if you have a claim? Don’t hesitate to give me a call or set an appointment at any one of our consumer law offices located in Portland, Salem or Medford.

Sidebar

Ask us a Question

(503) 487-8973

Message and data rates may apply

Message frequency varies. Text STOP to cancel

Terms of Services | Privacy Policy