Illegal Debt Collection Practices: What You Need To Know

It really feels bad to deal with a huge amount of debt

. However, you need to understand that, although some debt collectors try to use illegal debt collection practices, you don't have to put up with abuse. You need to know your rights and understand when debt collection agencies are trying to cross the line.

Due to the recent economic setback, millions of Americans find themselves in debt. At the same time, there has been an alarming upsurge of complaints about illegal and abusive behavior by debt collection agencies. Some of the most common illegal debt collection practices include collectors making calls to consumers' workplaces, telling third parties about a consumer's debt, and using abusive or intimidating language.

Although there are laws to regulate debt collection and those operating in the debt collection business, there are agencies that are not going to follow the law. There are reputable agencies that operate completely within the law and follow an accepted code of ethics, but there has been an overwhelming increase in the number of horror stories related to debt collection agencies and their wrong doings.

One illegal debt collection practice is "the jail trick." This is when collectors come to your home claiming to be police officers and threaten jail. It is also quite common to be threatened in other ways. You may find collectors call and threaten to sue you if you don't make your payments, threaten to have your wages garnished, or threaten to publish your name in the local newspaper or on the Web. Receiving profane phone messages is a commonplace, too, including leaving threatening message with your children.

It is also quite relevant to mention that most people who are on the receiving end of relentless debt collection calls are usually first-time offenders: victims of a costly illness or a layoff, or who have suffered a calamity or natural disaster like a flood. The problem here is that most of these people have absolutely no clue about the fact that the rules are on their side. Of course, you cannot strip debt collectors of their right to demand payment - or to take you to court - but they cannot use illegal debt collection practices.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act keeps them from harassing consumers. The law says that debt collectors cannot use obscene language and have no right to call you at workplace if you inform them that your employer prohibits calls. In some states, a collector can only call you twice a week. What's more, collectors are prohibited to publish a list of "deadbeats" in the newspaper, and they are not allowed to get in touch with your co-workers or neighbors except when to inquire about a consumer's whereabouts.

The fact of the matter is that though it is hard to deal with debt collection agencies, you can get to learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to make dealing with a debt issue easier. If they continue with their harassment, you may also get in touch with a fair debt attorney for legal advice.

by: Sergei Lemberg

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