subject: Excellent Ways Of Protecting Yourself From Debt Collectors Harassment [print this page] If you are a victim of debt collectors harassment, you should be aware that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act FDCPA has stringent rules to deal with it. These rules define harassment by debt collectors.
Debt collector laws keep an eye on the functioning of debt collectors. These laws keep a check so that the debt collectors dont resort to any unfair means while collecting debt. Money is required, sources are less, expenses are high, and senses are going haywire. Companies are providing money on interest to quench our thirst. An unexpected or an unseen event throws a person off balance. The cases of chronic debt defaulters are on the rise. Debt collection agencies come into action due to nonpayment of the dues. There are two types of collection agencies: the first-party agency, a department in the company that collects debt and the third-party agency that collects debt on behalf of the company for fee.
Debt collection harassment immediately follows when the person is behind the due date of payment or if it shows up mistakenly in the records. Often collection agencies practice unethical ways that are illegal as per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act FDCPA. Calling more than three times a week or in the wee hours or late night, trying to get in touch with you even when an attorney has been appointed to represent you, using aggressive and abusive language amounts to harassment. FDCPA prohibits such acts, considers such practices illegal and are liable for punishment. It has given a helping hand to thousands of people who have undergone harassment of this order.
Instances That Are Termed As Harassment
Here are some instances that are termed as harassment by a debt collector. When the debt collector:
Calls up repeatedly for repayment
Threatens to use violence
Uses obscene language
Uses abusive language over the phone or personally during a discussion
Calls you up at the workplace
Calls you up repeatedly even after you tell him or her not to do so
Calls you up and does not provide his or her name
Sends you a notice that looks similar to a court notice
Makes a list of people who have not paid the debts and publishes the list
Uses multiple means of communication to extract payment
Gives a false identity of being an attorney
If the debt collector uses any of the above methods to extract a due payment from you, you can sue him or her for debt collectors harassment.
A debt collector has the right to call you up to ask for your pending payment. However, it is seen that debt collectors cross the limits and start calling up several times. When you take a loan from a bank or a financial institution, you need to be aware of the rules and regulations. In addition, you need to be aware of the terms and conditions for repayment. When you dont repay a loan on time, the lender has all the right in the world to ask you for the payment. If the payment is delayed, the lender may charge a fine. The fine may be negligible or substantial, depending on the loan amount. You can check out some good payday loan consolidation options available and take help from payday loan consolidation lenders.
How It All Begins
In a typical situation where you have defaulted on a loan payment, you will immediately get a first warning call from the lenders office. At first, you may brush off the caller and tell him or her that you will make the payment in a few days. If this does not happen, the lender may give you another call. This time, you may come up with a reason for the non-payment. On hearing the reason, the lender may give you few more days to make the payment. However, if the payment is not made this time, the lender loses patience and then the harassment begins. At this stage, you need to understand that you are also partially responsible for this situation and you need to resolve this problem amicably. If the situation goes out of hand, you will have seek legal advice and in some cases, you will have to ask for police protection.
