Now more than ever, debt collectors are harassing consumers. Late A company may sell your delinquent contract to an outside collector, a professional firm specializing in intimidating consumers into paying these debts. The debt collection agency makes its money from over-charging and racking up fees and interest.

If you have been delinquent in your payments, this does not justify abuse. You do not have to be treated that way. There is action you can take to resolve these issues with debt collectors, without having to pay unnecessarily high interest and fees as punishment.

Also, if a collection agency is attempting to collect on an account you never authorized, you may be the victim of identity theft. You are entitled to validation of the debt, and the debt collector should not threaten legal action until it has been proven that you are the correct individual on the account.

If you think you have been harassed by a debt collector, ask yourself the following questions. Within the last year, have you:

• Had debt collectors threaten a lawsuit, either on the phone or in writing, on a debt older than 3-5 years?
• Had collection agencies place embarressing calls to your neighbors, friends, or employer?
• Been lied to or threatened by a collector?
• Been threatened with garnishment, liens, or arrest for not paying a bill?
• Received abusive phone messages from bill collectors?
• Been cursed at or insulted by collection agents on the phone?
• Received calls from a collection agency at your workplace after telling the collector not to call you there?

If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, your legal rights as a consumer have been violated, and there is something you can do about it.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law applicable to all types of debt collectors, including collection agencies and law firms acting as collection agencies. The FDCPA was enacted to protect consumers from abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices, regardless of whether you owe the debt or not.

EVEN IF A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED, WE CAN HELP!

What To Do After Being Contacted by a Debt Collection Agency:

If you're contacted by a debt collector, you have a right to dispute the debt either verbally or in writing.  If you want to preserve some rights under the FDCPA, you must send a written dispute within 30 days of your receipt of the first "validation notice" from the debt collector.

Even if you owe the debt, or you cannot pay, you still have rights under the FDCPA.  Most of our clients owe the debt being collected but because of financial circumstances, or a dispute over the goods or services, they cannot pay it.

In order to preserve your rights under the law, it's important for you to keep good records of all of the contacts. You should remember these important steps to protecting yourself from a debt collector:

1)  DO NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENTS OR AGREEMENTS TO PAY THE DEBT UNTIL THEY PROVE YOU OWE THE DEBT.

2)  Request "Validation of the Debt" and all documents related to the debt via certified mail.

Debt Validation Letter MS Word Format

3)  Save copies of all letters and notices from debt collectors and/or law firms.

4)  Save/record all phone calls with collectors and log them into our FREE provided call log.  Just click on the following link:

Collection Call Log MS Word© Format

WARNING: Your right to file a lawsuit does have a deadline.

If you have suffered from any abusive debt collection practices, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact our office for a FREE PHONE CONSULTATION at 405-912-3225.