How to beat debt collectors

Being marred in debt can be a very stressful time in someone’s life.  The constant harassment by debt collectors can be overwhelming for many people.  Thankfully the FTC has a law in place that is designed to help protect consumers from these harassing debt collectors.

Known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) this law protects consumers who have hit hard economic times by limiting the ways that debt collection agencies can go about attempting to collect money that is owed to them.

What the FDCPA states is that debt collectors may not harass, make false statements or threaten to arrest you or garnish your wages in any way.  Since many debt collectors will use scare tactics in a way designed to make you pay your debt immediately the FTC deemed it necessary to limit the certain ways that debt collectors can try to collect on debts.

If you ever receive phone calls from collection agencies before 8am or after 9pm then that particular debt collector is in violation of the FDCPA and is subject to the penalties associated with the law.  In addition to calling at odd hours of the day a debt collector is prohibited from contacting you at your place of employment granted you have made that request in writing.

Also, debt collectors may not make false statements such as claiming they are attorneys or government representatives, falsely claim you committed a crime, or misrepresent the amount that you owe.  Plus, debt collectors are not allowed to say that you will be arrested if you do not pay, threaten to garnish your wages or property, or threaten legal action against you if they do not fully intend to do so.

There are several types of debts that are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act which include personal, family and house hold debts which includes any debts you have on credit cards.  The only types of debts that the FDCPA does not protect you against are debts that are incurred in order to run a business.

When debt collectors are found in violation of the FDCPA consumers have the right to sue these debt collectors within one year from the date the law was violated.  If you actually go on to win the lawsuit the debt collection agencies can be forced to pay you for any damages you suffered because of their illegal collection practices.  Even if the debt collectors are not required to pay you for any damages a judge can still order these debt collection agencies to pay you a penalty of $1,000. 

Falling on hard times and being marred in debt can be quite stressful.  If you are in this particular situation I am sure you know all about the various harassing ways that debt collection agencies go about trying to collect on the debts that are owed to them.  However, if these debt collectors go too far and cross the line consumers are protected by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the FTC.  Consumers have the right to sue debt collection agencies for any harassing behavior that meets the FDCPA’s guidelines.