Debt Collectors Owe You Respect

Posted July 7, 2020

Debt collectors can make your life unpleasant very quickly, as they contact you regularly with dire threats and warnings. The worst part is, you might feel like you have to sit there and take it. After all, they’re not wrong, and you do owe them money. You don’t have to put up with this. It is essential to understand that even in debt, you have rights. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) guarantees you certain rights in a debt situation. Many of these rights revolve around certain things debt collectors can and cannot do in the process of trying to collect money from you. Here are three essential elements to remember about debt collectors and why they owe you respect.

Contact

The FDCPA sets limits on times that collectors can contact you. It has to follow after 8:00 AM and before 9:00 PM in your time zone. They cannot contact you at work if they “know or have a reason to know that [your] employers prohibit employees from receiving such communication,” as per section 805 of FDCPA. This applies to all personal debts, such as home loans, auto loans, and credit card debt. This does not apply to business debt.

Lie

As per section 807 of the FDCPA, a debt collector cannot lie to you about the amount you owe. In addition, they cannot lie about the consequences that may occur. This means they cannot exaggerate the effects or the amount you’re required to pay back. Debt collectors cannot call you pretending to be someone other and gather information to be used against you. That goes against FDCPA. One thing to take note of is, they cannot pretend to be associated with the government as well. This has happened to some people when dealing with debt collectors. This is a scare tactic unprofessional collectors use to try to get to people.

Threaten

Section 806 of the FDCPA states debt collectors cannot threaten to use violence “or other criminal means” against you or your reputation. This is an important tip to remember. Debt collectors often use intimidation to coerce clients into paying more than necessary. They cannot abuse you with obscene or profane language as well. As stated before, debt collectors have a strict window of when to contact you. This means they cannot also call you repeatedly with the intent to annoy or threaten you.

Dealing with debt collectors can quickly become overwhelming and nerve-wracking. We want to make sure you are prepared and know your rights, even if you are in debt. The Credit Care Company realizes that debt is a scary thing. We are here to help you get out of the situation and ensure you feel secure and supported. We offer a variety of consultation services to help you get where you want to be financially. For more information on our services or how we can help, visit us online here or give us a call at 314-485-9940 today. Debt collectors owe you respect, so don’t take anything less than that. If you need support, we are here for you!