Is your debt collector calling you multiple times in a day? Are you feeling humiliated for the same? If you’re replying in positive, you’re actually falling a prey to the unfair practices of debt collection. However, an individual who has run into a debt or has become a defaulter should never overlook the harassment that can come from the collectors. Certainly, a number of consumer protection rights underline d by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is there to protect you from undue harassment and threats. If your collector is threatening you, exercise your rights.
Therefore, the best solution always lies in avoiding dealing with the debt collectors or putting a permanent stop to such collection calls. Try to pay off the debt quickly to prevent such intimidating calls. However, it might not always be possible to pay off a debt owing to the financial crisis that might crop up in your life anytime. In such situations, seeking help through debt harassment lawyer come up to be an ideal solution. The professionals extend a helping hand offering easy way-outs through alternatives like debt consolidation.
4 Alternatives to Avoid Debt harassment
If all effort of saving on your finances and paying off the debt fails yielding any positive result, the solution lies with taking up some concrete steps to avoid growing harassment calls from the collector. Here is a quick look at the actions that you can take up in dealing with debt harassment –
Note Date and Time of the Call:
Maintain a note of the date and time of each call coming from a representative along with the name of the collector and the collection agency he or she is representing. The call log will help you to put up a harassment case against the collector.
Record the Conversation:
If possible, try to record the conversation that you are having with the collector. However, make sure to tell the collector that you are recording the call for ensuring an ethical approach towards the same. Taping the call will help you put up a strong case against the collector in terms of any harassment, if anything undue happens during the process.
Don’t Ignore Receiving Collector’s Call:
However, you must remember to never avoid a call from a collector, as it would make things worse without giving any positive direction. If you might feel that the collector is harassing you unduly, take legal steps into the matter with help from a professional. Owing a debt is certainly not a crime and does not make you susceptible to debt harassment. If any such kind of harassment follows from the collector, always take a wise move to fight against the odds.
Write a Cease and Desist Letter:
It is the ultimate way of stopping debt collector’s calls. In the letter, you have to state that the collector should immediately desist to call you further. This letter will be posted to the debt collector and not to the actual creditor. If the collector goes on calling even after receiving the letter, go to Federal Trade Commission and the General Attorney of your state to get out of the problem.
What Your Debt Collector Can’t Do?
Can’t Get You Arrested:
No, you won’t confront any criminal charges if you fail to pay off the debt on time. Your debt collector may threaten you by saying that he is working for a law enforcement agency. But, in reality, FDCPA has forbidden them from working under any government body. So, they can’t jail you with the accusation of not clearing the debt.
Disclose Your Debt Details:
Your debt collector cannot contact your debt harassment lawyer, or your spouse to get details of the debt taken. Besides, he is also forbidden to make your debt public. Thus, to track down your details, they are compelled to get in touch with a third party. However, by contacting this third party, they can only collect details about your residential and official address.
Harass You:
The debt collector is not allowed to harm you or use abusive language against you. Besides, he is also forbidden to call you in the late nights without seeking your permission in this regard.
The Conclusion
Know your state protected and federal rights to play the cards rightly. If you’re ignorant about such rights, you can seek assistance from your hired professional. Many a time, debt collectors go on torturing asking you to pay the money you don’t owe to him. Stay up-to-date to learn the ways to face such a threatening courageously.
