Consumer Right - Debt Collection
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to those who collect
debts owed to creditors for personal, family and household debts,
including car loans, mortgages, charge accounts and money owed for
medical bills. A debt collector is someone hired to collect money
owed by you.
If you are contacted by a debt collector, you have a right to a
written notice, sent within 5 days after you are first contacted,
telling you the amount owed, the name of the creditor, and what
action to take if you believe you don’t owe the money.
If you owe the money or part of it, contact the creditor to arrange
for payment. If you believe you don’t owe the money or don’t owe the
amount claimed, contact the creditor in writing and send a copy to
the debt collection agency with a letter telling them not to contact
you.
1. A debt collector may not contact you at unreasonable times or
places, for example, before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you
agree, or at work if you tell the debt collector your employer
disapproves.
2. A debt collector may not contact you after you write a letter to
the collection agency telling them to stop, except to notify you if
the debt collector or creditor intends to take some specific action.
3. A debt collector may not threaten to have money deducted from
your paycheck or to sue you, unless the collection agency or
creditor intends to do so and it is legal.
4. A debt collector may not contact your friends, relatives,
employer or others, except to find out where you live and work.
A debt collector may not tell your friends, etc. that you owe money.
5. A Debt collector may not harass you by, for example, threats of
harm to you or your reputation, use of profane language or repeated
telephone calls.
6. A Debt collector make any false statement, including that you
will be arrested.
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