Showing posts with label threatening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label threatening. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Illegal Debt Collection Tactics Part 7: Threatening Action They Cannot or Will Not Take

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, also called the FDCPA, protects consumers from unethical collections practices, including harassing collections calls, which are FDCPA violations. It was written into law by the United States Congress, under the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission, and was designed to protect consumers from unethical, and often illegal methods of collecting money from debtors. The law passed in 1978, works along with the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and state laws passed by some states, to work with the federal government to protect consumers from deceptive collections practices.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, only third party collections companies may be cited when they use collections methods that are in direct violation of the FDCPA. It doesn't apply to agreements or any transactions between debtors and creditors, unless the creditor hires a third party agent to collect a debt, and that's where many problems arise. In 2009, over 60,000 complaints were lodged by consumers against collections companies, who believed their rights were violated due to unscrupulous collections methods. Harassing collections calls are just one of the common practices used by the more unethical collections agents to force consumers who aren't aware of their rights, to pay debts.

FDCPA violations result in thousands of complaints against third party companies, and hundreds of lawsuits brought by consumers every year. Under the law, there are certain things a third party collections company can do, but there are many that are violations, and in order to be certain that your rights aren't being violated by these people, you need to know what's covered under federal law. A fine line exists in many instances as to whether the law has been broken, and one of the violations every consumer must be aware of is a collections company who threatens to take action that they can't or won't actually take. Consumers have been coerced into paying debts when they're in a serious financial situation, out of fear of what will happen if they don't.

What every consumer should know about the FDCPA, is that anytime a violation of the law is documented, it can result in a fine of up to $1,000 paid back to the consumer. Collections agents aren't allowed to call you about a debt before 8 am or after 9 pm, or at times which are inconvenient. When a third party agent continuously calls several times a day, or uses abusive or obscene language, or harasses you, you have the right to take action against them because these are FDCPA violations. The key is to have everything documented in writing if you choose to lodge a complaint or bring a lawsuit against them.

One family who got behind in their bills because of company downsizing, continuously got calls from a collections company, threatening to take their home and all their possessions. It caused an enormous amount of stress to an already serious situation. The collector in question didn't have the authority to take action, but was using coercion to get the bills paid. In some cases under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a creditor may take action, however when a company uses harassing collections calls or threatens actions they won't take, this is an FDCPA violation, and the FDCPA expressly prohibits any deceptive method of collections.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Collection Harassment - Can a debt settlement firm to avoid threatening calls from creditors?

Occasionally the common man or woman has had to manage a collection of some kind of call to ask if the person intends to pay the bill later. You have been in contact with "first, I must inform you that the call may be recorded and that this call is to collect a debt and any information can be used for that reason." This practice makes you feel your rights have Miranda be recited to you. Often just looking at the lighthistory "unavailable" on Caller ID plate can send shivers up the spine of an individual.

Imagine having a series of collection agencies calling you day and night. These collectors can become abusive and rude on the phone, threatening all sorts of atrocities just to scare all I have to pay it back. Sometimes you like annoying bad burrito that ate at midnight, the selection at all hours of day and night, often ten or more times a day. Callhis work as a hunting dog in the blood.

I've heard horror stories of collectors calling neighbors, friends and family to strong arm to give personal information. Sometimes they are showing a lot of legal problems and if not speak it easily can be thrown in jail or worse. recovery of several companies are hiding under the guise of a name or place of business to the letter, hoping that the threat of a lawsuitwill take you to your knees.

So the question is, why? Most times these companies are working together in some kind of incentive program led by a committee or determined by the amount of debt that can return to their customers, banks. Now I'm not announcing that all the collectors are inclined to this level of harassment, but I must say that we have less renowned companies from very far to find what you might find as mafiathe.

These companies below the belt to go after people receiving more bad debt and what is and is not legal. I know there are many people who have little experience with the law, but I have heard testimonies of each true or not raked over the coals, because of bad loans. They monopolize on that and I think the half-truths to sow the seed of fear and stress in men and women who abuse phone.

How many timesHave you heard of a collector called and literally mourn and cry a naive individual in an attempt to open and close in the payment of a debt that can be up to three years? Or, use obscenities to one that might not even realize that he is still in debt. The cases in this area have appeared on numerous occasions and will continue to grow as our economic situation is getting worse.

E 'for these reasons that many peoplechoose not to manage a growing debt. The terror of having to manage a collection of angry companies simply put a bad taste in the mouth to explore options for debt relief in turn. Since most of the options available for those programs are difficult, many people choose to simply continue to pay the minimum monthly payment, rather than face the wrath of the tyrants of the phone.

What many consumers do not know is that it is actually a federal lawcreated to protect their rights against the tax unfair. This law is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, also known as the FDCPA. This document describes everything that a collection company can and can not do with regard to fumbled to collect a debt. Violations of the law may result in sanctions and individuals an opportunity to sue the collector for damages monetary damages. However, thethe matter is that most of us are not informed enough on the law to recognize when a company has, in fact, violate our legal rights. Some of us have tried to become warriors, and asked creditors to stop calling the ant throwing laws we are prohibited from violating its provision. However, these collectors know that you're only scratching the surface and, in general, do not really understand the laws.

There are moments that couldmight say they do not violate any law, too, because you have the debt that gives them the right phone and do what is necessary to obtain full payment of the debt. They are taking the bet that you like us to pay attention to authorities and take the things they say as truth simply because you must know, of course, are in the business of debt and no companies had deliberately violate the law.

The FDCPA is avery long document divided into several sections, but in summary are listed below are violations of the common collection agencies do;

1.Calling reviews the work once consumers understand that the debt collector your employer prohibits calls or requests from the tax collector not to call consumers to work harder.

2.Threatening non-payment which will result in detention, retention and / or fees if the debt collector is not alawyer

Consumer 3.Calling neighbors, friends, family, etc. if the debt collector that you know how to contact the customer. (I'm only allowed to contact third parties to find contact information for the consumer.)

4.Disclosing friends, family, etc. that the consumer owes a debt.

5.Harassing, oppression, insult or verbally abuse you (this is very broad.)

6.Threatening to suewhen the collector is not a lawyer and law firm.

This is where a law firm debt settlement will work with you to tackle the debt could be of great benefit to you. A law firm can help ensure the collection of national agencies are not violating federal law by collecting debts. If the program while it is in the collection of their bodies began to harass you, then you can sue and the law firm to handle the situation at no cost and probably be able to recover money for you.

This is just one of many reasons why you should make sure that you are considering a debt reduction program is legal and is this the right way. Only a lawyer can give legal advice and only a law firm can legally represent the collectors and their lawyers to negotiate credit card debt. If you are behind on their payments and are harassed by> collection agencies, then I urge you to talk to a lawyer who focuses on the resolutions and harassment of debt collection, to review with you all the options.