Are you experiencing threatening phone calls, abusive language or constant demands from debt collectors? McKinney collection harassment attorneys regularly assist people facing these stressful situations who don’t realize these aggressive tactics are often illegal. Understanding your rights can help you stop the harassment and potentially receive compensation for these violations. Let’s examine some of the warning signs of collection harassment.
If you want to stand up against collection harassment, you need to know what debt collectors can and cannot do. Federal and state laws set out clear boundaries for debt collection practices that all agencies and collectors must follow. No matter the circumstances of your debt, a debt collector cannot do any of the following.
3 Warning Signs of Debt Collector Harassment
1. Making Frequent Debt Collection Harassment Calls
Collection agencies can violate debt collection laws by making frequent and repeated calls to a person’s home or workplace. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits agencies from taking actions that intend to annoy, abuse or harass individuals, including calling at inconvenient times. To protect yourself, keep a record of every call, noting the date, time, caller’s name and what was discussed. An attorney can help you end this harassment, with potential actions including a written request to stop calling, filing a complaint and seeking damages.
2. Say They’ll Have You Arrested
Federal debt collection law also prohibits collectors from falsely claiming you have committed a crime or saying you will be arrested if you don’t repay the money they claim you owe. Collection agencies cannot issue arrest warrants or have you put in jail, and simply failing to repay a legitimate credit card debt, mortgage, car loan, or medical bill isn’t enough to land you in jail.
That being said, if you receive a legitimate order to appear in court related to a debt you allegedly owe and you don’t show up, the judge could issue a warrant for your arrest. And it’s true that if you fail to pay a court fine related to your debt – or refuse to pay taxes or child support – you could go to jail.
3. Publicize Your Debt
Debt collectors are not allowed to contact you by postcard, publish the names of people who have refused to pay them or talk to anyone other than you, your spouse or your attorney about your debt. To ensure they follow the rules, legitimate businesses and agencies work with dedicated debt collection attorneys to establish company collection guidelines.
Debt collectors are allowed to contact third parties to try to track you down, but they’re only allowed to ask those people for your address, home phone number and place of employment – and they usually aren’t allowed to contact those people more than once.
Talk to Our Collection Harassment Attorneys in McKinney
Lucé Law, PC represents clients in McKinney and across North Texas with collection harassment cases. We provide robust support against creditor harassment and unfair collection practices. Call (972) 632-1300 or request a free legal consultation today.
