Get Protection from Debt Collectors
Debt Collectors can Stress you out
Anyone who is in debt knows that a debt collector is capable of bringing more stress than the debt itself brings. Such practices are not a habit with these people. These people have purchased your debt from the original lender at a lower price and are trying to recover the same for a profit. Debt collectors may not be getting paid a good salary for doing so. They are more than likely working on commissions on the recoveries that they make. As such, debt collectors will make every attempt to recover the money from you.
In this process, they will make mistakes or go against the law. The laws have bestowed some rights upon you, which you should know when dealing with a debt collector. Instances have been seen where people have been harassed for a debt that they did not owe. Such people have gone against, and won, judgments against these debt collectors as they knew their rights. Here is the information that you need.
Your Basic Rights
First of all, you must understand that a debt collector may only contact you between the hours of 8 AM and 9 PM; not before or after. If they want to verify your residential address, they may contact your employer once. But if they try to do it with regularity, you are at liberty to act against them. They cannot contact or share information about your debt with your neighbors. Keep records of all contact made along with the time.
Debt collectors are not allowed to send you written correspondence, if you have requested them to stop. However, you will have to do this by sending a letter yourself. Do not forget to keep a copy of the letter for your records. If action in the form of a lawsuit is sought after by them against you, they may contact you in writing.
Are you Sure the Debt is Yours
If you ever feel that you have been wrongly targeted for your debt, you have the right to ask for proof that the debt exists from the collectors. You will have 30 days to make this request after receipt of the first notice. The debt collector is required to provide you with the name of the original lender, the amount owed and your name on the lender's documents. However, there is no time limit that is set for which a reply has to be sent.
Debt collectors are required to provide all information about their companies. They also need to inform you about who they are collecting the money for and any outstanding amount they are trying to collect. Debt collectors cannot resort to threats or represent themselves in a misleading manner in any circumstances. They have no right to take the law into their own hands.
On the other side you may inform them to stop all contact if you have a lawyer representing your case. Information about themselves that is not true cannot be passed and your case cannot be discussed with people not associated with the debt by them.You can make a complaint with the attorney general of your state and seek legal remedies against the debt collector, if you feel that you have been a target of undue harassment.
