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Fair Debt Collection
This section of our Debt Collection Series focuses on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which protects consumers against abusive debt collection practices.The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (enacted 1974)
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prevents professional debt collectors from using unfair, deceptive or abusive practices while trying to collect debts from individuals. Here are some common questions related to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:
Q. What times are debt collectors allowed to call me?
A. Debt collectors are allowed you contact you between 8am to 9pm.
Q. Can debt collectors call me at work?
A. Yes. However if you advise them that your employer does not approve of collection calls, then that
debt collection agency has to stop contacting you at work.
Q. I get so many collection calls. How can I make sure that I'm not paying two collection
companies for the same bill?
A. Before giving any money to debt collectors,
ask them for them to provide you details of the bills that they're trying to collect. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,
debt collectors have to give you the following information:
- Amount Owed
- Name of the Creditor
- Account Number
Q. Are debt collectors allowed to threaten me?
A. No. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress or abuse you.
Q. What should I do if a debt collector is harassing me?
A. Make a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
and they will investigate the matter.
While this law protects you from professional debt collectors, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act does not protect you from banks or other businesses that are collecting their own debts. There are other consumer credit laws that govern those creditors.
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