February 16, 2012
/24-7PressRelease/ -- FTC Reports Spike in Complaints About Debt Collectors
With more and more people struggling to make ends meet in recent years, the debt collection industry is booming -- and complaints about debt collectors are, too.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that the number of complaints it received about debt collection agencies rose by more than 35,000 between 2008 and 2010, an increase of one-third. With the industry expected to grow by 26 percent in the next three years, this may be just the beginning.
Harassment by Debt Collectors Is Against the Law
Debtors are protected from creditor harassment under a federal law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA. The FDCPA makes it illegal for debt collectors to use abusive, misleading or unfair methods to collect payment, and it imposes penalties on collection agencies that break the law.
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors may not:
-Harass you with obscene language, threaten you with violence or call you repeatedly or at inconvenient hours
-Lie to you about the amount you owe, misrepresent themselves as attorneys or government representatives, or falsely claim that you have committed a crime
-Call you at work if they have been informed that you are not allowed to receive calls there
-Threaten to sue you or take your property unless they can legally do so and actually intend to follow through
In addition, debt collectors may not try to trick you by sending you documents that look like they are from a court or government agency when they really are not. Similarly, they cannot send you legal documents disguised as other papers.
Take Legal Action to Stop Creditor Harassment
If you experience illegal harassment by a debt collector, the FDCPA gives you the right to sue the collection agency, but you must act fast because your ability to take legal action expires after one year. In addition to stopping the harassment, if you win your case the collection company can be required to pay damages and may have to pay your court costs and attorney's fees. For more information about your rights and options under the FDCPA, contact a bankruptcy attorney with experience helping people stop creditor harassment.
Article provided by Nathan Erlich, P.C.
Visit us at http://www.erlichpc.com
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