The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692) restricts debt collectors from contacting debtors at unreasonable times, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless the debtor agrees.
The FDCPA only applies to someone that collects personal, family, and household debt regularly. This includes debt collection agencies, companies that buy consumer debt, and lawyers that collect debt on a regular basis. The FDCPA does not apply to collectors that work for a creditor's debt collection department. It is important to check state laws for applicable regulations of in-house debt collection.
Communicating with a debt collector may help resolve the situation, but the law does not require that the debtor speak with a collector. A debtor can prevent further contact by telling the debt collector in writing to end all communication. Debt collection agencies must cease contact after receiving the written request. From thereafter, a collector may only make contact under two circumstances: to inform the debtor that all contact will stop or to tell the debtor that the collector or the creditor intends to file a lawsuit.
If the original agreement allows a debt collector to add interest during the debt collection process or if state law allows it, the FDCPA does not prohibit adding interest to the original debt. State law determines the maximum interest a collector may charge.
The FDCPA prohibits debt collection agencies from using abusive, deceptive, or unfair tactics. Debt collectors may not engage in:
Yes. A debtor has one year from the time the debt collector violated the law to sue for damages in state or federal court. A successful debtor can receive compensation for the actual damages caused by the illegal collection activity. Even if the debtor is unable to prove actual damages, a judge may still award damages of up to $1,000.
A debtor can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or with the state agency in charge of regulating collection activities. However, a debt will remain valid even though the collector violated the law.
No. Some collectors will insist on receiving a delinquent payment through a wire transfer or through an overnight or express mail service. While the collector will receive the money quickly, the debtor will have to pay for this service. Neither federal nor state law requires a debtor to make a late payment through any of these services. It is acceptable to mail the payment or to use a debit card or checking account to make the payment.
Yes. If the debt collector receives a court judgment after filing a lawsuit against the debtor, the collector can collect the debt by:
In many states, even if the debtor has no assets at the time of the judgment, the collector can continue to try to collect the debt for up to 20 years.
If you're behind on your bills, the creditor may decide to turn your account over to a debt collection agency. While they often use tactics to "encourage" you to pay your bills through harassment, they're also bound by certain laws and regulations. Learn more about your rights and legal options from a skilled bankruptcy attorney in your area.
