Standing Up Against Abusive Debt Collection Practices
Written by Dongmiao Cui
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a United States statute to protect consumers from abusive practices in debt collection procedures. This law applies to personal, family, and household debts such as money owed for purchase of a car or medical care. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from engaging in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices while collecting these debts.
FDCPA provides you with the following rights to protect yourself from inappropriate debt collection practices:
Debt collectors that fall under the FDCPA typically include collection agencies, attorneys who regularly collect debts, repossession and foreclosure companies, purchasers of debt after default, credit counselors and third-party collectors collecting rent debts.
Consumer debts (not commercial debts) that fall under the FDCPA typically include dishonored checks, rent, medical bills, utility bills, insurance bills, student loans, credit cards, obligations discharged in bankruptcy and other personal debts.
Debt collectors may contact you only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Debt collectors may not contact you at work if they know your employer disapproves.
Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you.
Debt collectors may not lie when collecting debts, such as falsely implying that you have committed a crime.
Debt collectors must identify themselves to you on the phone.
Debt collectors must stop contacting you if you ask them to in writing.
If you wish to find out more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, please go to the source of this article at the Federal Trade Commission.
