What Can’t Debt Collectors Do?

Part 12: As part of series of articles (blogs) regarding Credit and Credit Score, here we go:

There are times that you may end up talking to a Debt Collector, either by intention or by mistake. For example, when you apply for a certain loan (e.g., mortgage loan, personal loan, student loan, etc) the lender may ask you to clear some of your accounts in collections or show that you have worked out or settled those accounts with collection agencies before they grant you the loan.

What Can’t Debt Collectors Do?
Remember, Debt Collectors are highly motivated to collect the debt, in full or as much as possible, from the consumer. They are trained to be serious, hard headed, demanding, unsympathetic, in-sensitive, etc. Don’t let them intimidate you. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1977 (FDCPA), they must follow some rules and restrictions. Among those rules and restrictions are: They CANNOT

• Call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. or at any time that they are given notice that it is inconvenient to call
• Tell other people (friends, family, and neighbors) about the fact that a debt is owed.
• Call the consumer's place of employment if they have been advised that calls cannot be accepted at work.
• Use any profane language or any language that is harassing and abusive.
• Engage in any conduct in which is harassing, abusive or oppressive.
• Make any misrepresentations of fact, such as how much is owed, or certain actions they may take to force payment.
• Threaten arrest or criminal prosecution.
• Send false information to the credit bureaus
• Cause a telephone to ring an unreasonable amount of times

If a debt collector has engaged in any of the above conduct that is not allowed by the FDCPA statute of limitations, or has been deceptive to you in any other way, contact the FDCPA office for a free case review.

Each state usually has additional laws to protect their consumers. Contact your state authorities for your additional rights. Texas law provides for private remedies which include obtaining an injunction, actual damages, and statutory damages of a minimum of $100 for certain violations, and attorney fees.

See http://www.protectingconsumerrights.com/debt-collection-problems/fair-debt-collection-practices-act/states/texas/  for additional laws from the Texas Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

HOW to overcome the problems with your credit history and credit score?
Knowledge, education, awareness, practice and discipline are the essential keys to being successful on any subject. The book, "Credit Score Tips and Tricks", provides you information, tools, techniques to educate yourself and manage your credit report & credit score, and therefore manage your finances effectively at no additional cost.

I have decided to bring and share with you, chapters or sections of the book, Credit Score Tips and Tricks, as series of articles here. This is the number 12 of such a series.

I also created and manage a GROUP in ActiveRain, Credit Reports and Credit Scores, Please feel free to join and share your thoughts and experiences.

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