Debt collectors can be aggressive sometimes and may try to perform illegal practices to collect the debt from the consumers. They could also mislead, coerce, and harass you for the debt. But the law has put some restrictions on the debt collectors and the companies. The fair debt collection practices act (FDCPA) is a federal law that regulates what debt collectors can do and cannot do in debt collection. Let us see what the law prohibits debt collectors from doing.
5 things debt collectors cannot do
Harassment
A debt collector can harass a consumer in any form. There are specific ways listed on the law in which the debt collectors cannot harass you. They cannot:
- Call you repeatedly
- Use profane or obscene language
- Call you at work, if you have negated it in writing
- Call you before 8 am or after 9 am (if you do not permit)
- Threaten with violence/harm
- If you have forbidden to contact you at all(in writing) or only to contact your attorney
No workplace visits
It is illegal for a debt collector to visit you at your workplace to collect a payment, and they can not harass you at work in person by publicizing your debts or showing up at your job to collect your debts.
Debt collectors like credit card companies may call you at work, even though they cannot reveal that they are debt collectors. The debt collector must stop calling you at work if you tell them not to.
Call at odd times
Getting calls from a debt collector any time of the day could be annoying and hinder your work or family time. What’s worse is their repeated text, email, and contact via social media. The debt collector cannot call you before 8 am or after 9 pm; you can make a written request.
Threaten to arrest you
Collection agencies or debt collectors cannot threaten to arrest you since they are not eligible to issue warrants. Moreover, even if you are in debt, in no way that lands you in prison. However, if you fail to show up for an appearance on account of a legitimate court order, a judge can issue a warrant for your arrest.
Lying to be someone else
Some debt collectors pretend to be working in a government agency; the FDCPA strictly prohibits this practice. So, if a debt collector contacts you and you ask about them, they must truly disclose who they are. They cannot pose themselves as an authority or a collection attorney.