As your Clearwater bankruptcy attorney, we have helped people handle their debt, and cease collection harassment. Debt collection harassment is a reality, and it can affect your daily life.
At the law office of Michael A. Ziegler, we are experienced in handling debt collection harassment. We know what the debt collector is and is not permitted to do by law, and our goal is to help you protect your rights.
Our Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney Can Help
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers from debt collector harassment. Certain actions by third party debt collectors are strictly prohibited, such as the following:
- Failing to identify themselves, and/or that the communication is from a debt collector.
- Failing to give the name and address of the original creditor
- Failing to notify the consumer of their right to dispute the debt
- Failing to provide verification of the debt
- Calling outside the hours of 8am and 9pm without permission
- Failing to follow requests to stop contacting the consumer
- Calling repeatedly
- Calling your place of employment, if it is told to the collector that they cannot contact you there
- Calling after you’ve filed for bankruptcy
- Calling you instead of your attorney
- Creating a “bad debt” list and publishing your name
- Misrepresenting themselves
- Seeking amounts that were not in the original contract
- Threatening arrest or legal action that is not allowed
- Using profanity or degrading language
- Contacting third parties other than your spouse or attorney
- Threatening to put false information on your credit report
If you are a victim of debt collection harassment, here are some basic tips to try and resolve the issue.
- Pay attention to your conversations- Did you ask them to stop calling at a certain time? Did you notify them that they were not allowed to call your place of employment? If you’ve taken these steps and your requests are being ignored, you may be a victim of debt collection harassment.
- Keep track of the incidents- Keep a written record of all communications that violate your rights as a consumer. Record times, dates, and what both parties have said. Keep track especially when your requests have been ignored, or when you are being spoken to in an abusive or inappropriate manner.
- Get as much information as possible- You want to know the debt collection company, the person who you spoke with, and any other identification information you can gather. This will be important if you decide to file a complaint.
- Send a complaint- The Federal Trade Commission monitors debt collection behavior, and takes consumer complaints seriously.
- Contact an attorney– Before taking action, such as writing a request to cease communication, contact the Law Office of Michael A. Ziegler. Not only will we make the harassment stop, but we may be able to assist you with your debt. As your local Clearwater bankruptcy attorney, we work with all levels of debt management.
Collection harassment is illegal, and you should not have to put up with it. If you feel that your rights have been violated, contact us immediately so we can help you make the harassment stop.
