How To Make Debt Collector Stop Calling My Job?
Everyone incurs a debt at some point in their lives, and as much as they want to take responsibility for it, there are moments when debt collectors make it inconvenient for them. One of the most challenging and embarrassing obstacles is when debt collectors start calling their place of employment. Not only are they now invading your personal space, they could also affect your professional standing and reputation.
Stop Debt Collection Harassment at Work
Incurring a debt does not strip you of your rights, nor does it allow debt collectors to strip you of basic respect – especially when it comes to your job. Before going into how you can stop debt collection harassment at work, a distinction has to be made. There’s a difference between a creditor and a debt collector. Creditors are the institutions that you owe money to – such as banks – while debt collectors are companies they hire to handle the collecting for them. Creditors only do this when you’ve defaulted on a payment.
Debt collectors are subject to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). These set of laws limit how a debt collector contacts you and the people you’re associated with, like your employers. Technically, it’s not illegal for your debt collector to call you at work. However, the law stipulates that if your employer prohibits these kinds of calls, then you can relay that to your debt collectors. You can tell them when they call, or have it writing.
By this time, your debt collectors should have ceased calling your place of employment. If they haven’t, you can sue them in either federal or state court for because they’re in violation of the FDCPA. Most debt collectors would not want to go this far because apart from the statutory damages, other damages could amount to $1,000 for each call. You can also sue for actual damages, which includes court costs and attorney’s fees.
This policy extends to debt buyers, so should your original creditors sell your debt to another, you new creditor is covered by the FDCPA. That means that they also cannot call you at your workplace when you have already explicitly mentioned that your job forbids it. They will be subject to the same liabilities, such as actual and statutory damages.
Apart from these, your state may actually have specific laws in place to reinforce your protection from collection calls directed to your workplace. Do some research and assert your right not to be intimidated and harassed at work just because you have a debt to pay.
Have you had a debt collector call your place of employment? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.
Source: FDCPA
