Nov
19
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), eliminates “abusive and deceptive” collection practices that debt collectors can use when calling and tracking down debtors, including the following:
- Hours For Calling
- Collectors can only call consumers between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 pm local time.
- Failure to stop communication upon request
- Collectors must cease all communications with consumers (other than litigation) after receiving written notice that said consumer wishes no further communication or refuses to pay the alleged debt. Some exceptions do apply.
- Calling with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.
- Contacting debtors that are being represented by an attorney
- Using deceit or misrepresentation to collect the debt. This includes misrepresenting the amount of debt owed or the collector informing others that he or she is an attorney or law enforcement officer.
- Discussing the debt owed to third parties with the exception of the debtor’s attorney or spouse.
- Using abusive or profane language
- Publishing a debtor’s name on a “bad debt” list
- Reporting false information on a consumer’s credit report
When hiring a debt collection firm, it is important to make sure that they will comply with the all regulations in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The debt recovery firm Johnson Morgan & White has highly trained professionals who fully comply with the governing laws.
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