Since I have begun working more and more on short sale listings I have heard some shady practices by debt collectors. Here are some rules that debt collectors have to live by:
- They may not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
- They may not repeatedly use the phone to annoy you. (This one would seem to be left open to interpretation.
- Bill collectors cannot curse at you even if you curse at them and I am not advocating that you should but under no circumstance should they be using foul language against you.
- If you have one, they must contact your attorney.
- Debt collectors cannot call you at work if you tell them that your employer doesn’t allow it.
- You can write them and tell them to stop contacting you and they must do so, but they can tell you that they will use other legal means.
And if you want them to stop calling all together try this:
- Every time a collection company representative calls, ask for the mailing address and tell them not to contact you by phone again.
- Download a basic cease-and-desist sample letter and fill in the blanks as needed for each collection company.
- Go to the post office or mailing center and send the cease-and-desist letters by certified mail with receipt requested.
If you feel that these rules have been broken you can report them at ftc.gov. Here is a pdf of the government’s rules on Fair Debt Collection Practices. Photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/piez/
Debt Collection Rules
3 thoughts on “Debt Collection Rules”
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I think sending them a cease and desist letter is a horrible idea. This will almost always result in a lawsuit in a matter of months. As an alternative, send them $20-$40 dollars per month. As long as they are receiving some correspondence from you, they will delay taking you to court, sometimes for years.
The best way is to make a budget and to start. Only spend what you have, it seems easy but it is hard and you have to work hard. You have to give up some things like my husband and I have given up eating out and we are doing much better, you need to deiced what you are going to give up and give it up.
I completely agree.