What can a debt collection agency do to collect debt? – Or better yet, what CAN’T they do to collect debt? While it is their job to collect debt people owe, there are rules that they must follow to collect.
For example, victims of identity theft have inaccurate information on their credit report that show debts they do not owe. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors are not allowed to collect these kinds of debts.
Knowing what a debt collection agency can do to collect debt can be helpful in situations where the collection is illegal. Read on to learn more about these illegal collection or call (818) 254-8413 to speak to an attorney.
When Can Debt Collectors Call You?
There are specific rules that debt collectors must follow when calling consumers about collecting debt. They can’t just call you at any place or any time of the day they want. If the debt collectors are calling you against the law, there are ways to make them stop.
Can Debt Collectors Call You At Work?
The FDCPA states that debt collectors cannot contact you at inconvenient or unusual places. This means that they cannot call you at work if you work at an inconvenient place, such as a school or a hospital. They are also forbidden to call you at work if you tell them to not contact you at work.
If the debt collectors continue to contact you at work after you told them to stop, you can file a lawsuit against the debt collectors for making FDCPA violation. Your attorney may be able to get you compensation for each violation and more for actual damages.
What Time Can Bill Collectors Call?
Bill collectors can only call you between 8 am and 9 pm. They may call you outside those time if you have given them permission to do so. It is considered harassment if they call you beyond their rights to call you.
Let the debt collector know that you are not allowed to receive calls from a debt collector by sending a letter telling them not to. If they continue to call after receiving the letter, you may follow up with a lawsuit to sue for FDCPA violations and other damages.
Can Debt Collectors Collect Debt That Is Not Yours?
Debt collectors are not allowed to collect debt that is not yours. To make sure you don’t pay debt you do not owe, you must notify the credit reporting agencies or furnishers directly of the inaccurate recording on your credit report. You can notify them by sending them an Identity Theft Report.
Once a furnisher receives news that the debt is not yours, it cannot sell the debt to another company for collection. However, if the debt collector sends you a verification of the debt, they can resume contacting you again to collect the debt.
How to Remove Inaccurate Information From Credit Report
If there are wrong information on your credit report such as debt that does not belong to you, you can dispute it to get rid of it. Learning how to remove inaccurate information from credit report can go a long way to prevent your credit from taking a dive. To dispute credit report errors, you should first get a copy of your most recent credit report and check for errors.
Once you find them, write the dispute letter listing the errors that you found. Make sure to include documents that support your claims, such as your credit report with the erroneous items marked. Send the letter via certified mail, return receipt requested, to keep record that the credit reporting agency has received your letter.
Once the agency receives your letter, they usually have about 30 days to conduct an investigation and correct the issue. If they do not correct the errors or not launch an investigation, you can file a lawsuit against them for failing to follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guidelines.
