Most creditors and collection agencies follow the law when attempting
to collect a debt. But some don’t, and many times, an abusive creditor
is the reason why debtors may feel forced to file for bankruptcy
protection—to get the creditor to stop harassing them. You should never
allow a forceful inappropriate bill collector to abuse their privilages
with you.
A federal statute known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
(often called the "FDCPA") gives you specific legal rights to sue debt
collectors who unlawfully threaten, berate, intimidate or harass you;
call you during odd hours, make false representations about the debt or
their intentions.
The FDCPA is a great tool for consumers' lawyers, but it is
insufficient to address all bills present in the collection industry.
The maximum one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) in statutory damages is
too low in light of today's economy. Further, the FDCPA does not
generally provide a cause of action against abusive original creditors.
It is for these reasons, and others, that state consumer protection
laws are important. If your interested in contacting a lawyer regarding
any debt related matter
click here.
