Debt Collector Don'ts

With the recent evolution of debt collector practices, many consumers are afraid of what might come next. Debt collection now goes far beyond calls to your house after dinner and have moved into text messages,Facebook notifications and even calls to your employer. With your personal reputation on the line, knowing exactly what rules debt collectors must follow is to your advantage when dealing with debt relief strategies.

Off Limits

According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debtor collectors are not allowed to do the following:

• Contact you before 8:00am or after 9:00pm
• Make repeated or harassing calls to you or a third party
• Deny your request for debt validation or proof of your debt
• Inform third parties about why they are looking for, contacting you
• Use abusive, threatening or obscene language
• Ask for more that what is owed, including additional interest or fees
• Attempt to collect on a debt that has not been validated by the creditor

More information about debt collection violations and how to report them can be found at the Federal Trade Commission’s website. An educated consumer is a protected consumer.