Dealing with debt collectors.Q A I keep getting harassing phone calls on my job from creditors. Is there anything I can do to prevent them from calling? --Name Withheld, Brooklyn, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of "You have the right to request a debt collector debt collector n → cobrador(a) m/f de deudas debt collector n → agent m de recouvrements debt collector debt n cease communication with you. Just send the request by certified or registered mail, so you will have proof it was received," advises Mark Rosen, community relations 1. The relationship between military and civilian communities. 2. Those public affairs programs that address issues of interest to the general public, business, academia, veterans, Service organizations, military-related associations, and other non-news media entities. manager of Credit Counseling Credit counseling (known in the United Kingdom as debt counselling) is a process offering education to consumers about how to avoid incurring debts that cannot be repaid. This process is actually more debt counseling than a function of credit education. Centers (800-547-5005), an organization that offers debt management assistance. Under the 1977 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (or FDCPA), et seq., is a United States statute added in 1978 as Title VIII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Its purposes are to eliminate abusive practices in the collection of consumer debts, to promote fair debt collection and (FDCPA FDCPA Fair Debt Collection Practices Act FDCPA Food, Drug, and Consumer Product Agency ), once a collection agency receives your "ceasecomm" letter, it must stop contacting you unless it is to inform you that it is terminating its efforts to collect the debt. A creditor is also in violation of the act if the company calls you at work when it knows it is against your employer's policy; calls you prior to 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.; makes numerous phone calls to harass you; and reveals to anyone other than you, your spouse or your attorney that you owe money. Adds Rosen, "If [the creditor] continues calling, you have every right to hang up." If you feel your rights have been violated under the FDCPA, write your state attorney general's office and include copies of all correspondence and a record of the phone calls. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). In addition, you can file a lawsuit against the creditor for up to $1,000, plus attorney's fees, within one year of the violation. Be aware that a creditor's violation of the FDCPA does not erase a legitimate debt. For more information visit www.consumeraid.org. Mail your consumer questions to Ask Your Advocate, SLACK ENTERPRISE, 138 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011, or send an e-mail to brownmr@blackenterprisecom. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion