The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

In order to regulate how payment for debt can legally be requested, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was implemented. This legally insists, with the threat of punishment, the fairness of the practices of those who need to make collections on outstanding debt. In this way, those who owe debt are protected from certain unjust treatment.

Knowing the specifics of The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act will help you understand your rights if you are in debt. Were this Act to be violated by a collector, you could take legal action against the agency. Following is a brief rundown of a few integral rules within the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Specifics of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

A person who needs to contact you in order to collect a debt may do so during convenient hours by phone, in person, or by mail. If your employer does not allow debt collectors to interrupt work, the debt collector is not allowed to do so. If you have a lawyer representing your finances, then the collector has to contact him or her instead of you.

The creditor is not allowed to try and contact you if you have sent a letter stating not to try and get in touch with you, although the creditor may take another form of action. Also, if you dispute the debt in written form within 30 days of the first contact, the collector cannot continue to contact you until he or she has proof of the debt. A letter must be sent by the collection representative explaining what you owe and to whom within the first five days of getting in touch with you.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act states that in no way can a debt collector overly harass, threaten, mislead you or use obscenities in an effort to make you pay. Perhaps it seems obvious, but when you owe debt, the last thing you need is to be treated poorly. You simply need a little help.