Collection agencies can make a habit of hounding you about your debt, ignoring your objections, and sometimes even violating your rights in the pursuit of payment. That’s why you should never just outright pay a collection agency on the first call. In some situations, the person on the other line could be fraudulent, have the wrong information, or even make some other mistake. If you simply pay without questioning the situation, you might end up losing far more money than you owe.
Sue the Collector is a group of attorneys who work to protect the rights of people just like you. We have gone after collectors and agencies for compensation in harassment cases as well as other illegal activities. Your rights are spelled out in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and other legislation designed to keep debt collectors from extorting or abusing you.
Do not just pay whatever the collection agency requests. And don’t let them hound you into making a mistake. Get a FREE consultation with an attorney from Sue the Collector by filling out the form on our online contact page. You can also call us at (866) 768-6005 to schedule your appointment. If you have a qualifying case, you might be able to secure compensation up to:
- $1,000 if you were harassed
- $1,500 (each) for any illegal robocalls you received
Understanding Your Rights
The first step in protecting yourself against overreach by collection agencies is to know and understand your rights. The FDCPA dictates acceptable behavior from debt collectors, such as ensuring that you cannot be lied to about your debt. Below are just a few ways that collection agencies can violate the law, possibly making you eligible to sue them for compensation.
Providing False Information
Debt collection agencies are required not to lie to you when pursuing payment. They cannot provide false information regarding:
- The status of your debt
- How much you owe
- Consequences of not paying the debt (i.e., they cannot threaten jail time or “debtor’s prison”)
Threatening You
Collection agencies are not allowed to falsely threaten you with legal action or use other escalation language. For example, they should not say something that implies a lawsuit, such as “well, our attorneys will be interested to hear about your response to our questions today.” They are also prohibited from:
- Using derogatory, offensive, racist, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate language
- Threatening you with physical harm
- Threatening you with destruction or damage to your property
Calling Others
In some cases, collections agencies may try to call other people, such as your family and friends. While they may say they are doing so to get information on your whereabouts, they usually do it because they want to add an element of humiliation or embarrassment that might make you pay back the debt more quickly.
The law prohibits collectors from contacting your friends or family about your location if they have already been given your address and contact information. It also ensures that they cannot call you at work if they have been made aware that you are not allowed to accept personal calls in the workplace.
Harassing You at Inconvenient Hours
According to the law, there are only certain hours during the day in which a debt collector can contact you. They are only allowed to call you after 8:00 a.m. and before 9:00 p.m. If you receive phone calls in the middle of the night from debt collection agencies, you likely have an opportunity to sue them for compensation.
When You Should Pay Your Debt
Though you should not simply pay outright before examining a collection agency’s claims, it’s also important not to ignore the matter. Debt can have a significant impact on your credit score, which can affect your ability to get loans for houses, vehicles, and other necessities. If left unchecked, an outstanding debt can go from your original lender to the collection agency, eventually winding up with a court summons that results in your wages being garnished.
That situation means the collector could automatically get up to a quarter of your paycheck every pay period! You should speak with an attorney about the proper way to respond to debt collection agencies’ inquiries, answer a court summons, and make repayment arrangements.
We Offer a FREE Consultation for Collection Agency Harassment
If you feel like you have been the victim of harassment or illegal abuse from debt collectors or collection agencies, you might have a case for compensation. The attorneys at Sue the Collector are available to help you pursue justice and hold these agencies accountable.
We provide all potential clients with a FREE consultation to better understand the details of your situation and how we can help. Schedule yours today by calling our office at (866) 768-6005 or providing your information in the form on our contact page. You deserve to have your rights protected, your voice heard, and your case analyzed by experienced legal counsel.
