Is my debt collector allowed to call at any time? No. Debt collectors are only allowed to call between 8am to 9pm. Calling before 8am or after 9pm is prohibited unless with your consent.
Is it okay to leave messages on my answering machine? A collector can leave his name and contact number on your answering machine. However, he should not discuss any information about your debt unless you're available to take the call. If you don't want your debt collector to leave messages when you're not home, you can tell them to stop.
Is it okay to submit partial payments? Some debt collectors may refuse to accept partial payments. However, if you don't have the money to pay your entire debt, send in your partial payments. If your debt collectors still demands a lump sum and sends your money back, keep proof of your payments for references. In case your debt collector files a law suit against you, this would prove that you never attempt to default on your debts.
Can a debt collector threaten you about a legal law case or repossession? There are debt collectors who may resort to false threats to impose fear on a borrower. If such claims are found to be untrue, you can report them for violation of the FDCPA.
Should you put up with verbal abuse or harassment? Certainly not! Even if you owe a lender, you still deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Debt collectors should never use abusive languages, foul words, or any form of harassment to force anyone to pay.
Can a debt collector continue to contact you after you told them not to? If you want debt collection activities to stop, you can send a letter to your debt collector and inform them of your wishes. However, keep in mind that stopping an agency's debt collection activities does not exempt you from your responsibility to make repayment. Even if the collection has been stopped, you should take the initiative to submit your payments at the soonest possible time.
What can I do if a lender collects debts I don't owe? Under the FDCPA, consumers have the right to dispute billing charges if they think it's incorrect. As soon as you received your bill, send a dispute letter (via registered mail) to your creditor. They should immediately stop with their collection attempts and begin an investigation about the issue. A creditor has 30 days to set the matters straight. Meanwhile, debt collection should be put to a stop.
Remember, if your creditor or debt collector is guilty of a violation of the rights listed in the FDCPA, don't hesitate to report them to the Attorney General's Office of your State and file a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Copyright ? 2008 Consolidate4Free.com
Debt collection agencies in general are considered in the public eye as having a bad reputation of verbal abuse and are accused of using force to get the money back. This misconception built around the fact that some stories which appear in the press give that impression that this is the case with all the debt collection agencies.
However, this is not true at all. Most debt collection agencies have well laid out standards for their collectors which prevent them from insulting someone, or threatening or even contacting that person's friends and family. There is a law called Fair Debt Collections Practices Act which lays strict norms for the way these agencies would conduct themselves.
If you put yourself in collector's shoes then I believe you would understand that it is usually the other way around with a lot of people insulting and throwing abuses at them. In most situations the professional collectors would remain calm and will not easily be lured into the verbal game.
In most situations the agencies try sending collection letters to recover the money. People and businesses in most case will pay up since they have easily forgotten to pay the invoice. However in some situations debtors do not have the money then a flexible arrangement can be worked out.
The last resort is court cases where the agencies turn to courts for the recovery and even there most of the times the judge will recommend to have an out of court settlement saving precious time and money. The collectors cannot threaten the debtor at any juncture with legal action.
FDCPA has strict rules which help in regulating the functions and working of a debt collection agency and good agencies will always adhere to the law.Most good agencies in general have alwayers on their payroll and they make sure that they stick to the law of the state or federal government. In some cases however the agencies may be treading on the fine line. It is here that people think that collection agnecies are ususllay not working within the given law. Also it is here that you need to employ aganecies which are specilaized as well as are well equipped to deal with tricky situations.
So, in conclusion, hiring the debt collection agency, is a professional way of doing things and it will not harm your business repute in any which way.It is an option that you cannot ignore while getting your money back.
Both Andrea Smith & Amit Kheterpal are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Andrea Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Collection Agencies, Debt Consolidation and Hunting. Andrea Smith is a writer and consultant with Consolidate4Free.com and has been providing consumers and business owners with since 1990. Andrea Smith's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Amit Kheterpal has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Property Investment and Parenting. Alka has witnessed during her job in the financial industry several and has written extensively about those on he. Amit Kheterpal's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.