Fair Debt Collection Act

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is the federal law that outlines how and when a debt collector may contact you. To summarize this law, a debt collector may not call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. or at work if the collector knows your employer does not approve of the calls. Also, a debt collector may not harass you, make false statements, or use unfair practices in an attempt to collect the debt. Debt collectors must honor your written request to stop further contact, although this does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it.

Consider keeping a log by the phone to document collection calls. If you find a debt collector has violated the law, contact your state attorney general's Office for Consumer Protection and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection at
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov.

 

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