Collection Agencies Restricted by FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a section of the US Consumer Credit Protection Act. The intent of the law is to stop debt harassment. It was added to the Consumer Credit Protection Act in 1978. The FDCPA limits how bill collectors conduct business and defines consumers’ rights in dealing with bill collectors. It also assigns penalties and remedies for when bill collectors violate these rights.
Learn more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - FDCPA - and how it protects you from debt harassment. Visit FairDebtHelpers.com for a free case review by an experienced fair debt attorney.
According to the FDCPA upon receiving notification of the right to dispute a debt, the consumer may request verification of the debt within 30 days. The bill collector’s response must contain the amount owed and the creditor’s name and address.
A consumer who becomes the target of a bill collector may send a written request to cease communication. This request is known as a “drop dead letter.” Upon receiving this request, a bill collector is required to stop communicating with the consumer, except through litigation.
Bill collectors are restricted in telling third parties about the debt. Specifically, they may only give information about the debt to the consumer’s attorney or spouse. They may not contribute consumer information to a “bad debt” blacklist. They also may not communicate through post card or identify a debt collection notice on the envelope.
If you are think you may be the target of debt collector harassment, you should visit the fair debt website. Find out more information, or ask for a free case review by an experienced fair debt attorney.
