Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) explained: Violations and remedies.

File a Telephone Harassment Report at centenniallawoffices.com if you are receiving harassing calls from a debt collection company. Watch this ...

Who enforces fair debt collection practices act?

Who would I write to to enforce the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in California. If I do not want to hire an attorney?


The state attorney's office;


California
Attorney General's Collection Agencies Guide
www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/collection_agencies10.htm


My guess is that you think someone is trying to collect in a wrong matter a debt. Seems to me to get action it would have to have litigation and after making stupid mistakes of my own I will never try to do anything that has to do with law myself again. You need to have someone who knows the laws there backing you or you will end up on the real short end of the stick.

What are some things that creditors can't do according to the "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act"

What are some things that creditors can't do according to the "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act"?


they can't lie about their identity over the phone to complete collection calls.


can't call before 8 am and after 9 pm, can't call you after receiving a written desist letter, can't divulge your debt to a third party. Why not read it and find out for yourself.
EDIT: The below post is incorrect on a lot of areas. They can call at work, they can use third partys to leave u messages, they can info you on legal action if it is their right to do so, and they do not have to stop calling you by you asking, it has to be done via mail.


Can only call between 8a-9p.
Cannot call you after you've asked them to stop.
Cannot call you repeatedly.
Cannot call you at work.
Cannot call you if you're represented by a lawyer.
Cannot call you if you've sent them a letter asking for verification of a debt.
Cannot misrepresent or deceive.
Cannot publish your name or address.
Cannot seek unjustified amounts.
Cannot threaten or take legal action.
Cannot use abusive or foul language.
Cannot contact third parties.
Cannot contact you by embarrassing media.
Cannot report false information on your credit report.


remember that act applies mainly to third party collection agency, if its creditor collecting is the original issuer of the debt they have wide discretion to try and collect

Is it against the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act to send e-mails to a debtor every other day saying that?

his account is 60 days past due?

Isn't this Harrassment as well as spam?


Although the FDCPA does not specifically use the term "email" in its verbiage, it is safe to assume that collectors using email to contact you is not illegal. However, it is also safe to assume that bill collectors and debt collection agencies must still follow the FDCPA rules for contacting you. Just like phone calls at work, emails at work must stop if the collector is told the employer prohibits such contact. Keep in mind that it's possible for an email to violate FDCPA notification rules if the employer has a published policy that says email is not confidential and can/or will be viewed by authorized employees.

According to the FDCPA, collectors are allowed to contact you via mail or phone. Again, it's safe to assume email falls within acceptable means of communication. However, unless you give permission to do otherwise, they can only contact you under specific conditions:

They can contact you at your place of residence by phone, mail, in person, by FAX or email during reasonable hours such as between 8 am and 9 P.M..

They cannot contact you at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to you.

They cannot contact you at work if your employer disapproves and they are informed of this fact by you or your employer.

Below is suggested verbiage to stop email harassment:

Dear Collector,

I am responding to your constant emails! In accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I demand that you:

Stop emailing me at home, at work, or any other location!

In accordance with federal law, once you've received this email, you may only contact me to:

Provide proof that I owe this debt that you claim I owe;
Provide a copy of my State and Federal rights concerning this debt including how to dispute this debt;
Provide proof that you are licensed in my state, and provide me with your license number;
to advise me that further efforts are being terminated;
to notify me that you may invoke specified remedies;
to notify me that you intend to invoke a specified remedy.
Be advised that I am keeping accurate records of all correspondence concerning this issue, including copies of your email. If you continue harassing me, you will be in violation of the FDCPA, Section 805(c) -- "Ceasing Collection Calls and Communication"

Consider sending your email with a "Read Receipt Requested" and printing a copy for your records including the read receipt.


No. However if they are sending it to your business email account then you can request they cease.

Spam? No. Not under communications prohibitions.....and the other depends on the terms and agreements of the debt which I am sure is covered. Why on earth did you give out your email?


This is a very interesting question. I am not a legal expert, but it seems that the same laws that apply to telephone calls would apply to the Internet. One thing you might possibly do is whenever you get an email and you don't know who it is from click on the box to the left then hit spam at the top (yahoo has this) and it will then go to your bulk mail and you won't have to deal with it again. It's important to remember that you can't open and look at it first or it won't go to spam. Also, you may block that collector under that address, but they may have hundreds of others to use. If they are sending these and it's a workplace email, then you might have something there. They aren't allow to contact you at your place of work. I would make copies and contact a lawyer, because there are laws and guidelines and if they overstep the boundaries.... sue. I have a friend who received phone calls all the time, finally she just told them to contact her attorney, gave his name, address and phone # and it helped. It happened to be her divorce attorney, she never told him she was doing it and he never mentioned it. However, I would not put that in writting if it's not true. Best of luck to you. Some people will stand in judgement of you today, but tomorrow they may be in your shoes and want your advice. Let me know how it turns out.


No, it isn't harrassment...they are trying to collect the money you own them.....Why don't you just pay it. They will get it one way or the other. Delaying will only cause penalties and interest to accrue.

The next step will be when they drag you into court...then you will be forced to pay their court costs also.

Does the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act apply to a business debt?

In other words what I am asking...can a collection agency call your business and tell your employee that you have an outstanding debt that is in collections? How much the debt is for and what year its from?


They will claim that business debt is not covered under the FDCPA because it only covers consumer debt.

what are the do not contact states under the fair debt collection practice act?


WHAT I AM ASKING IS WHAT ARE THE CLOSED BORDER STATES UNDER THE ACA?


Massachusetts and Pennsylvania


I think you are asking about collectors contacting you for debt payment. Until you have an attorney represent you on a debt, you can be hounded by bill collectors.
The catch 22 is, once you get an attorney, the business that ownes your debt will mostlikely sue to win judgement and garnish wages/Tax refunds.
If you owe monies, you should not hide- contact them and close the account untill you can catch up. Or come up with a pay program that you can stick to. You owe the money- You need to pay.


Not really sure what you are referring to. The FDCA is a federal law that generally applies to all of the states. I wasn't aware that any of the states passed laws to opt out of it.

PayDay's answer above is idiotic! Obviosly from a collect's point of view. Read the FDCA PayDay! Nowhere in the law does ot ban a collection agent from contacting you ONLY if you have an attorney. Once they get the warning notice, they can only contact you to say what action they are going to take, like "ok, we gonna sue you!"...then they better follow through. But at least it eliminates the harrassment calls and threats.


Send the creditor a "cease and Desist letter" this means, do not contact me. Example: do not contact me by phone.Start by saying : Dear (name of Creditor), This letter is to serve as notice to cease and desist all telephonic contact effective (date). Due to Excessive and unrelenting harassing phone calls, you are in violation of section_806 of the Fair Debt.collection practices Act.Please contact me via mail only (provide address). Sincerely, (name)
Provide an address so all contacts will be documented and this also shows that you are not trying to avoid not paying the Debt.
Good Luck

Is this a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?

A debt collector called my wife's mother, ex-step-father, and grandmother and told them he needed to contact her because there were fraudulent charges made on her credit card. Her mother called BS on the guy and took his information, then gave it to my wife.
Is this false representation under Section 807 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?


The practice you describe would seem to be forbidden by 15 U.S.C. 1692e(10): "The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer."

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00001692---e000-.html

has anyone had to use the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act? or know about it?

just looking for info, and if you've had to use this
just wanting to know if anyone has used this Act on their credit, and what they had to go thru
yes, it is mainly about harassment from a creditor, a very rude person


Budhibbs.com

His web site has good info on how to deal with these parasites.

Debtorboards.com

Good info too. Mostly on how to aggressively repair your credit.

Is a private landlord subject to the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?

I'm having a temporary problem paying my rent and I really don't want to deal with the knocking on the door and the phone calls.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act related to companies?

Does anybody know if the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to debts incurred/alleged against a company ?

If not, is there a similar act which does apply to company debts ?


No, FDCPA is consumers only.

There is nothing in that realm in U.S. law relating to company debts. However, there may be something in your state law.

What are the most common violations banks commit regarding the Fair debt collection practices act?



Contacting you after you have written to them requesting them to stop contacting you. Or contacting you at work.

act collection debt fair practice - News


Pushing back against debt collectors - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
Pushing back against debt collectors The debt collection act allows debtors who have been aggrieved to recover $1000 in damages, just by showing there was a violation, Sabatini said.

Lawsuit May have Implications for Medical Collection Agencies - InsideARM
Lawsuit May have Implications for Medical Collection Agencies for allegedly violating the state’s charity care law as well as consumer protection and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) for telling a

Law Firm Sues Collection Agency for Allegedly Violating Charity ... - InsideARM
Law Firm Sues Collection Agency for Allegedly Violating Charity Consumer Protection Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Phillips and Geyman want the agency to stop pursuing collections from charity

For whom the bill tolls - Bangor Daily News
For whom the bill tolls The bureau was established in 1975 to enforce consumer protection laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act and the Consumer Credit Code.

Loan debt for new condo owner is a surprise - San Francisco Chronicle
Loan debt for new condo owner is a surprise I also suspect that your documents provide that if collection efforts are taken, the association can collect reasonable attorney's fees in addition to the

Digg it Stumble it Add to del.icio.us

Subscribe via RSS

Sponsors

Friends

flickr

Related Sites

Sponsors