If this has happened to you, you are not alone!  Please watch this clip from the film Maxed Out.  Debt collectors intentionally contact your work, family, neighbors, and friends with the goal of embarrassing you into making a payment that you may not be able to afford or that you may not even owe. 

Contrary to the statement in the clip, it is not legal for a debt collector to call your neighbors or family members.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits a debt collector who is collecting a consumer debt from contacting a third party without the consumer’s consent.  There is a very limited exception to this rule.  That is, a debt collector may contact a third party to obtain ”location information.”  In most cases, this exception does not apply and it certainly does not allow disclosure of the consumer’s personal information.  If you are aware that a debt collector has contacted ANY third party (i.e. work, family, neighbors, friends) attempting to collect a debt from you, you should contact an experienced consumer attorney to determine whether you have a claim under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

(Copyright - Amy B. Good-Ashman 2008)

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