Archive for debt collector
FBI Warns of Payday Loan Collection Scam
Posted by: | CommentsIn a recent post, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warns of a telephone collection scam related to delinquent payday loans where the scammer calls the victim and demands payment for a delinquent payday loan in order for the victim to avoid legal consequences. These “collection” calls usually involve outrageous threats, including arrest or physical violence, upon the victim’s refusal to pay.
The FBI warns that these scams are particularly effective because the scammers often have accurate information regarding the victim such as a Social Security number, date of birth, and other similar personal information.
If you are the victim of such a call, the FBI recommends the following actions:
- Contact your bank;
- Contact the three major credit bureaus and place an alert on your file;
- Contact your local law enforcement if you feel you are in danger; and
- File a complaint with the FBI.
If you have been harassed by a debt collector, contact our office to discuss your options.
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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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Consumers Have Rights Under Fed Law
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are a consumer and you feel that you are being abused or harassed by a debt collector, there is hope! There is a Federal law that governs the way debt collectors can and cannot behave while collecting consumer debts. It is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, commonly referred to as the “FDCPA.”
In general, the FDCPA protects consumers from abusive treatment by debt collectors who are collecting consumer debts as outlined in the FDCPA. Some of the prohibited conduct by debt collectors is as follows*: Read More→
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