Are you being harassed by debt collectors? Whether it’s your home phone or even your work place, they just can’t stop calling even when you repeatedly told them to stop calling. The sad part is that they harass you over debts that you’ve already paid or debts that are not yours!
I know the feeling because recently, we’ve been receiving collection notices from a collection agency in Newton, Massachusetts called Credit Collection Services for “unpaid home insurance” for a house that was never ours in the first place. The insurance company was Farmers Insurance Group.
My husband had to make lots of calls, fax and emails just to settle this problem and stop collection harassment for good. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), we consumers have rights. This law was enacted to protect us from collector abuse.
Among the debts covered by the FDCPA are personal, family, and household debts. This includes money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. Do note that the Act does not cover debts or liabilities that you incurred in running a business.
You can report those harassments, false statements, unfair practices and other violations of the FDCPA to your state Attorney General’s office and the Federal Trade Commission. If your state’s laws are different from the federal law (FDCPA), your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under the state’s law.
It would be wise to learn more about FDCPA so that you can arm yourself with the knowledge on how to stop collection harassment or anywhere you might be. Knowledge is power!