What To Do When The Debt Collectors Cross The Line?

If you are deep in debt and on your account, you will certainly get a regular phone calls from debt collectors. It is important that you know your rights, and you know that the debt collector can and can not lawfully do or say.

Many professional debt collectors follow the rules set by the Federal Fair debt collection practices law. But every now and then, you get a call from the less than professional collection agency that has crossed the line. In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission complaint lists a debt collector from the top of the complaints they receive. This one industry receives more complaints than any other combination!

If you take into account the fact that relatively few people make a formal complaint, then you will know the actual number of violations must be very high indeed. Actually, it's a bit too much to take in the size of the industry and the financial statements, which are collections of volumes. Unfortunately, the situation seems worse, not better.

So what to do if you are illegal and abusive collection tactics of the victim? First, arm yourself with knowledge. Make sure you know your rights, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website.

General and illegal threat is that they take your house or other property from you if you do not pay your debt. If the debt is unsecured, they can not take your things from you. Now, if you default, your car loan, your car can not be returned. If you default on your mortgage, your house can go to closing. But, unsecured credit card debt is unsecured. They are only used to take you to court and a court decision against you. At that time, they may be able to garnish your bank account or your salary.

Another danger is that they will issue you an arrest warrant, if you do not pay their bills. Again, this is beyond the potential power of debt collectors. Only debt you go to jail for this one owes the IRS. Non-payment of the unsecured debt is not a criminal offense. And you risk jail or accusing you of a crime against the FTC rules.

You can request that they stop you on the phone. You have the right to require that all communications be in writing. If they do not comply with their request, and continue to call you anyway, they violate federal law.

If you have a collector when a statement such as: "We know where you live ..." You can also report them immediately. This can be interpreted as a threat of violence is very, very illegal.

Other things that collectors are not allowed to do so include:

* Discuss your debt with a third party
* Interfering with your work phone you at work
* The use of obscene or profane language and shouting
* Make a constant and unrelenting phone calls
* Failure to respond to written disputes
* Publishing debtor informatio

If you believe that your rights have been violated by the debt collector, what can you do? You can and should file formal complaints with the Atto
ey General for your state, and state debt collection agency. You may also be file a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. All of this can be done online. You also can apply to harassment, violence and rights violations in the collector.

If you are a victim of unfair collection practices, you do not just accept it. You can fight back and stand up for their rights.