Not everyone realizes that debt collectors are not allowed to treat them in certain ways. Being aware of what counts as abusive debt collection practices compared to what debt collectors are allowed to do can help you protect yourself. A lawyer can help you take legal action to end creditor harassment like this. Talk to a Chattanooga bankruptcy lawyer today to start defending yourself and your finances.
Escaping Creditor Harassment
There are certain things debt collectors are allowed to do and certain things debt collectors are not allowed to do. Differentiating between these can help you better detect creditor harassment and good faith debt collection efforts. Signs of abusive debt collection practices include:
Repeated calls at strange hours of the day or night
Using abusive or demeaning language
Coercion and deception
Collecting more debt than you currently owe
Specifically, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prevents creditors from calling you before 8 AM or after 9 PM. Creditors are not allowed to tell you false or exaggerated information about your debt. Threats of seizing your property or filing legal actions against you are also not allowed. They cannot contact your loved ones.
What creditors are allowed to do in debt collection efforts is contact you to formally inform you about the debt you owe. They can tell you details about how much you owe, who you owe debt to, and deadlines. You can ask them about your debt collection rights and payment options.
You have the option to tell debt collectors to stop contacting you. This is usually done by mailing them a letter. Once they receive this letter, they may only contact you again to confirm they will stop contacting you.
How a Lawyer Can Defend Your Financial Rights
If you suspect creditor harassment, a lawyer can help you with suing debt collectors to end creditor harassment and abuse. A lawyer can help you identify whether creditor harassment or abuse has occurred by looking for red flags. Then your lawyer can help you explore your legal options for stopping this and protecting your finances.
An experienced lawyer can work with you to collect evidence of creditor harassment to start building a case. Filing a lawsuit could mean compensation for you to cover damages suffered from the harassment. These damages may cover psychological harm and other damages. Some people are compensated up to $1,000 or more.
However, a lawsuit must usually be filed within a year after the creditor harassed you. Working with a lawyer can help speed up the legal processes to increase your chances of a successful lawsuit. Reach out to a lawyer to start taking steps to regain control of your finances and to stop creditor harassment.
Contact Tom Bible Law for Legal Help
Massive debt can be overwhelming and may feel impossible to escape. Feel free to call us at Tom Bible Law today at (423) 424-3116 for a consultation about your financial dilemma. Our legal team of Tennessee bankruptcy attorneys is prepared to help you explore legal options related to debt relief. We are located throughout the Tennessee cities of Chattanooga and Tullahoma.