Easy money lures some people to get into unfair practices
. Debt collectors get lured by money that can be churned by playing with minds. They resort to emotional blackmail and try to weaken you relating to loan thereby making you commit for the payment of the loan.
It is worthwhile to note that many people do not bother to find out about debt collectors unless they face the problem themselves. However, there are advertisements warning against companies with false debt collectors under the fair debt collection act.
The debt collector takes the path of playing with psychology assuming that you are not aware of your rights and that you might succumb to his tactics and pay up. Some of the techniques the debt collector uses to harass you are:
Calls you repeatedly over phone at home and work
Calls people other than you about the debt
Calls you in spite of requesting not to call
May or may not disclose who he is
Calls you at unusual hours
Uses rude and insulting language
Claims he is from a government agency
Contacts you even after a written notification not to call
Threatens to take action
Threatens to garnish wages
Calls you even after debt validation from you or your attorney
If the debt collector wants to charge more than your debt
If you suffer debt collector harassment for any of the above, there is a possibility of your recovering money from him and not vice versa.
Under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) all the above account to violations of law. You have a right to sue a debt collector for unfair debt collection methods by enforcing debt collection laws in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can impose on the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. Even if you cannot prove you have suffered, the judge can require debt collector to pay you an amount up to $1000.
If the debt collector sues you, it is best to respond either personally or through your attorney. You may contact Krohn & Moss Consumer Law Center and engage an FDCPA attorney, who will take up your case, examine and proceed legally.
Krohn & Moss Consumer Law Center has mediated, sued and settled thousands of victimized consumers cases for credit reporting and debt collection issues.