Are you being hounded by a debt collector? Has the collector been calling your friends and family? If the answer is yes, you could be experiencing creditor harassment. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to make it stop and to get rid of your debt all at once. What many people don’t know is that they have rights that protect them from creditor harassment. Our New York debt relief attorneys explain what you can do to stop creditor harassment.
If you need help getting rid of creditor harassment, contact our New York creditor harassment attorneys today at (516) 217-4488!
Know Your Rights
According to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), consumers have the right to require a collection agency to verify the debt’s amount and validity. This is a valuable right consumer have because collection agencies can make mistakes. In some cases, people receive calls from creditors about a debt they already paid, or in other cases, the debt isn’t even theirs.
Debt collectors are also obligated to follow the rules of the FDCPA. There are several things a creditor cannot do when they are collecting debt, such as:
- Call you before 8 am or after 9 pm (within your time zone).
- Call you at work, especially after you informed them that your boss disapproves.
- Harass, oppress, or abuse you.
- Lie to you or imply that you have committed a crime.
- Conceal their identity on the phone,
- Disregard a written request from you to cease further contact.
Ask Verification of the Debt
The collection agency’s first collection letter should have the debt amount, creditor name, and a note stating that you have 30 days to dispute the validity of the debt. If the debtor doesn’t provide you with that information, you have a right to request it and to dispute the debt charges against you. If you decide to dispute the debt or request verification of the debt, the collector must stop all collection activity until they send you the verification of the debt.
If the creditor is trying to collect more than you owe or fails to verify the debt, you can dispute the debt with an experienced attorney’s help.
Should I Ask the Creditor to Stop Contacting Me?
You can tell the creditor to leave you alone, but that doesn’t solve your primary issue. The collection agency doesn’t need to be communicating with you to collect the debt. In most cases, if the creditor can’t communicate with you, they will turn over the account to a lawyer and file a lawsuit against you. The worst part is that the collection agency isn’t obligated to warn you that the account is being sent for legal proceedings.
Seek Legal Guidance
The most effective way to get rid of creditor harassment is to solve your debt issue. If you have received a debt collection notice, you should consult with an experienced lawyer right away. An attorney can analyze your case and help you determine if the creditor has violated any of your rights. An attorney can also help you find options to get rid of your debt. Our team at Jacovetti Law, P.C. can help you prove that the debt collection agent is wrong, or we can negotiate with the creditor on your behalf to accept less than the full amount of the debt.
You only have 30 days after receiving a collection letter to dispute the debt, so you must act soon. Let our team analyze your case and develop a defense to help you achieve your desired outcome.
Contact our New York creditor harassment attorneys today at (516) 217-4488 to schedule a consultation!