Understanding Your Rights Regarding Debt Collection

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When it comes to debt collection, it is important to understand your rights as a consumer. This article will explore some of the laws surrounding debt collection and how they protect you from unfair practices.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal law that protects consumers against harassment by debt collectors. It requires them to treat you fairly and prohibits certain unfair or deceptive practices when trying to collect a debt from you. Under this act, for example, creditors may not call before 8am or after 9pm in your time zone; threaten violence; falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives; misrepresent the amount owed; use profanity or obscene language with consumers; publish lists of people who owe debts (except for credit bureaus); contact third parties about the debt without permission from the consumer (such as friends/ family); contact employers about wage garnishment without prior notice sent via certified mail if allowed in state law where debtor resides (this does not apply for unpaid taxes). Additionally, creditors must provide written validation of any debts within five days of contacting you and stop contacting you upon request via certified mail return receipt requested – but only if such payment was made in full according to original agreement terms between creditor/debtor at time contract was signed originally.

State laws regarding debtor collections can vary widely across states so be sure to check what applies where you live because there could be additional protections available depending on which jurisdiction governs your relationship with creditors/debtors involved in transaction(s). Knowing these rules can help ensure that collectors are following fair practice guidelines while trying collect payments due on accounts which have fallen into default status due lack thereof timely payment by debtor towards principal balance being owed under terms agreed between both parties at original signing date contract during origination period loan processState laws regarding debtor collections can vary widely across states so be sure to check what applies where you live because there could be additional protections available depending on which jurisdiction governs your relationship with creditors/debtors involved in transaction(s). Knowing these rules can help ensure that collectors are following fair practice guidelines while trying collect payments due on accounts which have fallen into default status due lack thereof timely payment by debtor towards principal balance being owed under terms agreed between both parties at original signing date contract during origination period loan process when account first opened up years ago!
 
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