Debt collectors calling? Know your rights
Ignoring the calls from collectors won't make the debt vanish, but consumers do have rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Posted — UpdatedThe act, administered by the Federal Trade Commission, contains a list of guidelines for debt collectors. The agency reported 71,000 complaints about debt collection violations in 2007.
Collectors are also prohibited from:
- using threats of violence or harm
- publishing a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts
- falsely implying that they are attorneys or government representatives
- contacting a consumer before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless the person has agreed to it
Collectors also cannot say you will be arrested. In North Carolina, a collector also cannot threaten to garnishee your wages.
“The first priority should be your food, clothing, shelter, utilities and transportation costs. That’s everything to run your household,” Acker said.
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