Collection Agency Harassment

   Have You Been Victimized?

Every day, a multitude of unfortunate individuals, all across the country, are subjected to the dirty tricks of debt collection lawyers and deceptive debt recovery agency practices. Sadly, it seems to be what they do best. In fact, debt collectors represent an industry with very few friends on the consumer side of the equation. The most recent statistical feedback, gathered in 2008, had them ranked #6 among the most complained about industries in America, which was a surprising improvement from the #1 ranking achieved in 2001. Not surprisingly, as a direct result of collection agency harassment, they're typically regarded as "bottom feeders", or scavengers, who slither about preying on the helpless and uninformed victims of overwhelming and unmanageable consumer debt.

Bounty hunters, in every sense of the word, and clearly ignoring collection agency harassment laws, they track down their unsuspecting quarry in ways that have traditionally been characterized as treacherous, bogus, unethical, intimidating, devious, threatening, abusive, unfair and nasty, just to name a few. They tiptoe along the line of legality, regarding collection agency laws, while practicing their deceptive craft of unscrupulous debt recovery.

But, it's when they do in fact cross the line, employing tactics that are clearly illegal, that the consumer has the Federal Government on their side to help them protect their individual rights. In other words, you don't have to put up with the harassing tactics of bad debt collectors. Needless to say, it's tough enough when you slip behind in your monthly obligations, especially while making an effort to work things out with creditors. But, when your life is turned upside down by the antics of these monsters, it's time to take a stand and put an end to the criminal assault.

Illegal Tactics Can Include:

• Threatening you with violence or physical harm.
• Using obscene or profane language.
• Falsely claiming that you have committed a crime.
• Misrepresenting the amount you owe.
• Saying you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt.
• Repeatedly using the phone to annoy you.
• Falsely claiming that they are attorneys.
• Using a false company name.
• Depositing a post-dated check early.

We'll never get the sharks out of the water completely, but the federal guidelines were implemented for a reason, so let's do what we can to protect ourselves, while forcing the "bad guys" to behave in a more ethical manner.

How To Report Collection Agency Harassment And Other Illegal Practices

If you feel that you've been subjected to any illegal activities, regarding debt collection, contact your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) as well as, the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Most states will have their own laws regarding debt collection, which are generally different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your state's Attorney General’s office representative can certainly assist you in making a determination of your individual rights which are covered under the laws of your particular state.

For Additional Information

To learn even more about the issues of debt collection, visit www.ftc.gov/credit, the U.S. government’s Federal Trade Commission website. The FTC is working hard to prevent and eliminate deceptive, fraudulent, and unfair business practices in the consumer marketplace and is providing an abundance of information that will help each consumer recognize, avoid and prevent the abusive activities. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The Federal Trade Commission enters consumer complaints into a secure online database, the Consumer Sentinel Network, which is a powerful investigative tool utilized by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies all across the United States, as well as, other countries outside of our borders.