Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
Consumers are protected by federal laws to ensure that debt collection practices are fair and reasonable. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a Federal Law that protects debtors from harassing or misleading debt collection practices. Violations of the Act can result in fines up to $1500 per violation.
One example of a violation of the FDCPA is calling a consumer multiple times each month in order to collect a debt. While it is not illegal to call a debtor in an attempt to collect a debt, it may be illegal depending upon how many times the debtor is contacted. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from using calls "repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse or harass."
Another potential violation of the FDCPA involves misleading language in debt collection letters.
Even banks have recently faced class action suits over unfair debt collection conduct. Some of the illegal tactics include leaving harassing voice message calls on your cell phone, calling family, friends or co-workers about a debt and phoning multiple times each day about your debt.
If you have been contacted by a debt collector in violation of the FDCPA, contact the attorneys at Pogust Braslow Millrood and let us evaluate your potential claim.
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