Unfair debt collections

In 1995, Congress passed the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA).  Congress found, among other things, that “There is abundant evidence of the use of abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices by many debt collectors.  Abusive debt collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies, to marital instability, to the loss of jobs, and to invasions of individual privacy.”

The FDCPA protects consumers from unfair debt collection practices by debt collectors. Some of the damages a consumer can seek include wages lost as a result of the collection efforts, maybe the amounts paid as a result of the improper collection efforts, emotional distress, mental anguish, tax refunds intercepted by the debt collector, and medical bills caused by the debt collector’s harassment. Additionally, if the consumer wins, he or she may ask the Court to have the debt collector pay his or her attorney’s fees.

Your first line of defense is education.  Know your rights.  

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