by Marie Bywater

Created on: July 25, 2010   Last Updated: July 26, 2010

With the economy in turmoil, many people have been made redundant leaving them penniless. As a result more and more people are borrowing money to put food on the table and pay essential bills.  People them find themselves in a puddle of debt; debt which they find difficult to pay back.

Debt collection agencies are employed to collect people’s debts as well as their own personal percentage for collecting such debt. As a result collection agencies will do whatever it takes to claim their money. However in many cases collection agencies are overstepping the line and in some instances breaking the law. Find out what collection agencies do not want you to know and help protect yourself from their wrath.

Collection agencies are regulated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which promotes fair debt collection and serves to ensure that debtors are treated fairly and not in an abusive manner. They are certain things the FDCPA govern and ensure that collection agencies abide by.

Telephone Correspondence

Collection agencies are not permitted to contact debtors outside the hours of 8am-9pm, and if they do so it is considered abusive or deceptive behavior. Further to this collection agencies are not allowed to phone someone continuously in order to harass them into paying their debts. If your employer has not authorized a collection agency to phone you at work they must refrain from doing so. With regards to general communication debt collectors must cease correspondence with the debtors including phone calls and letters if debtors send a letter of cease and desist letter to the collection agency.

General behavior

Collection agencies must not reveal your name or have it published on a debt list.  They also do not have the right to discuss your debts with any unsolicited third parties. Such behavior is illegal and does not protect the rights of you the debtor.

Collection agencies must not use abusive language or threaten debtors in anyway.

As a debtor you should know your rights, and these rights include the fact that you are allowed to ask for verification of your debt and the amount to be paid. Collection agencies should be able to provide you with their identity, the name of your original creditor and the fact that you are allowed to dispute your debt.

The fact that collection agencies work on highly paid commission to collect debts means they can sometimes be abusive or aggressive towards debtors in order to collect their money. Knowing your rights as a debtor can help you stop this abuse and harassment from collection agencies. If you do have problems with a debt collection agency then you should report them.

Learn more about this author, Marie Bywater.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.