Creditor Harassment
Protecting Yourself from Overzealous Creditors
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you are supposed to be completely shielded from creditor harassment. However, if you have been living with debt for a while, then you probably know already that many creditors and collections companies do not respect the FDCPA and break the rules in pursuit of your money.
Stand up for yourself and set things right with Garrett Law LLC and our Topeka creditor harassment attorney. Using a variety of legal tools that may be available to you, it is our goal to end the harassment as soon as possible and also seek fair compensation on your behalf. If you have been emotionally abused by an overly aggressive creditor, then you deserve to be compensated for that injustice.
What is Creditor Harassment by Legal Definition?
The FDCPA discusses creditor harassment in good detail. The federal act covers a lot that creditors can do, and even more that they cannot. In general, though, a creditor is not allowed to harass and/or deceive you when trying to collect a debt from you, no matter the size of the debt and its validity.
Examples of creditor harassment:
- Calling you late at night, repeatedly, or while you are at work
- Swearing at you to be intimidating
- Threatening you, your family, or your property
- Giving information about your debt to the public or a noninvolved third party
Examples of creditor deception:
- Not identifying themselves when they call you
- Changing the amount that you owe
- Claiming to be an attorney
- Saying the police are going to arrest you for your debt
- Lying about who owns the debt
- Mentioning any sort of illegal activity as a threat
If any of these actions or behaviors have been used against you by a creditor, call (888) 253-4526 and let our Topeka creditor harassment lawyer right away. We can start looking for a way to immediately stop the harassment, such as using an automatic stay in combination with a bankruptcy filing under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
What Are My Rights Against Creditor Harassment?
A creditor may be harassed by a debt collector by a variety of means, such as persistent phone calls, threatening letters, or even physical acts. It's critical to understand that you have legal protections against unfair or abusive debt collection tactics, as well as rights as a consumer.
Some of your rights against creditor harassment include:
- The right to request written communication only
- The right to dispute the debt in writing
- The right to seek legal representation
- The right to file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
It's crucial to get legal counsel if you think you've been the target of creditor harassment so you can learn your rights for pursuing damages and ending the harassment. At Garrett Law LLC, our knowledgeable attorneys can guide you through the court system and defend your rights.
Avoid allowing the harassment of creditors to negatively impact your mental and emotional health. Make an appointment for a consultation with us right now to start the process of getting rid of creditor harassment.
Claim Your Right to Compensation for Creditor Harassment
The FDCPA does more than just define and prohibit creditor harassment. It also provides you the legal right to sue a creditor or debt collector for damages in response to the harassment. In a typical creditor harassment case, you can file a lawsuit in pursuit of $1,000 plus any additional damages caused by the harassment.
For example, you may have lost your job due to constant phone calls to your work. Your owed compensation could include those lost wages. Noneconomic damages like emotional trauma can also be included in a creditor harassment lawsuit.
Ensure Your Creditor Harassment Case is Strong with Garrett Law LLC - Contact Us Online or call (888) 253-4526.