Americans are generally good at living on credit. Between car loans, mortgages and credit cards, millions of Americans live daily on the financial edge, with significant debt. And some of us can’t pay on time, due to job losses, medical bills or usurious interest rates.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans consumer protection agency, saw a nearly 30% increase in complaints regarding abusive debt collection practices from the year before. These numbers keep climbing every year. A large number of complaints involve the extreme and bullying behavior of debt collectors.
Debt collector horror stories are everywhere. Recently, the news told of the West Virginia woman who was threatened so severely with violence she ran to her bedroom and sat shaking in a corner, clutching her husband’s gun. The was also a report of a consumer who was cursed at and bullied by the debt collector who called her 14 times a day.
Collectors violate the federal law all the time and will call consumers nonstop, even at work. Some contact a person’s family, friends and employers with threats. They track people down on Facebook and send texts to try and embarrass people into paying. They even will throw on a white coat and stalk you at the hospital while you’re attached to an IV and demand payment (see Accretive Health).
So what can you do? First, consumers should know that they have rights under federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This law prevents debt collectors from using abusive, unfair or deceptive practices. If a debt collector is found to be in violation, the law (“FDCPA”) allows you to sue the collector, stop the calls and get paid damages (up to $1,000) plus all of your attorney costs are covered. At Michigan Consumer Credit Lawyers, represent you for free. We fight the debt collectors that wish to harass and intimidate consumers. The consumer walks away with a measure of justice and a check from the debt collector.
If you have been victimized by a debt collector or have items on your credit report that are incorrect, call or email Attorney Gary Nitzkin at [email protected] for a free consultation at (888) 293-2882. For more information about your credit rights as a consumer, visit our website at www.micreditlawyer.com for informative, how to videos on consumer financial protection. We are here to fight for you. Call us today! 888-293-2882