Laws dictate what debt collectors are and aren’t allowed to do. Unfortunately, some debt collectors ignore these laws, harassing and even threatening debtors in the process. If you’ve recently been contacted by a debt collector, it’s important to understand your rights. Review the following list of ways that debt collectors break the law, and immediately contact our experienced South Florida class action attorneys if you believe you’ve been subjected to illegal debt collection practices.
Harassment
Debt collectors are forbidden from calling you repeatedly to harass you. If you believe that a debt collector is contacting you too often, you should make a record of each call. In addition, you should save any messages left by the debt collector. By law, a debt collector may not contact you before 8 a.m., after 9 p.m., or at times you’ve told the collector are inconvenient for you. Therefore, you should also make note of any contact by the debt collector during these times.
Threats
Debt collectors are forbidden from threatening you. For example, they aren’t permitted to threaten you with criminal prosecution, a lawsuit, jail time, or wage garnishment for failure to pay a debt. Rather than threatening you, a debt collector must actually take you to court in order to take any of these actions—if they are actually permitted to take them at all. Also forbidden are threats to contact others or improperly share information about your debt. While debt collectors are permitted to contact third parties in an attempt to locate you, they may not share specific information with these parties about your debt.
Lying
Finally, debt collectors may not lie to you in an attempt to collect a debt. This includes lies related to the threats discussed above, such as threats of criminal prosecution, wage garnishment, a lawsuit, jail time, or a ruined credit rating when the debt collector actually has no intention of pursuing any of these remedies.
Florida Consumer Protection and Commercial Litigation Attorney
If you believe you’ve been the victim of illegal debt collection practices, you need aggressive legal representation. At Lehrman Law, our experienced Florida attorneys are dedicated to fighting marketplace injustice in all its forms, including illegal debt collection practices. Backed by decades of extensive experience trying cases in both state and federal court, Seth Lehrman is widely recognized for helping victims of unfair business practices achieve the justice they deserve. Regardless of your legal issue, our aggressive and compassionate Florida attorneys will take the time to discuss your rights, explore your options, and help you navigate the legal system. Therefore, if you or a loved one have been victimized by the illegal practices of debt collectors, please contact us immediately to schedule a consultation and begin your road to financial recovery.