Part 12:
As part of series of articles (blogs)
regarding Credit and Credit Score, here we
go:
There are times that you
may end up talking to a Debt Collector, either
by intention or by mistake. For example, when
you apply for a certain loan (e.g., mortgage
loan, personal loan, student loan, etc) the
lender may ask you to clear some of your
accounts in collections or show that you have
worked out or settled those accounts with
collection agencies before they grant you the
loan.
What Can’t Debt Collectors Do?
Remember, Debt Collectors are
highly motivated to collect the debt, in full or
as much as possible, from the consumer. They are
trained to be serious, hard headed, demanding,
unsympathetic, in-sensitive, etc. Don’t let them
intimidate you. Under the
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
of 1977 (FDCPA), they must follow some rules and
restrictions. Among those rules and restrictions
are: They CANNOT
-
Call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. or
at any time that they are given notice that
it is inconvenient to call
-
Tell other people (friends, family, and
neighbors) about the fact that a debt is
owed.
-
Call the consumer's place of employment if
they have been advised that calls cannot be
accepted at work.
-
Use any profane language or any language
that is harassing and abusive.
-
Engage in any conduct in which is harassing,
abusive or oppressive.
-
Make any misrepresentations of fact, such as
how much is owed, or certain actions they
may take to force payment.
-
Threaten arrest or criminal prosecution.
-
Send false information to the credit bureaus
-
Cause a telephone to ring an unreasonable
amount of times
If a debt collector has engaged in any of the
above conduct that is not allowed by the FDCPA
statute of limitations, or has been deceptive to
you in any other way, contact the FDCPA office
for a free case review.
Each state usually has additional laws to
protect their consumers. Contact your state
authorities for your additional rights. Texas
law provides for private remedies which include
obtaining an injunction, actual damages, and
statutory damages of a minimum of $100 for
certain violations, and attorney fees.
See
http://www.protectingconsumerrights.com/debt-collection-problems/fair-debt-collection-practices-act/states/texas/
for additional laws from the Texas Fair
Debt Collection Practices Act.
HOW to overcome the problems with your credit
history and credit score?
Knowledge, education, awareness, practice and
discipline are the essential keys to being
successful on any subject. The book,
"Credit Score Tips and Tricks",
provides you information, tools, techniques to
educate yourself and manage your credit report &
credit score, and therefore manage your finances
effectively at no additional cost.
I have decided to bring and share with you,
chapters or sections of the book,
Credit Score Tips and Tricks,
as series of
articles here. This is the number
12 of such a
series.
I also created and manage a GROUP in ActiveRain,
Credit Reports and Credit Scores, Please
feel free to join and share your thoughts and
experiences.