Can bill collectors contact family members?

Generally, a debt collector cannot contact your family, neighbors, or other people about your debt unless: The debt collector is doing so to get your location information; A court has given the debt collector permission to do so; You or your attorney agreed in writing that the debt collector may contact other people.

What happens when you send a Dunning letter to a bill collector?

Under the FDCPA, if you send the bill collector a letter that disputes the debt and/or requests verification of the debt within 30 days of receiving the initial written notice of the debt (called a “dunning letter”), then that bill collector must: immediately stop its collection activity, and

What happens if you send a letter to a debt collector?

Be sure to keep a copy of the letter. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you about the debt again, unless they’re doing so to tell you that the collector or creditor is going to take a specific action to resolve the debt.

Is it illegal for a debt collector to make false statements?

Although this may be frustrating to you, it is not a violation of the law. The collector is allowed to negotiate its own terms, but the collector may not make any false statements or use misleading ways to collect a debt from you.

What to do if a debt collector cannot produce an assignment?

This usually means producing proof that the debt was assigned to it. Often such proof will be a bill of sale, an “assignment”, or a receipt between the last creditor holding the debt and the entity suing you. What If the Collector Cannot Produce the Assignment?

Can a debt collector contact a family member?

There’s a limit to what debt collectors can say when they contact your family members. If debt collectors are giving out information to your relatives, rather than getting information, they’re breaking the law. If a debt collector has been trying unsuccessfully to get in contact with you, they’ll use other methods to try to get to you.

When is it unreasonable to call a bill collector?

Call you repeatedly or contact you at an unreasonable time (the law presumes that before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. is unreasonable). Place telephone calls to you without identifying themselves as bill collectors.

Under the FDCPA, if you send the bill collector a letter that disputes the debt and/or requests verification of the debt within 30 days of receiving the initial written notice of the debt (called a “dunning letter”), then that bill collector must: immediately stop its collection activity, and

Can you write a letter to a debt collector?

Although it’s your right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to write a letter to a debt collector stating you don’t wish to be contacted, this could potentially cause more harm than good. “Sometimes you’ll hear people say you should send a letter to the debt collector stating you don’t want to be contacted anymore.