What does it mean when a debt collector calls you?

A debt collector may be trying to contact you because: Creditors may use their own in-house debt collectors or may refer or sell your debt to an outside debt collector. A debt collector also may be calling you to locate someone you know, as long as the collector does not reveal that they are collecting a debt.

What do you do if a debt collector calls someone else?

What to Do If Debt Collectors Are Calling for Someone Else

1. Keep Records.
2. Request That the Collector Not Call Again.
3. File a Complaint With the FTC.
4. Get Legal Help.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes.

Can a debt collector talk to your spouse?

You should immediately put in writing what happened and send it to the management of the agency. They cannot talk to other people about your debt. Debt collection agencies are allowed to discuss your debt with your spouse and your attorney. Other than that, they are not allowed to discuss your debt with anyone.

Is it bad to get a collection call for a debt?

Nobody likes getting debt collection calls. But have you ever gotten one for a debt you already paid — or you know isn’t yours? Or have you been threatened and harassed by a debt collector until you paid up? If so, we want you to know how to protect yourself.

Can a debt collector call your parents more than once?

A debt collector is not allowed to contact a third-party more than once unless requested to do so by the third party. In other words, if a debt collector calls a consumer’s parents, or sister, or co-worker, they cannot call again unless that person asks them to call them again.

Is it legal to sue a debt collector?

Yes. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (which is part of the Consumer Credit Protection Act), there are certain things that debt collection agencies are absolutely not allowed to do. You have the right to request that they stop doing these things and can even take them to court if they continue these behaviors.

Nobody likes getting debt collection calls. But have you ever gotten one for a debt you already paid — or you know isn’t yours? Or have you been threatened and harassed by a debt collector until you paid up? If so, we want you to know how to protect yourself.

What to do if a bill collector calls your cell phone?

If the bill collector keeps calling your cellphone, particularly after you’ve notified him that it’s not a convenient time or place to take the calls, or that you are incurring usage charges for the calls, you can sue the collector in small claims court for damages. (Learn more in What Can You Do If a Debt Collector Violates the FDCPA?)

Can a debt collector call a person who has died?

Sometimes they even call relatives of people who have died, trying to get paid. It’s not always clear if they don’t know the person has died and they are trying to collect a legitimate debt, or if they purposely call relatives of the deceased, hoping to score payment on a bogus debt from someone who doesn’t know better.

Can a debt collector use a text message?

Debt collectors may use newer technologies, such as email and text messages, to communicate with consumers regarding their debts, subject to certain limitations, which protect consumers against harassment or abuse.

What happens when debt collectors call for someone else?

If they stop making the payments, you’re on the hook for the debt and legitimate debt collection calls until the balance is paid. If you’re wondering about how this could impact your credit score or what happens when a collection agency calls for someone else, the answer is not much.

Is there a do not call registry for debt collectors?

Debt collectors are not telemarketers and are not bound by Do not call registries. As long as the autodialer calls are not to your cell phone then they have done nothing wrong. If it IS to your cell phone and you haven’t told them it was your cell they might not know and thus would have done nothing wrong.

What should I do if I get a letter from a debt collector?

Don’t ignore letters or calls from a debt collector. They’re likely to take further action if you don’t reply to them. Some may ask you to pay back the debt in full or in large instalments. You should offer to pay them only what you can realistically afford.

What to do if debt has been sold to debt collection?

As mentioned above, debt collectors have the same rights as the lender they bought the account from; they don’t have any special powers. This means that they will call, email and write to you to ask for payment and encourage you to clear the debt outstanding.

What happens when a debt collector stops calling?

Even if a debt collector stops calling, the debt is still there, and you still need to deal with it. So, if a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to get the story.

Can a debt collector contact you after you send a letter?

Once the collector gets your letter, they are not allowed to contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact, and the collector can be in touch to tell you that they (or the creditor) are going to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit.

Can a debt collector find out if you have paid a debt?

If you don’t have documentation of your payments or letters saying you’ve paid off the debt, you can contact the creditor to obtain this information. You are not obligated to do so, but you may choose to if you want to make sure the debt collector knows you’ve paid off the debt.

When does a debt collector have to give you validation information?

A collector has to give you “validation information” about the debt, either during the collector’s first phone call with you or in writing within five days after first contacting you. The collector has to tell you four pieces of information