10 Illegal Debt Collection Practices

The only thing worse than paying bills is having some reject call you on your cell to talk to you about paying them back. If you're a deadbeat consumer like I am, this video gives a pretty good overview of current debt collection laws in the United States and tells you unequivocally what debt collectors can and can't do. It's short, easy to understand and useful. Whether or not it's accurate, I don't know, but I think it is.

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• credit
• debt
• collection
• collectors
• bill
• bills
• owe
• owe money
• bill collectors
• fair debt collections

[fenix9885]

Hey, good lookin' out with this video. I didn't know a lot of this stuff and I appreciate the heads up. Broke people like me need to know this stuff haha

[pitcalco]

@theinsanelogic You and I might disagree about this issue, but both you and I ALWAYS have a right to judge. Don't ever forget. Better judgment, both about oneself and others, is exactly what will keep people out of this kind of trouble...and make for more peace.

[connfyoozed]

I also want to add a couple things to this list. A debt collector cannot call you at work if you have said no, and can't call you if you have an attorney... BUT... you cannot just hang up if someone has to call you at work, you have to EXPLICITLY say that you cannot be called at work. With the attorney, you cannot just say "I have a lawyer", you have to provide the attorney information the caller requests. If you do not want to be called at a number, use the legal words "cease and desist"

[connfyoozed]

Thanks for posting reymatt. I was a debt collector for a couple of years, and most if not all of the people I worked with were not at all rejects: many of them had debt themselves, like me, and therefore could empathize with the people they were calling up to a point. However, I've been on the other end too, and some of the people who call are not at all as polite or empathetic as I tried to be.

[theinsanelogic]

@pitcalco most people now have debt. the majority of people in western countries struggle to pay these debts. you have no judgement to say (neither do i ) whether or not they deserve protection. all i know is that is the law. and i agree, third party notification is dodgy at best, but erring on the side of caution is not necessarily the wrong way to go when the job they may lose can pay the debt. i have no issues with your viewpoint, a debt is a debt :) i'm just saying. peace, man.

[MichaelinSF]

Thank You. Although my days of dealing with those people are over, I still have bad feelings towards them.

[pitcalco]

@imicegrl No hate from me. On occasion I did have to use the services of a debt collector. Their encounters with my debtors were firm but amicable. I don't want to ruin my debtors lives, I just need them to keep their end of the bargain and pay the bills. They have no right getting angry at debt collectors. Debt is typically a problem of one's own making. That said, I do have hate for collectors that resort to threats or fraud, to whatever degree they exist. There is no call for that.

[pitcalco]

@theinsanelogic Yes, it is there for a reason, but even the law against notifying a third party is a bit dodgy. Only votes from deadbeats are to be gained by passing laws going light on people who do not pay their bills. What punishment is appropriate for sending a letter on letterhead? The risk of losing a job or rental property should be an impetus not to borrow money you can't afford. You are no less a credit risk just because the law is going to help you cover up the fact.

[imicegrl]

TY for the informative video. I worked as a debt collector about 10 years ago and at that time most of this didn't apply. Our postcards would list the amount owed and when the due date was. But thankfully those days are behind me so please no hate mail.

[theinsanelogic]

even though i am not american, i found the list interesting :) cool beans, dude.