FDCPA - Why Debt Collectors Call Third Parties

Consumer litigation attorney John Watts discusses the reason why debt collectors call your neighbors, co-workers, or family members. The simple reason is this is the most effective way bill collectors have to force you to contact them to stop the embarrassment of third parties knowing your personal financial business.

Contact us to get our free report on how to make debt collectors pay for contacting third parties or read more about debt collectors on our website at http://www.alabamaconsumer.com/CM/Custom/FAQs-about-Creditor-Harassment.asp or our blog at http://www.alabamaconsumerlawblog.com/collectorsdebt_buyers/ or call us at 205-879-2447.

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• John Watts
• lawyer
• Birmingham
• Alabama
• debt collectors
• third parties
• fdcpa
• consumer
• attorney

[johngwatts]

forthecause - I understand what you are saying but the law says this is illegal to ask the neighbor to pass along a message. You can only ask the neighbor for home phone, home address, or name of employer. Anything else violates the FDCPA.

When neighbors take messages to consumers it is very intimidating which is why many collectors use this tactic.

You don't do it for this reason but in my judgment it is illegal. So my suggestion is give this some thought.

Thanks for your comment...

[forthecause]

There's some good info here, but I don't like the end part... "make them pay." It's not illegal to call a 3rd party provided there's no disclosure and the laws are followed. Often times we'll do a whitepages search and we have an address of the debtor but no #. In that case I often ask a neighbor to get a message to the debtor. And it works and I don't see anything immoral about that. Would you agree?