S
skp9011
A Debt Collector Who is Trying to Find a Debtor Cannot…
Tell a third party that he/she is a debt collector, unless asked,
Use a postcard or indicate on the envelope that he/she is engaged in
debt collection, or
Contact a person other than the debtor more than once to learn the
debtor’s location.
Once a Debtor Is Located, a Debt Collector Cannot…
Contact you at an unusual time (generally between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00
a.m.),
Make continuous or anonymous phone calls to harass you,
Contact you at your place of work if the employer forbids
communication during work hours,
Use profanity or other abusive language,
Threaten to use violence or other criminal means to harm your person,
reputation or property,
Impersonate a police officer or government official,
Misrepresent the legal status of a debt,
Threaten imprisonment or other action that legally the bill collector
or creditor could not take, or
Make other false and misleading statements.
You can write to the bill collector saying that you want him/her to
cease communications. The bill collector must stop contacting you
except to advise you of any legal action he/she or the creditor
intends to take.
If a Debt Collector Violates the Law, You May…
Notify the Federal Trade Commission, 202-326-2222, which supervises
the bill collector.
Sue for actual damages and punitive damages.
Tell a third party that he/she is a debt collector, unless asked,
Use a postcard or indicate on the envelope that he/she is engaged in
debt collection, or
Contact a person other than the debtor more than once to learn the
debtor’s location.
Once a Debtor Is Located, a Debt Collector Cannot…
Contact you at an unusual time (generally between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00
a.m.),
Make continuous or anonymous phone calls to harass you,
Contact you at your place of work if the employer forbids
communication during work hours,
Use profanity or other abusive language,
Threaten to use violence or other criminal means to harm your person,
reputation or property,
Impersonate a police officer or government official,
Misrepresent the legal status of a debt,
Threaten imprisonment or other action that legally the bill collector
or creditor could not take, or
Make other false and misleading statements.
You can write to the bill collector saying that you want him/her to
cease communications. The bill collector must stop contacting you
except to advise you of any legal action he/she or the creditor
intends to take.
If a Debt Collector Violates the Law, You May…
Notify the Federal Trade Commission, 202-326-2222, which supervises
the bill collector.
Sue for actual damages and punitive damages.