When the collector calls you an excessive amount of time per day that is one form of harassment. This harassment can be stopped. You have protection under the law against certain abusive tactics that some collection agencies employ.
In the state of Texas, business solicitation calls can not be placed before 8 am or after 8 pm your time. That means that if a collection agency calls you before or after those hours, its harassment. You have the legal right to hang up under this condition.
Another common ploy they use in harassment is to threaten you. This is very serious harassment. These are some of the types of verbal threats they may use against you: saying that they will send out a police officer, or telling you they will freeze your accounts. Any statement that they make like this has to be lawful and they have to really intend to take action. If you receive this treatment you should check the federal and state laws to see if they can make the threat good.
The government is the only "person" able to freeze your accounts. Don't believe a collector when he tells you he can do this. They may claim to be a lawyer and they better be one if they say they are. Otherwise, the collector has violated a federal law. They use this tactic because it sounds very serious and will intimidate a lot of debtors. Don't let them intimidate you into forfeiting your right to being treated correctly under the law. Do learn about your rights.
They would have to have filed a warrant and have a court order to bring you in from your home, which is usually not an option for them to exercise.
The most basic way to stop harassment is to place a privacy manager on your phone. If anyone with an 800 number or other specific identity you don't want calling you calls, then you can set it to make them go through a recorded announcement before they reach you. You can also use caller ID to help screen your calls.
If you want to find more legal options for yourself, you can contact a lawyer in your area or look up the information on the internet. The first law to look for is The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You may have the grounds for a lawsuit.
Before the collector can try to collect the debt, he must state that it's an attempt to collect a debt and any information attained will be used for that purpose. He also has to tell you that the call may be recorded.
You can record the collection calls too. Recording the calls is a good measure to take to protect yourself in case the collector is verbally abusive, such as screaming at you, or cursing you. If you do want to record them then you have to tell them you're recording the conversation so it will be admissible evidence of harassment in court.
Learn the federal and state laws concerning the collection of debts laws. That way you know what the collectors can legally do when attempting to collect a debt.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SSI benefits garnishable?
By: wolfgangf | 25-08-2008
Are SSI benefits garnishable?
Desparate for help
By: rumario | 24-08-2008
I take full responsibility for falling so behind on my child support.For 20yrs i was on drugs,and now that am clean,i fallen way back on my child support that ill never catch up.I owe about $140,000.Whats the least i could pay in a lum sum to close the case. Please if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.
What happens after you lose arbitration with mbna
By: Ann | 24-08-2008
what happens after you lose arbitration with mbna
IRS Debt
By: brendas360 | 24-08-2008
I owe IRS about $12,000.00 - I am unable to make payments on this 4 yr old debt that grows at a rapid rate every year that it's not paid. Any adice?
I just found out that I inherited $3,400,000. What ...
By: Mr. Lucky1 | 23-08-2008
I just found out that I inherited $3,400,000. What should I do?
Credit Counseling
By: hopeful1 | 23-08-2008
We are so far in debt there is no light at the end of this tunnel. Our credit cards are to the maximum amounts and the interest rate on all is the high 20's and some in the 30's. Should we contact a credit counseling service? How do we know who is legit and who is a scam?
Q&A Powered by:
More from Tristan Andrews
What Are Collection Agencies?
By: Tristan Andrews | 08/05/2008 | Credit
When you hear about collection agencies, do you think about commercials like the one in which someone is avoiding the phone because they're dealing with a mountain of debt?
The Difference Between Good and Evil Concerning Collection Agencies
By: Tristan Andrews | 26/04/2008 | Regulatory Compliance
When you are dealing with collection agencies the first thing to understand is that not all of them are like the ones you see in the debt counseling commercials. Some are respectful of your rights under the law.
Hints and Tips For Finding The Perfect Elementary Tutor
By: Tristan Andrews | 25/04/2008 | Education
Whether you're looking for a tutor for your second grader in science or your sixth grader in reading, you'll need to know how to make the best decision. There are many things to consider when you're looking for a tutor.
The Benefits and Cost of Tutoring
By: Tristan Andrews | 25/04/2008 | Education
The basic benefits of tutoring for society are that it improves academic skills, builds self esteem and confidence, develops positive attitude towards school, offers positive role models, improves social skills, slows down truancies and drop out rates.
Will A Tutor Really Help My Child?
By: Tristan Andrews | 24/04/2008 | Education
When your third grader comes home with a C in math, after you've tried to motivate him by paying him for good grades or taking him to the zoo, and you've tried every other bribe you could think of that appealed to him and still it didn't work. You are indeed a frustrated parent.
Collection Agencies and the Law
By: Tristan Andrews | 24/04/2008 | Regulatory Compliance
Collectors have to study and pass tests with their companies in many cases before they become collectors. They know the laws that they legally must adhere to as collectors and they can actually be fined for breaking the law.
Should You Get A Tutor for Your Preschool Child?
By: Tristan Andrews | 24/04/2008 | Education
When you start considering what your child is capable of learning - how his mind is like a sponge or an empty computer disk that is going to be filled with something, you begin to wonder if you should get someone more qualified to teach him.
Where Can You Find A Tutor?
By: Tristan Andrews | 24/04/2008 | Education
If you decide that your child needs a tutor you can find help online. There are different services online that offer tutors from your city. These tutors offer their service at your home, in libraries, community centers, and other after school facilities, and online.
Law 
