The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) was enacted to provide a list of dos and don’ts to collection agencies and to protect your privacy. Unfortunately, too many collection agencies choose to ignore these regulations and continue to violate your rights. The New Orleans debt relief attorneys at Grand Law Firm make it a priority to stop these unethical practices and protect your privacy.
Putting a stop to collection agencies’ harassment can help reduce the stress you face each day. The FDCPA offers the following guidelines to prevent violation of your privacy:
- Verify the debt is yours – collection agencies must be able to prove they are calling about a debt you actually owe. If they cannot prove the debt is yours, they cannot call.
- Specific times of calls – collections calls can only be placed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. for your time zone. They may not repeatedly call, and they cannot call at a time you have specified as inconvenient.
- You do not have to speak with collection agencies via the phone – if you hang up on a collection person and they continue to call, they may be in violation of the FDCPA guidelines. Tell the agency you prefer to communicate in writing.
- Send a cease-and-desist letter to the collection agency – a collection agency must stop collection calls upon receiving this type of notice. However, the actual creditor does not have to stop collection efforts.
Seeking Punitive Damages if Your Privacy is Violated
The New Orleans debt relief lawyers at Grand Law Firm can offer assistance to you in all areas of debt relief. Once we take your case, we can handle all communications with creditors and prevent the collection agencies from violating your privacy. Call us today for a free consultation. We want to help you realize the debt relief you deserve.