Are you getting calls and voicemails at work from debt collectors? It can cause a lot of stress and anxiety to receive debt collection calls at work. You might worry about losing your job or worry that everyone in the office will find out and talk about you behind your back for owing a debt. Debt collectors want you to be scared and anxious because they are trying to use any means necessary to get you to pay the debt. But if they violate the FDCPA you can file a claim against them and stop their harassment.
What Is The FDCPA?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, was designed to help stop shady debt collection practices and protect consumers from tactics like calling many times each day, calling you at work, calling late at night or extremely early in the morning, and telling your friends and family members that you owe a debt trying to force you to pay it. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act spells out directly what debt collectors can and cannot do when they are trying to collect a debt.
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Why Debt Collectors Can’t Leave Voicemails
There are a lot of different ways that the FDCPA protects consumers and one of those is by making it impossible for debt collectors to leave you voicemails at work that could put your job in jeopardy. If the debt collector call you they must say that they are a debt collector. That’s a rule that’s part of the FDCPA. Another rule is that they cannot talk about your debt to anyone else. They can’t even mention that you owe a debt. And since your boss has access to your work voicemail if a debt collector calls and identifies themselves as a debt collector they have just violated the FDCPA. But if they don’t identify themselves as a debt collector than they also have violated the FDCPA.
Threats And Harassment From Debt Collectors
The FDCPA also states very clearly that a debt collector cannot threaten you with arrest, imprisonment, or other punishment for not paying the debt. If you receive threatening or intimidating voicemails, either at work or on your private phone line, you can file a claim against the debt collector because they have violated your rights.
An FDCPA Attorney Can Help
If you’re not sure whether or not a debt collector has crossed the line talking to an experienced FDCPA attorney can help you figure out if the debt collector violated the FDCPA or not. If so, the attorney can tell you what your options are and help you figure out how to proceed. If you file a claim against the debt collector you could receive up to $1000 for every violation plus fees and other expenses.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Roquemore & Roquemore, Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.