Collection calls
Make the collection calls stop
Collectors are counting on you not knowing your rights. Once a law firm represents you, the rules change.
Once we represent you, collectors have to deal with us
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, once a third-party debt collector knows you’re represented by an attorney, it generally has to stop contacting you directly and go through your attorney instead.
- Calls to your cell, home and work should stop coming to you
- Collectors deal with a law firm, not you
- Violations get documented and can become leverage
What collectors are not allowed to do
- Call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your time
- Call you at work after you’ve told them your employer doesn’t allow it
- Harass you with repeated calls, threats or abusive language
- Lie about who they are, what you owe, or threaten arrest
- Discuss your debt with family, friends or coworkers
- Ignore a written request to verify the debt
These protections apply to third-party debt collectors under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If a collector breaks these rules, you may have a claim against them. Our attorneys review each case individually.
Hear real voicemail violations
Collectors know the law, and they still leave voicemails that break it. These are real examples. Most illegal voicemails fall into one of three types:
- Threats or lies. Claiming to be police or a prosecutor, threatening a lawsuit that was never filed, or threatening arrest.
- Telling someone else. A message about your debt that a roommate, child or neighbor can hear.
- No “mini-Miranda.” Collectors must say the message is from a debt collector attempting to collect a debt.
Got a voicemail like these? Save it. Don’t delete it.
Keep a record
Save voicemails
Don’t delete them. Messages can show violations.
Screenshot call logs
Dates and times show how often they’re calling.
Keep letters
Every notice, envelope and statement helps.
Already a client? Log every collector call
If a collection company calls you after you’ve told them a law firm represents you, that can be a violation, and we need to know about it.
- Write down the company, the date and time, and what they said
- Tell them you’re represented by Credit Law Center
- If they call again, let us know right away