You get some mail and you know it is not good news. Seriously, the IRS rarely sends you a certified mail with good news, right?
Or maybe you are behind on your mortgage — you know the letter is going to be bad news.
One thing that is a headache to deal with is abusive debt collectors.
When you’re dealing with a debt collector, it’s important to have options. None of these options are perfect or awful, they’re simply options to consider when you’re dealing with a debt collection lawsuit.
We talk about what a judgment is in other articles, which you can find on our site.
Welcome to a new series of articles and videos on the actual text of the FDPCA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) which is found at 15 USC Section 1692.
We will still continue to do normal articles and videos but it is good to go to the literal text of the law to make sure we understand it. Then when we review case decisions they will make more sense having read the actual law.
This law is so powerful as there are many abusive debt collectors out there. You need to know your rights so you can take action to stop the abusers.
One of the worst types violations that we see debt collectors make is when they do a “Third Party Disclosure.”
So you are dealing with a debt collector and you tell the collector that you dispute the debt.
Debt collector says:
You can only dispute the debt if you prove to me that the debt is not yours.
Maybe you’ve gotten a letter or a phone call from a debt collector, or maybe you’re being sued by a debt collector, and they’re threatening to garnish your wages.
Alabama Consumer Law Blog