Mar 18, 2010
It is against federal law (the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) for collection agencies to call your relatives, neighbors, friends; to call you at work after you have told them to NOT call you, to be rude, abusive or threaten to sue or garnish, or report questionable debts/amounts to your credit report THEY ARE VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW. Keep records of what they do - you can sue them under the FDCPA for statutory damages to you of up to $1,000 (make the collector pay you!!!), plus any actual damages suffered, plus attorney fees (so FDCPA litigation costs you nothing)!
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.