West Palm Beach Creditor Harassment Attorney
Knowing what your rights are when you are drowning in debt and are being contacted repeatedly and frequently by creditors is very confusing. In fact, you may assume that you have no rights at all since you are the party whose delinquent on debt. However, this isn’t the case – you do have rights, including the right to live free from creditor harassment. If you are being harassed by creditors, our West Palm Beach creditor harassment attorneys at the law office of Bruce S. Rosenwater & Associates, P.A. can help.
What Is Harassment from a Debt Collector?
A debt collector has the right to contact a debtor and request repayments of debts; however, a debt collector does not have the right to engage in creditor harassment. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), examples of harassment that a debt collector may engage in and which are unlawful include:
- Calling a person repetitively with the purpose of annoying or abusing the debtor;
- Using obscene or profane language;
- Threatening the debt collector, including threats of violence, harm, and more;
- Calling a debtor without revealing their true identity;
- Publishing a list of anyone who refuses to pay their debts (note that this is not the same thing as reporting a debtor to a collection agency, which is allowed); and
- Otherwise harassing, abusing, or oppressing a debtor.
In addition to protection from harassment, debtors are also protected against creditor misrepresentation. If you believe that a creditor has misrepresented themselves or your debt, call our attorney immediately for information about your rights.
Your Rights If You’re Being Harassed by a Creditor
You are protected from harassment by a debt collector under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). If your rights under the FDCPA are being breached, we strongly recommend that you reach out to an attorney immediately. Your attorney can assist you in putting an end to the harassment, as well as suing the creditor under the FDCPA if appropriate. If you sue a debt collector for violations of your rights under the FDCPA and are successful, you may be entitled to damages and compensation for attorneys’ fees.
What to Do If You Think You’re Being Harassed
If you think that you are being harassed by a debt collector, it’s very important that you start documenting that harassment as early as possible, as this will serve as evidence if you bring forth a suit. If possible, record all calls with the debt collector – this is one of the strongest types of evidence. Write down when you are called, the hours you are called, who the debt collector identifies themselves as, and how frequently you are called. Share this information with your attorney, who can advise you on the next steps to take.
Call Bruce S. Rosenwater & Associates, P.A. Today
If you believe that you are being harassed by a creditor, you have certain rights. Reach out to our creditor harassment lawyers at the law office of Bruce S. Rosenwater & Associates, P.A. today for a consultation about your options.
