Don't Take Phone Calls from Credit Card Debt Collectors
There is little legal weight to what someone says over the telephone. The caller can say what they like with impunity. And that is why debt collectors use the telephone as their main weapon. When exchanges with consumers are done in writing, debt collectors lose their effectiveness.
The record of written contact with a credit card debt collector is what holds weight in court. That record is a lot stronger when a consumer sends all letters certified return receipt requested.
It is commonly accepted that all credit card debt collectors lie on the telephone. Here are some of the lies they tell over the telephone:
1. They scare you by claiming that a lawsuit has been filed against you in your local court and that a complaint is on its way.
2. Or they may ask you for a small payment, which is well within your means - surely that is acceptable? Not so, if you make this payment then you have legally documented admission to the debt, and made things worse.
3. They tell you you may be arrested, knowing no one can be arrested for a civil matter.
4. They tell you money will be taken from your weekly earnings.
5. They threaten to have your bank account seized.
Each of these lies is punishable with a $1000 fine with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Credit card debt collectors use the phone attempting to get personal details such as your bank account number, Social Security number, and work number, as well as getting you to confirm your credit card number and admit to the debt in question. The Credit Card Debt Survival Guide advises that you should never share any personal information with people on the telephone, as they could be anyone, and that you should always dispute and deny the debt to which they are referring and hang up the phone.
Curiosity should be the only reason for taking one of these calls. If a credit card debt collector calls out of the cold, let them tell you what debt they are calling about, then tell them you have received no written notice from them about the debt and hang up.
Fortunately, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act allows you to write to the debt collector instructing them to stop all collection calls. Once this has happened, any calls are subject to a $1000 penalty because they then violate the law. You can keep a log of every call and then contact a consumer rights attorney about suing the debt collector, fee paid on the contingency of winning.
The record of written contact with a credit card debt collector is what holds weight in court. That record is a lot stronger when a consumer sends all letters certified return receipt requested.
It is commonly accepted that all credit card debt collectors lie on the telephone. Here are some of the lies they tell over the telephone:
1. They scare you by claiming that a lawsuit has been filed against you in your local court and that a complaint is on its way.
2. Or they may ask you for a small payment, which is well within your means - surely that is acceptable? Not so, if you make this payment then you have legally documented admission to the debt, and made things worse.
3. They tell you you may be arrested, knowing no one can be arrested for a civil matter.
4. They tell you money will be taken from your weekly earnings.
5. They threaten to have your bank account seized.
Each of these lies is punishable with a $1000 fine with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Credit card debt collectors use the phone attempting to get personal details such as your bank account number, Social Security number, and work number, as well as getting you to confirm your credit card number and admit to the debt in question. The Credit Card Debt Survival Guide advises that you should never share any personal information with people on the telephone, as they could be anyone, and that you should always dispute and deny the debt to which they are referring and hang up the phone.
Curiosity should be the only reason for taking one of these calls. If a credit card debt collector calls out of the cold, let them tell you what debt they are calling about, then tell them you have received no written notice from them about the debt and hang up.
Fortunately, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act allows you to write to the debt collector instructing them to stop all collection calls. Once this has happened, any calls are subject to a $1000 penalty because they then violate the law. You can keep a log of every call and then contact a consumer rights attorney about suing the debt collector, fee paid on the contingency of winning.
About the Author:
Matt Highlander is a consumer who learned how to beat credit card debt collectors and collection attorneys at their own game.If you cannot afford to pay, read his Credit Card Debt Survival Guide
You like it? Share it!
posted by SolveItQuick at
10:35 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home