CAN A DEBT COLLECTOR HARASS ME BECAUSE I OWE THEM MONEY?

Knowing that you owe someone money isn’t a fun thought. When that creditor starts to harass you about the money you owe, you might start to get frustrated or angry since being harassed about anything isn’t pleasant. For people in Florida, taking action when debt collectors call is sometimes necessary if they start to harass you. If you have debt collectors calling, you might have questions about what they are allowed to do. These answers to some basic questions might prove helpful.

When can debt collectors call me?

A debt collector can call you after 8:00 in the morning and before 9:00 at night. They are allowed to call at other times of the day if you have given them permission to do so.

Where can the call me?

A debt collector can call you at home or on your cellphone if you have provided them with that number. In some cases, the debt collector might call you at work. If you tell them not to do that, they can’t contact you at work again. You can provide this notification in writing or orally since both methods are acceptable.

Can debt collectors threaten me?

Debt collectors aren’t allowed to threaten you at all. They can’t make false claims about what they will do. Specifically, they can’t say legal action will be taken against you if that action would be illegal or if they don’t actually plan on doing so. They also can’t threaten you with arrest, garnishments, property seizure or other similar threats unless the law permits them to do so.

Do I have any recourse against debt collectors who harass me?

You can file complaints against debt collectors who have harassed you. According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can also sue the debt collector for harassment within a year from the date of the harassment.

Source: Federal Trade Commission, “Debt Collection” Sep. 12, 2014