If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to get out of debt, chances are that you are looking at your income tax refund as a catalyst to help you achieve that goal. Indeed, using the extra money to eliminate some troubling debt can be helpful, especially if the interest on such debt continues to grow and be burden to you.
However, other creditors know that you may be receiving a refund check, and they will stop at almost nothing to get it as well. Because of this, some collectors will be relentless in pursuing you, and if they get you on the phone, they may cross the line and engage in some illegal tactics (even though you may not know them to be).
With that said, this post will identify some of the improprieties that creditors may never tell you.
We can’t threaten you will criminal action – Generally speaking, bill collectors cannot threaten to bring legal action against you (since it is not their decision to file). Also, they cannot threaten to have you arrested or that you may go to jail over an unpaid debt.
We can’t use profane language – Indeed, using profanity or making threats of bodily harm are not good business practices, but they can be seen as abusive practices prohibited by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
We must stop calling if you say so – If you tell a creditor in writing that you want to be contacted by phone, the creditor must comply. If it fails to do so, you may bring an action in court to seek monetary damages.