Unfair Collection Practices

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) outlines consumers’ rights in interactions with creditors. It also designates which actions creditors may and may not take to recover payment from individuals in debt. This law includes a section regarding unfair practices that outlines all the actions debt collectors may not take because they are unjust.

When a debt collector violates one or more of the consumer’s rights, the consumer can suffer damages like statutory damages, actual damages, emotional distress, and the cost to retain a lawyer to have the violation corrected. These damages can put a severe financial strain on the individual who is already facing a large amount of debt. If you face these kinds of damages because of a debt collector’s harassment and other unfair attempts to recover the money you owe, work with an experiencedconsumer credit protection attorney to recover compensation for the damages you suffered.

Examples of Unfair Debt Collection Practices
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the following are considered to be unfair to the consumer. If you face one or more of the following actions, do not comply with the collector’s request and instead, discuss your experience with a lawyer:

• Deposit post-dated checks before the dates written on the checks;
• Threaten to deposit post-dated checks before the dates written on them;
• Contact you via postcard;
• Taking or threatening to take a nonjudicial action against you to recover property from you that the debt collector has no right to possess. This can be because there is no present intent to take possession of the property or because the property is exempt from dispossession or disablement;
• Charging you for communications by concealing the true purpose of the communication. This can include billing you for telephone fees;
• Use any language or symbols other than the debt collector’s own address and business name, as long as the business name does not indicate that they are debt collectors, on envelopes used in communication with you.
• Collecting any amount of money other than the amount expressly authorized by an existing agreement or permitted by law.

There are many other actions debt collectors may not take under the FDCPA, many of which are under different sections of the law. If you feel you were treated unfairly by a debt collector, discuss your case with an experienced consumer protection lawyer.

Work with an Experienced Illinois Consumer Protection Law Firm
When you are facing harassment and other violations of your rights from your creditors, work with an experienced consumer protection lawyer to protect your rights and correct any incomplete or inaccurate information that appears on your credit report because of disreputable and illegal acts on the part of your creditors. To start working with our team, contact us at (312) 909-6089 today to schedule your consultation with us. We are here to be your advocate and will take any action necessary to help you recover compensation for the damages you suffered because of the violations you faced.

• Fair Credit Reporting Act
  • Your Rights Under the FCRA
• Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
  • Unfair Collection Practices
  • Debt Collection Rights
• Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
• Debt Collection Harassment
• Consumer Harassment