What To Do If You Are Receiving Debt Collection Letters

Debt collection is a critical concern for legal experts due to the abuse of practices that many debt collectors and debt collection agencies utilize. In an attempt to recover funds for the sake of their clients, many use harmful practices that violate the law. To learn more about your rights when protecting yourself from debt collectors, please reach out to a Florida debt defense attorney from Sharmin & Sharmin today.

The Rundown on Legal Debt Collection

The Federal Trade Commission, also known as the FTC, is aware of the “abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices” of debt collection in the United States. The FTC, therefore, exercises the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) legislation that is designed to protect consumers across the nation.

Federal laws regarding debt collection protection cover a wide array of debts:

• Credit card debt
• Personal debt
• Student loans
• Medical debt
• Automobile loans
• Mortgages
• And more

Your Job in a Case of Suspected Illegal Debt Collection

Should someone receive letters or any other type of communication regarding debt collection, it is heavily recommended by both federal authorities and attorneys to maintain records of any form of contact. Copies of letters sent by either party, phone calls, knocks at the door, and even communications transmitted to family members should be on the books. With over 82,700 complaints filed against debt collectors in 2020 alone, incidents such as these should not go unpunished. 

The first step that an individual experiencing debt collection should take is contacting an attorney. Debt collection lawyers are familiar with state and federal law concerning that collection and will be able to provide informed advice for victims. With the help of materials gathered from debt collectors, an attorney will be able to determine the validity of the debt collection request in addition to the legality of the debt collector’s methods.

What’s Legal and What’s Not in Florida

It is equally as important to recognize how a debt collector may and may not contact you. Debt collectors may, for example, send emails, letters, text messages, and even call you, except under certain circumstances. Collection agencies cannot contact someone between the hours of 9 PM and 8 AM unless it is otherwise agreed to by the individual they’re collecting from.

Debt collectors also have a legal obligation to give four pieces of information during the first phone call or in writing within five days of their first time of contact.

• How much money is owed
• The name of the creditor
• How to contact the original creditor
• What to do if you believe the debt is not yours

Need a Debt Collection Attorney? Look no Further

In many cases, dealing with debt collectors can be time-consuming and draining. This may be compounded when collectors start attempting to contact you at outlandish hours and making unnecessary visits to friends and family members. To learn more about what to do if you are experiencing harmful practices of debt collection, please reach out to a Florida debt collection attorney from Sharmin & Sharmin today at 1-844-Sharmin.