Personal Injury Lawyer

Debt collection agencies are not known for being the most professional and respectable institutions out there. As a debtor, it is important that you understand your rights, and know when a debt collector may be overstepping boundaries. If you or someone you love has suffered threats and another mistreatment from a debt collector, you can turn to an attorney, like a debt collection lawyer in Clearwater, FL, for protection. 

How a Debt Collector May Harass You 

Harassment on behalf of a debt collector can happen in several ways, either through phone calls, voicemails, or letters in the mail. Receiving a call from an overly aggressive debt collector may not only be scary, but can be violating the debtor’s rights. A debtor who feels they are being harassed can rely on an attorney for advice on how to get this abusive behavior to stop. Here are examples of how a debt collector may harass you:

• Calling repeatedly throughout the day to try and collect payment
• Using a tone of voice or words that are intimidating, degrading and unprofessional
• Calling the debtor before 8 AM or after 9 PM
• Claiming the debtor will be arrested if they do not take care of their debts immediately
• Reaching out to loved ones in order to get ahold of the debtor (in addition to sharing personal financial information with the friend or family member)
• Denying requests from the debtor to have the debts verified
• Contacting a third party to try and get more information on the debtor
• Ignoring requests from the debtor to halt harassment

Why Debt Collectors Do Not Stop

Perhaps the number one priority for debt collectors is to make money, by whatever means necessary. Debt collectors may not be willing to halt the harassment willingly, as their primary focus is to appease your creditor. Debt collectors may continue using unlawful strategies, until faced with a serious lawsuit where the agency is at risk for having to pay substantial financial compensation to the debtor. Sometimes, it takes having an attorney fight for your behalf, to see that the debt collector stops harassing you permanently. 

Why You May Need Legal Representation

As stated above, a debt collector may only stop once they have been handed a lawsuit. It can be challenging to fight off a debt collector without an attorney to remind the agency of your rights. In order to build the strongest case foundation as possible, start keeping a record of all the times and ways a debt collector has contacted you. Examples of useful evidence to bring forward during your lawsuit can include:

• Voicemail messages from the debt collector on your cell, home and/or work line
• Threatening letters sent to you through mail 
• Repeated calls from the debt collector on your incoming call log
• Statements from family, friends or employer about being wrongfully contacted 

Please contact a lawyer immediately if any of the above information is similar to your situation. Do not sit back and tolerate the harassment any longer, get help to seek compensation for the violation of your rights. 

Thank you to the experts at The Law Office of Michael A. Ziegler, P.L. for their input and expertise in debt law and dealing with creditors.