Many Ohio residents know what it is like to get behind on their personal bills. The stress created by their financial situations is often bad enough, but when creditors begin calling and demanding payment, it could only get worse. If you find yourself in this situation, you should know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Debt collectors often use a variety of tactics to guilt or scare you into paying them. They may call at all times of the day and night at your home or even your work. Some may even try to contact your employer or members of your family in an attempt to get payment from you. You may not realize that many of these actions cross the line and violate the FDCPA.
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors are not permitted to contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless you allow them to do so. Further, you may tell them not to contact you at work, either in writing or over the phone. You also have the right to tell inform debt collectors in writing not to contact you about the debt after the initial conversation.
These rights only touch the surface of what creditors can and cannot do when it comes to debt collection. If an abusive debt collector is harassing you, and you believe your rights under the FDCPA are being violated, you may benefit from contacting an Ohio attorney for help. Not only could he or she help you with the debt collector, but may also provide you with viable options for handling your debt so that you can get back on your feet financially.
Source: consumer.ftc.gov, “Debt Collection“, Accessed on July 15, 2017
