Tag: debt collector harassment

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The FCC Wants Debt Collectors to Stop Calling So Much

Posted on by Admin

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved a proposal that would reduce the number of collection calls consumers receive.  A budget deal was approved last year that provided government exemptions from the Telephone Consumer Protection Act that blocks solicitors from sending automated calls to cell phones under certain conditions. Congress called on the FCC to limit those exemptions.

The proposal limits government debt collectors to three calls per month, which can only be made if an individual is late on making a payment. It also allows calls informing people about payment plans, though borrowers can request to opt out.

With taking this first step toward implementing the requirements, Congress recognizes the importance of collecting debt owed to the U.S. and respecting the consumer protections allotted in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. It is still subject to two rounds of comments- the first on June 6, and the second on June 21.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

12 Times You Can Sue a Debt Collector

Posted on by Admin

Millions of Americans struggle with debt and in turn have to deal with collection calls.  While some debt collectors abide by the legal debt collection practices, many do not.  Fortunately, there are protections in place that allow consumers to fight back if debt collectors violate their rights. A strong federal law, called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers against unfair collection practices and helps prevent creditor abuse and harassment.

Below are 12 times when you can sue a debt collector.

  1. Calling early & calling late. Debt collectors should not be calling you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. It is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) for a collector to call at a time that is known to be inconvenient. This is typically a time you are away from work, at home with your family or sleeping.
  2. Calling at other Inconvenient Times. If you have told a collector not to call at a certain time, that is also a violation of the FDCPA. If you work nights and tell the debt collector not to call you during particular hours, they cannot do so.
  3. Discussing with Third Parties. Debt collectors cannot call a family member and say that you owe them money. This is another violation of the FDCPA. They can call and ask how to reach you, but they cannot discuss your debts with anyone besides you. The only exception is that debt collectors can contact your spouse.
  4. When a Lawyer’s Involved. If a debt collector knows you have hired an attorney and they contact you that is a violation of the FDCPA. The reason is that the consumer may be in the process of filing for bankruptcy.
  5. Making False Threats. If collectors make threats and do not follow through, that is a violation of the FDCPA. This can include both legal threats such as a lawsuit, or any other type of threats.
  6. Calling the Wrong Party. If a collector has the wrong number and continues to call you after you have told them who you are, that is grounds for a lawsuit. The collector may think that you are lying about your identity, so they keep calling, thinking that you will come clean.
  7. Using Pre-recorded or automated voice calls. “Robocalls” are an illegal form of debt collecting. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) prohibits any company to use automated or pre-recorded calls to collect debts.
  8. Using Automatic Phone Dialing Systems. Telephone systems that automatically dial numbers one after another and can contact consumers up to five times per day are illegal under the TCPA.
  9. Misrepresenting the Nature of the Debt. Oftentimes, debt collectors pressure family members of deceased relatives to pay their debts by saying they are responsible, even if they are not. This is illegal and has severe penalties.
  10. Threatening Violence. Under no circumstances is a debt collector permitted to threaten violence to coerce consumers to pay their debts.
  11. Using Profanity. The FDCPA protects debtors from verbal abuse such as the use of obscene or profane language. If it is meant to cause harm, it is grounds for a lawsuit.
  12. False Representation. If a collector does not disclose who they are or why they are calling, that is a violation of the FDCPA. Collectors must disclose to the consumer who they are and that they are attempting to collect a debt either in writing or over the phone.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Debt Collectors are now Being Held Responsible for Harassing Debtors

Posted on by Admin

The Federal Trade Commission is giving debt collection agencies a dose of their own medicine in terms of harassment. The FTC is taking strong steps forward to hold these agencies responsible for harassing debtors. In 2010, a reported 140,036 claims of harassment were filed, which was not only the largest in history, but a 20,000 increase from the previous year. The collection agencies are not only in trouble with the FTC for harassment, but also for failure to notify the debtor of their outstanding debt in writing and also for “misinterpreting” the debt.
Many cases such as the one filed by an 85 year-old in Oregon are surfacing and becoming national news. Anne Sessions is suing Wells Fargo Bank for harassment after she was falsely turned in by a debt collector for being in danger of committing suicide. After Sessions was taken into custody by the police and sent to a mental health institute, she was observed and later released due to the fact she was found to be of no danger to herself or anyone else.
Sessions is now suing in hopes to receive compensation for her $1,055 medical bill from the mental health facility. She is also suing for $250,000 in punitive damages. Sessions claims that she made the remark to the debt collector that some people must want to commit suicide from the harassment of the company, and later was drilled with questions by the debt collector such as, “If you did commit suicide, how would you do it?”
To read more on this story visit: http://www.bankruptcyhome.com/bankruptcyblog/2012/02/13/harassment-goes-too-far-in-debt-collection-efforts/
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.