Oklahoma City Bankruptcy Lawyer
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
When an individual falls behind on their credit payments, the creditor may seek a collection of unpaid funds. Creditors can either hire a collection service or conduct the collection themselves. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides protection to citizens from unreasonable collection practices. Unethical and abusive behavior performed by any collector could warrant a claim against them. If you believe that your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act have been violated, you are advised to contact an Oklahoma City bankruptcy lawyer right away. Your situation should be evaluated to determine whether a claim can be filed against the company that violated your rights under the Act.
Debt Collections and Federal Law
The overall goal of the Act was to eliminate creditor harassment. Creditors must perform the following acts when attempting to collect any debt:
- They must identify themselves clearly
- Provide the individual with the correct name and address of the creditor who is claiming a collection
- Have the debt in writing to verify its accuracy
- Notify each individual that they may dispute the debt or the collection
- Use correct legal procedure for any lawsuits
It is very important that the collection officer is within the restrictions of this Act, as failure to perform the collection correctly could lead to a legal action being taken against them. Our law firm has in depth experience with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. We will review every piece of evidence to determine if a violation took place. Creditors can also be charged if they call at unreasonable hours, direct any vulgar language towards the debtor, contact individuals through the use of a postcard or publish any private information.
We want to make sure you are treated with respect at all times, and that your rights are protected. Our law firm has been helping clients in Oklahoma City for the last 21 years and has successfully fought and won many creditor violation cases. We understand the stress a creditor can cause if they are crossing the line and we act quickly to file a claim against them if they have violated the law. Mitchell | Hammond is dedicated to protecting the rights of hardworking people in the Oklahoma City area, and we can help you too.
Contact an Oklahoma bankruptcy lawyer if you have been harassed or have been the victim of another violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.