Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, consumers are protected from abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices with regard to the collection of unpaid debt. Debt collectors must follow specific steps and a timeline when it comes to their attempts to collect. As part of this process, debt collectors are required to cease debt collection attempts until debt is verified and proof of its legitimacy is provided to the consumer.
Information a Debt Collector Must Provide to Verify a Debt
When sending out proof of a debt’s legitimacy to a consumer, the debt collector must include all of the following information:
- The amount of the debt.
- The date the debt was supposedly incurred.
- The name of the original creditor for the debt, if different from the current creditor.
- The address of the original creditor for the debt, if different from the current creditor.
- Proof that the consumer’s account was sold or assigned to the collection agency.
If the debt collector is unable to provide this information to the consumer, all attempts to collect the debt must immediately cease. Debt collectors who violate the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act may be subject to liability.
Consumers who are facing debt collection efforts should familiarize themselves with the laws surrounding debt collection practices. Many consumers do not realize that they have legal rights during this process. We can guide you the through the process of dealing with debt collectors. Check out the feedback from our many satisfied clients on our client testimonials page today in order to learn more.
| Related Links: |