“Operator we must have a bad connection
If you got someone wantin’ me
I’ve changed my number when she changed her mind
Operator can’t you see
There’s trouble on the line
Tears are gonna fall
It happens every time
She’s up against the wall
Somebody broke her heart
Now she’s after mine
The minute that she calls
There’ll be trouble on the line.”
Sawyer Brown
Your phone rings and immediately you get that pit in your stomach. The number is disguised from caller ID but you know exactly who it is. There’s trouble on the line and in this case you’d rather it be the old girlfriend Sawyer Brown used to sing about. Unfortunately, it’s probably one of many aggressive creditors.
When creditors and collection agents start calling, they can be relentless. How can you stop these calls from coming and adding stress to your already complicated and taxing day to day life?
Thankfully, there are laws in place to protect you from being harassed by creditors. However, if you don’t know what these rules are, you could be taken advantage of. Some debt collectors choose to ignore the rules you may be unaware of. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act were created to help protect you. Here are a few of their restrictions you should be aware of when “there’s trouble on the line”:
- Creditors cannot contact you at unusual or inconvenient times or places, including before 8 a.m or after 9 p.m.
- They cannot contact third parties, like your neighbors or your employer, except to locate you. They are not allowed to indicate in any way that you are having financial difficulties.
- If you notify them that you are revoking consent, they cannot contact you on your cell phone.
- They cannot call you repeatedly, or place calls to you or anyone else without identifying themselves as a debt collector.
- They are prohibited from calling you at work.
- It is unlawful for them to threaten you with arrest, loss of child custody, or loss of welfare benefits.
- Obscene, derogatory, or insulting remarks are not allowed.
Failure to abide by these rules can result in fines ranging from $500 to $1500 per incident. Stand up for the rights provided for you by the laws that govern collection agencies and creditors. If you or someone you know is getting harassed by creditors, we can help. At Grand Law Firm, we have the experience and knowledge needed to protect your rights and get creditors off of your back. For a free consultation, contact us today.