A Look at Your Protections and What Creditors Can and Can't Do

Debtor's Rights

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ByChandra Thomas Whitfield
Contributions by2 experts

Updated: September 19, 2022

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How Your Debt Gets to a Collection Agency

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Debtor Harassment Red Flags

Examples of harassment, as prohibited by the FDCPA, include:

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Debtor Harassment and the Law

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the FDCPA, a federal law prohibiting debt collectors from harassing, oppressing or abusing you or any third parties they contact. This law applies to collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.

Under the FDCPA, collectors must disclose that they are debt collectors and that any information shared will be used to collect the debt. They may not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you have explicitly given them permission to do so.

"I have heard of cases where a debt collector called someone as many as 200 times and 90 times within an hour," says Hopwood. "That definitely constitutes harassment and is absolutely against the law. Harassing behavior should not be tolerated."

It's also illegal for collectors to use obscene language; to threaten, abuse or deceive you; or to imply that they represent a government agency. They also may not say that you have committed a crime. If a debt collector engages in harassing communication, you can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or contact your state's attorney general.

What Can You Do?

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Upon receipt of the letter, the collector may only contact you again to inform you that there will be no further contact or to let you know that the agency plans to take a specific action, like suing you.

Note that sending this letter won't make the debt go away; it just stops collectors from communicating with you about it. Some credit experts warn that doing so may even expedite legal action being taken against you.

Communicating with Creditors: Do's and Don'ts

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Don't

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Statute of Limitations on Debt

All consumer debts — from credit card balances to medical bills —- have limits on the number of years in which creditors have a legal right to sue you for payment, but that doesn't mean it just goes away. The statutes of limitations vary by state and type of debt — for example, whether the account is considered a contract or a negotiable instrument.

After that legal time period passes, the debt is considered "time-barred" and you can't legally be sued, but some collectors may still try to get you to pay. Williams says this is why it's important to look closely at the age of the debt you are being contacted about and familiarize yourself with the laws in the state where the debt originated. "You might have to seek legal help — hire an attorney — to help you out," she says.

Even if you are no longer legally obligated to pay the older debt, it may still be reported to the three major credit bureaus and it can remain on your credit report for future creditors to see for years. That may make it harder for you to secure new lines of credit, and you'll likely have higher interest rates on the credit lines you secure in the future.

In some cases, paying even a portion of the debt before the statute of limitations has expired can start a new statute of limitations period. That means the collector may now sue you to collect the full amount of the debt, including additional interest and fees.

Debt and Deceased Relatives

They say, "You can't take it with you," but when it comes to debts and the deceased, that isn't necessarily true. Although several things may factor into this, including your state's laws and whether anyone else's name is on the account, "usually, when you die, your debt dies with you unless someone else's name was on the account," Williams says.

In most states, relatives whose names are not on the deceased's accounts cannot be held personally responsible for debts left behind and creditors cannot legally force someone else to pay them. However, in community property states such as Arizona, California, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, spouses can be held responsible for paying such debts, even if they are not named on the accounts.

When a person dies, his or her estate generally pays off the balance on any outstanding debts. The administrator or executor of the account will take inventory of all assets and debts and determine in what order bills should be paid. If the assets don't cover the bills, creditors should be notified in writing. From there, the collection agency usually writes the debts off and that's the end of it.

If you are not the executor of a deceased family member's estate, but debt collectors are contacting you, refer the creditor to the executor. If it doesn't stop, send a certified "cease and desist" letter stating that the person is deceased, you are not responsible for paying the debt and therefore you should no longer be contacted.

"It's a good idea to send the creditor a copy of the person's death certificate and attach a copy of the letter you received requesting payment," says Williams. "From there (the debt collector) may decide whether to pursue payment from the deceased person's estate." Bottom line: Don't be intimidated into paying a bill for which you are not responsible.

Identifying Debt Collection Scams

Anyone can fall prey to debt collection scams. Fraudulent debt collectors are everywhere and they can use your information to steal your identity and open accounts in your name. It is up to you to protect yourself.

RED FLAGS
  • The collector can't or won't provide specific information to you about the collection agency he or she represents or the delinquent account in question. "In some cases, they appear to be fishing for information; they don't seem to really know who you are and what you owe," says Hopwood. "Do not let them proceed with the call without providing that information."
  • The collector provides inaccurate or nonfunctioning telephone numbers or demands that you give your credit card number or banking information to avoid arrest or to capitalize on a settlement offer.
  • The collector requests sensitive personal or financial information.

You may refuse to discuss any debt until you receive a written validation notice via mail, email or fax. By law, it must be sent to you within five days of their first contact with you and should outline how much you owe, the name of the creditor and how to proceed if you don't think you owe the money.

Report all suspicious debt collection calls to the FTC. This will help ensure that the fraudulent activity is investigated and protect other potential victims.

Consumer Resources

If you feel you have fallen victim to a debt collection scam or harassment, or if you need some help with debt management, there are many organizations and agencies available to help. You may start with the governor's office of consumer affairs in your state. Following are some additional resources to consider:

  • National Association of Attorneys General
    Visit the NAAG site to find contact information for your state attorney general's office. Your local AG website can provide information about the laws specific to each state or enable you to file a complaint concerning debt collection, credit and finance.

  • Federal Trade Commission
    You may file a complaint online with the FTC, which aims to prevent business practices that are anticompetitive, deceptive or unfair to consumers and to enhance informed consumer choice.

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
    Through educational materials and a tool for filing complaints, the CFPB seeks to provide a single point of accountability for enforcing federal consumer financial laws and protecting consumers in the financial marketplace. The CFPB also works to make credit card, mortgage and other loan disclosures clearer, so consumers may better understand their rights and responsibilities.

  • AnnualCreditReport.com
    Visit this site to obtain your annual credit reports from all three major credit bureaus and review them for changes and updates. You are entitled to one complimentary report each year from each of the bureaus. You may also purchase additional copies for a fee.

  • Consumer Action
    Visit this nonprofit consumer education and advocacy group's website for tips on protecting yourself from credit card fraud, identity theft, home equity loan fraud, credit repair scams, insurance fraud and telemarketing scams.

  • Better Business Bureau
    Get helpful consumer tips, and check a company's history and file complaints about a business through this nonprofit organization, which is focused on advancing trust in the marketplace.

About Chandra Thomas Whitfield


Chandra Thomas Whitfield headshot

Chandra Thomas Whitfield is an award-winning print, broadcast and multimedia journalist and regular contributor to NBCNews.com/NBCBLK. Her work has appeared in a wide variety of media outlets, including The Huffington Post, Essence, Ebony, People, Newsweek, The Root, The Grio, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and TIME.com.