Being in debt is a stressful situation, especially for those who have encountered financial difficulties that have affected their ability to pay what is owed while covering other ongoing expenses. If you are in this situation, you may be dealing with constant calls, letters, and threats from creditors and collection agencies, and you may feel helpless and overwhelmed as you attempt to deal with your financial issues and address your family's needs. Fortunately, there are legal measures you can take to stop creditor harassment, and in some cases, filing for bankruptcy may allow you to eliminate some or all of your debts.
Your Rights Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that regulates how creditors can contact and communicate with debtors. Under this law, you are protected from harassment by creditors, and you can take steps to address any harassing behavior. The FDCPA allows you to:
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Address abusive practices - Creditors are not allowed to use abusive language, call you repeatedly in an annoying manner, make threats of violence, or speak to you without identifying themselves as debt collectors. If creditors take an aggressive or abusive approach when attempting to collect debts, you can file a complaint against them with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
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