An interesting question:
Hi,
I saw a question on Yahoo Answers and here's my answerr to it.
The question is:
Is there anyway to file a complaint against the collector for providing questionable billings?
You have Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to help you.
Here are some of the important points:
This law was established to ensure that consumers are treated fairly by debt collectors. All kinds of personal and household debts are covered in the law, including automobile loans, medical expenses, credit card debts, and more. However, the law does not apply to businesses collecting their own debts. The Act provides the following protections:
• It prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, deceptive and unfair practices such as:
• Using abusive language or making threats.
• Using the telephone to annoy you.
• Contacting you at inconvenient times or places.
• Misrepresenting themselves to you.
• Threatening a lawsuit or other action.
• Collecting more from you than you owe.
• It establishes the procedure for debt collection:
• First, within five days after the initial contact, the debt collector must send a statement of the amount you owe to the creditor, and what action you can take if you dispute owing the money.
• Second, if you send a letter within 30 days disputing that you owe the money, then the debt collector cannot make further collection efforts until you receive proof of the debt.
• Third, the debt collector cannot collect for any debt that cannot be verified.
• It limits debt collector contact with third parties (except to locate you).
• It requires that if you owe several debts, the money you provide must be applied as you wish.
• It restricts debt collectors from trying to collect any debt in dispute.
Now that you have the law and what it tells you, you are more empowered than you were previous right?
Hope this helps,
Johncy Edward
Your Trusted Credit Repair Guru