Nobody likes to interact with debt collectors. They can be scary and intimidating. Some even make you feel bad for not paying by emotional blackmail. Since debt collectors do various things to recover their payments, you may wonder whether they are allowed to do some of those things at all. If they engage in unlawful practices, you can sue them.
If you suspect a debt collector of using illegal practices to get payments from you, get legal help today. An attorney can help you gather evidence and develop strong arguments. They can also tell you whether an activity is illegal or not. Some activities may appear unlawful but are legal.
Legal things that debt collectors do that are infuriating
Calling your boss/employer.
Yes, your debt collector is legally allowed to contact your boss or employer. They are not exempted from going to your workplace either. However, they must abide by some rules.
A debt collector can only call your boss when they are unable to contact you with the available information. Additionally, they cannot reveal information about your debt or why they are calling. The collector can only ask your employer/boss about your whereabouts or contact information.
Stalking your social media pages.
You may not like it when someone lurks around or stalks your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page, but a debt collector can and will probably do it. If you make personal information available on your account, they may use it to their advantage. Although, they cannot hack into your accounts without your knowledge.
A debt collector may send you a friend request, follow you on your account, and send you private text messages. However, they cannot post publicly about your debt and publicize it.
Calling you from an unknown number.
A debt can call you from an unknown number. They are not required to contact you from the same number you have saved on your phone. However, what they are not allowed to do is pretend to be someone else. They cannot call you and say they are the police or an agent.
According to the law, debt collectors must identify themselves. They are not allowed to use deceptive names. If they do, you can rightfully sue them and the company they work for.
Calling your mother/father/other family members.
You might find it irritable that your debt collector contacting your family members is legal, but remember that they cannot reveal your debt. Even if it is your family, the collector cannot tell them about it unless you give the green light. Therefore, even if your family is contacted, you do not need to worry about your secret getting leaked.
