Are you being harassed by collection
agencies? Have your creditors contacted your friends, family, or neighbors in
an attempt to collect a debt? Do you feel like you are being treated unfairly
by people you owe?
You may owe money, but that does NOT
mean anyone has the right to harass you.
This kind of behavior isn’t just
annoying or frustrating, it is illegal. Marks Law Firm will fight for your
rights and defend you from predatory collection agencies. We can mobilize state
and federal laws to your advantage and leverage our powers of attorney to find
you relief.
We also file lawsuits under the Fair
Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Iowa Debt Collection Practices
Act (IDCPA), which protect you as a debtor. In many cases, collection agencies
and creditors are required to pay you between $100 to $1,000 if they’ve
violated the law.
Call or contact us now if you’re
struggling with the anxiety and frustration of frequent, out-of-line collection
calls or correspondence. We’ll be happy
to schedule a free in-office consultation or a telephone conference. We’ll talk with you about your situation, tell
you how to take control, and discuss your options in greater detail.
Illegal collection tactics are used
almost every day. For example:
If the debt
collector harasses you (using obscene or profane language, calling more than
once per day, engaging in threatening behavior, etc.), the debt collector is
breaking the law.
If a debt
collector calls your place of work after you’ve told them not to do so, the
debt collector is breaking the law.
If a debt
collector communicates with you (in written or oral form) and fails to inform
you that the communication is from a collector and will be used for that
purpose, the debt collector is breaking the law.
If a debt
collector calls anyone other than the account holder about debt (excluding
co-signers) for any reason other than locating the account holder, the debt
collector is breaking the law.
If the debt
collector makes any threat or intimidation, not limited to phone calls or
letters, like telling you that Sheriff will be sent to your workplace,
threatening you with a garnishment or warning you that they’ll publicly
advertise your debt, the debt collector is breaking the law.
If the debt
collector is attempting to collect a debt that was discharged in bankruptcy or
that no longer exists by sending bills, calling for payments, demanding full
payment in a short period or trying to collect on an already-settled account, the
debt collector is breaking the law.
If the debt
collector engages in inaccurate reporting to credit bureaus, the debt collector
is breaking the law.
If the debt
collector misrepresents the amount of money you owe or the legal status of the
debt, the debt collector is breaking the law.
If the debt
collector continues to contact you after they’re on notice that an attorney is
representing you, the debt collector is breaking the law.
If the debt
collector threatens to garnish your wages or to take your personal property
without having a legal right or court order, the debt collector is breaking the
law.
If the debt
collector threatens you with criminal prosecution or implies that you’re
committing a crime or that you could be arrested or jailed, the debt collector
is breaking the law.
You can find an even more detailed
list of ways debt collectors may be violating your rights at the Federal Trade
Commission’s website.
Many creditors know that they’re
acting illegally. They simply find it
more profitable to break the law than it is to follow it. They know that most people don’t understand
their rights and won’t act to defend them.
You can protect your rights. If you’re
dealing with a collector who you believe is acting illegally or
inappropriately, contact Marks Law Firm for a free consultation.