Personal injury Lawyer
Any person who has received a debt collection robocall probably understands just how annoying it can be. This may be particularly true if the robocalls are threatening, harassing, or just flat-out unprofessional. Consumers who feel frightened when first receiving such calls should know that these collectors are often more bark than bite. Debt collectors may claim you will be arrested or make other empty threats, but there is often no such consequence awaiting you in the days to come.
Why do debt collectors make such threatening robocalls?
Debt collectors tend to not care about the situation of the consumer, as their primary motivation is to make as much money as possible. A person may have fallen into distressing financial times, and doesn’t have money left over at the end of each month to pay back debts. Despite a consumer being behind, this does not mean the debt collection agency is allowed to scare or bully you into making payments.
Do consumers have rights that protect them against such harassment?
While debt collectors are permitted to take certain actions in an attempt to get payment from a consumer, a person also has rights when it comes to how often and in what manner such contact is made. Depending on your state, there may be laws that protect a consumer from dealing with such inappropriate pestering.
What can I do to help stop these calls?
If you do actually owe money to the debt collection agency, you can request calls to be stopped through a written letter. If the debt collectors do not abide by your request and continue to keep sending robocalls, then they are likely in violation of your rights. If the calls do not halt, you may want to seek legal intervention and maintain records of any contact they make after receiving the letter.
Calls from a debt collector are stressful, why does the agency play on my emotions?
Debt collectors may try some very unruly and unkind tactics to get a consumer to pay up. As a response to getting these calls, you may feel embarrassed about not being able to pay your outstanding bills. Debt collections may use shame, fear, and annoyance as a method to get money from you. The best way to handle such calls is to remain calm and collected, and get legal help if you are unable to resolve the matter yourself.
What can an attorney do for me?
A lawyer, like a debt collection lawyer, can help you decide whether filing a lawsuit is the next step in getting these debt collection robocalls to stop. An attorney can offer advice on other actions to try first, before acting on a lawsuit. However, sometimes it takes a debt collector receiving notice of a lawsuit to stop sending robocalls to a consumer who owes them money. A consumer may be awarded financial restitution for the annoyance as well, permitted they are able to bring forward evidence including the debt collector’s phone numbers and voicemails.