Stop Those Harassing Debt Collectors

June 16, 2009 — -- Even good people can fall behind on their debts.

That's why we should all be concerned when some debt collectors step over the line, as explained in the question below.

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Question: Because of the hard times, people fall behind on credit card payments. I would like to know when it becomes harassment on the part of the credit card company calling you. In the last three days, the same credit card company has called a friend of mine 24 times -- as quickly as 2 minutes apart. How do you get them to communicate with one another so they know they have contacted you? It has become very annoying and some of the people that call are very rude. It is bad enough to be in this situation without people harassing you.

-- P.E., Macungie, Pa.

Answer: P.E., if this situation persists, then I would suggest your friend become familiar with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law that prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair or deceptive practices.

Then, once familiar with this law, your friend should prepare to utilize its provisions the next time he or she is contacted by a debt collector for this credit card company.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to personal, family and household debts, including money owed on personal credit cards, auto loans, medical bills and home mortgages. It does not cover business debt.

The federal law applies primarily to third-party debt collectors hired by a credit card company or other lender rather than the lender itself. Some states, including Pennsylvania, also have similar laws that apply directly to creditors.

In your case, P.E., your friend should first confirm whether it is the credit card company itself calling or an outside debt collector. If it's the credit card company, she may need to look to Pennsylvania's Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act law for help.

As for the federal law, it was first enacted by Congress in 1977 and last updated in 2006. The Federal Trade Commission, which is responsible for enforcement, recommended in February that the nation's debt collection legal system be reformed and modernized.

According to the FTC's annual report on the act to Congress, the agency receives more complaints about debt collectors than any other industry.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act sets guidelines on when and how a debt collector may contact you, how you can halt the contact, whom the collector may contact and what practices by the collector are off limits.