Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C., was created by the U.S. government specifically to protect you from collection scare tactics, threats and scams. (Sometimes it has been erroneously called, for short, just the Fair Debt Collections Act). If you or a loved one are in debt or in collections, you may want to see this for yourself -- click on the link to get your own copy of the FDCPA document. You can also download it to your computer for future reference. This public version was prepared by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This document is legal information, so if you find it difficult to read and interpret, please see our summary page on debt collection laws – it is not legal advice, but may provide further insight. This Act will outline your rights as a consumer, and provide you with the knowledge you need to tell if the collectors contacting you are abiding by the law. You do not need to put up with anything less! But ultimately, if you believe you have a serious debt situation, you may want to consider seeing a good consumer law attorney. If you need financial assistance, try Legal Aid – and ask if they have a background in collections, because it can be a complex issue. Debt can be a serious elderly issue, but it can be resolved with proper understanding and help.
|
