Can debt collectors contact you via social media?
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Don’t be surprised if debt collectors slide into your DMs. A new rule allows debt collectors to contact you on social media, text or email — not just by phone. The rule, which was approved last year by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s former president Kathleen L. Kraninger, took effect Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Can debt collectors call your place of business?
Under the FDCPA, it’s illegal for a debt collector to come to your workplace to collect payment. However, a debt collector, like a credit card company, may call you at work, though they can’t reveal to your co-workers that they are debt collectors. To stop these calls, ask the debt collector not to contact you at work.
What is considered harassment from a debt collector?
The definition of debt collection harassment is to intimidate, abuse, coerce, bully or browbeat consumers into paying off debt. This happens most often over the phone, but harassment could come in the form of emails, texts, direct mail or talking to friends or neighbors about your debt.
What is illegal for debt collectors to do?
A debt collector can’t do the following: suggest to your friends, employer, relatives or neighbours that they should pay your debts, unless one of these individuals has co-signed your loan. use threatening, intimidating or abusive language. apply excessive or unreasonable pressure on you to repay the debt.
Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
Debt collectors usually can’t contact people you know more than once and they can’t say they’re trying to collect on a debt. Generally, a debt collector can’t discuss your debt with anyone other than: You. Your attorney, if you are represented with respect to the debt.
Can debt collectors call your family and friends?
The short answer is, yes, debt collectors can call third parties like relatives or friends. They’re really only supposed to call third parties if they can’t reach you or don’t have your contact information.
Are debt collectors legal?
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is the main federal law that governs debt collection practices. The FDCPA prohibits debt collection companies from using abusive, unfair or deceptive practices to collect debts from you.
How do I deal with a harassing debt collector?
If you believe a debt collector is harassing you, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372). You can also contact your state’s attorney general .
What legal actions can creditors take?
Depending on your situation and your state’s laws, the creditor may be able to:
- Garnish your wages.
- Place a lien against your property.
- Move to freeze or garnish all or part of the funds in your bank account.
Can creditors call family members?
Debt collectors are legally allowed to call your friends or family to try to locate you. But they cannot call these people to try to collect the payment for the debt, and they are only allowed to call once unless they believe there may be new information to be found.
Are debt collectors allowed to text you?
If you’ve ever received a text message from a debt collector, you’ve probably wondered whether it was legal. It’s certainly unusual but debt collectors are not prohibited from making contact with you via text messages. Knowing your rights, and the law, will help you reduce some of the stresses of debt collection.
What happens if a Debt Collector calls your cell phone?
However, today, it can also be applied to many people’s cellphones if they will incur usage charges for the call. If it’s not clear from the caller ID information or phone number that the call is from a debt collector, then the collector would be concealing the “true purpose” of the call—which is debt collection.
The CFPB rule prohibits debt collectors from communicating or attempting to communicate with you in connection with collecting a debt through a social media platform if the message is viewable by the general public or your social media contacts. (12 C.F.R. § 1006.22 (f) (4)).
Can a debt collector contact other people besides your spouse?
A debt collector generally can’t discuss your debt with anyone but you or your spouse. If an attorney is representing you, the debt collector has to contact the attorney. A collector can contact other people to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work, but usually can’t contact them more than once.