The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) has been around for almost 35 years. The FDCPA is a federal law that applies to all states. In other words, they are all protected by the FDCPA. The FDCPA is essentially a long list of what debt collections can and cannot do while collecting a debt, as well as the things that debt collectors must do while collecting a debt.

Below is a long list of debt collection violations.

1. A debt collector keeps calling me after I told the debt collector to stop calling me.

2. He called me before 8:00 a.m. M. Or after 9:00 p.m. M.

3. Was abusive, offensive, or used foul language.

4. Keep calling me after I tell you I don’t have the debt.

5. Threatened with violence, physical harm, or ruin my reputation.

6. The collection agency did not send me a notification letter within 5 days of the initial communication.

7. You called me at work even though I told the debt collector to stop calling me at work, because my employer prohibits these types of calls at work.

8. The agency did not disclose that the communication was his. In other words, you must state that “this communication is from a debt collector” in all communication, including voicemail messages.

9. The agency did not identify the name of the company. In other words, the collector must state, “This is the call from XYZ Company,” in all communications, including voicemail messages.

10. A collector called third parties (family, friends, co-workers, employer, or neighbors) even though they knew my contact information.

11. Told a third party (family, friends, co-workers, employer, or neighbors) that I owe an amount of money.

12. Keep calling me after I sent the collection agency a cease and desist letter.

13. He threatened to file a lawsuit against me, but has no intention of doing so.

14. He threatened to garnish my wages, but does not intend to do so.

15. He threatened to report me to the credit bureau, but has no intention of doing so.

16. A debt collector threatened to put a bond on my property, but has no intention of doing so.

17. He threatened to get my car back, but has no intention of doing so.

18. A collector made an empty threat.

19. Threatened to issue an arrest warrant and / or have me arrested.

20. A debt collector accused me of committing a crime.

21. A debt collector gave me the impression that he was a lawyer and / or was calling from a law firm.

22. He gave me the impression that he worked for the government.

23. A debt collector threatened to sue me even though the debt is outside the statute of limitations.

24. A collection agency sued me in a place where I don’t live.

25. A debt collector keeps contacting me even though he knows I have a lawyer.

A debt collector who fails to comply with any provision of the FDCPA is liable for actual damages suffered, punitive damages, and legal damages up to $ 1,000.00. Additionally, the FDCPA has a fee change provision. This means that the collection agency pays your attorney’s fees and costs.