Debt Collection Violations

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0c62d5a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Attorney Gordon Leech, Wisconsin Consumer & Employment Lawyer</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Attorney Gordon Leech, Wisconsin Consume"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="potential_claim_inquiry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Potential Claim Inquiry"><U>Potential Claim Inquiry</U></A>   |   <A HREF="attorney_gordon_leech_biography.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Attorney Gordon Leech"><U>About Attorney Gordon Leech</U></A>   |   <A HREF="legal_blog_on_consumer___employment_matters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Consumer Blog"><U>I Consumer Blog</U></A>   |   <A HREF="contact_attoney_leech.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How To Contact Me"><U>How To Contact 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TITLE="Downloads"><U>Downloads</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="073d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <IMG SRC="100b2de0.jpg" border=0 width="178" height="222" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I>To Reach Us Now, Click Here</I></div> <div>  <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="https://clients4.google.com/voice/embed/webCallButton" width="230" height="85"><param name="movie" value="https://clients4.google.com/voice/embed/webCallButton" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="FlashVars" value="id=c2067a3f5f8852901afc2a6c65cd1636f45b51b2&style=0" /></object>  </div> <div> Attorney Gordon Leech</div> <div> Shareholder</div> <div> Rose & deJong, SC</div> <div> 161 S. 1st St., Suite 400</div> <div> Milwaukee, WI 53204</div> <div> 414-678-1681</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:gleech@attorneyleech.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gleech@attorneyleech.com"><U>grl@rosedejong.com</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Potential claim?  <A HREF="potential_claim_inquiry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Potential Claim Inquiry"><U>Click Here</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Debt Collection Violations</I></div> <div> Being pursued by a collection agency can be an unpleasant experience even when the collector follows the letter of the law.  However, when your rights to fair debt collection are violated, you have remedies.  Common claims for such violations include the failure to give you required notice of your rights, continuing to collect on claim after receiving notice that you dispute it, making false or misleading statements to you about the debt, harassing or intimidating you with threats or unlawful conduct, and making impermissible contacts with your employer or other people about the debt.</div> <bR> <div> You may be able to recover a statutory award for such violations or actual damages and for the emotional distress the violation or harassment caused you.</div> <bR> <div> If you are currently receiving phone calls or letters from a debt collector or creditor, you should document each contact.  Should your rights be violated, such a communications log will be an important piece of evidence to substantiate your claim.  To Download a sample Debt Collection Communications Log, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id35_fair_debt_issues.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Downloads"><U>click here</U></A></FONT>.  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" >You can also tell the debt collector to stop contacting you. </FONT> For more information on how to stop a collector from contacting you and how to handle debt collectors, read the information below and the sample dispute letter.  You may also want to visit Bub Hibbs website, who is a well known consumer advocate in this area.  You can visit his site at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.budhibbs.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.budhibbs.com"><U>www.bubhibbs.com</U></A></FONT>.  You will find a downloadable book on how to deal with debt collectors that may also assist you.</div> <bR> <div> For information on your rights to fair credit card billing and what to do if your credit card company has made mistakes on your bill, click here for my page on <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="your_rights_when_credit_card_bills_have_errors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Credit Card Billing Errors"><U>Credit Card Billing Errors</U></A></FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> For more information on your rights to fair and lawful debt collection and disputing debts that collectors are attempting to recover against you, review the information in the links below:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#your_right_to_dispute_a_debt_or_a" TITLE="Debt Collection Violations"><U>Your Right to Dispute a Debt or a portion of a Debt</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#sample_dispute_letter" TITLE="Debt Collection Violations"><U>Sample Dispute Letter</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#summary_of_rights_under_the_federal" TITLE="Debt Collection Violations"><U>Summary of Rights Under the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#facts_for_consumers_on_fair_debt" TITLE="Debt Collection Violations"><U>Facts for Consumers on Fair Debt Collection</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I> <A NAME="your_right_to_dispute_a_debt_or_a"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>Your Right to Dispute a Debt or a portion of a Debt</I></div> <div> You have the right to dispute any debt or portion of a debt for which a debt collector is contacting you.  Your dispute should be in writing and sent by certified return receipt mail so that you can prove you disputed the debt.  It is best to dispute the debt within 30 days from the date the debt collector first contacts you either by telephone or in writing.  If you send your dispute within the first 30 day period, the debt collector must verify whether the debt does actually belong to you and provide you with the proof upon which it relied.  The debt collector may not take further action to collect the debt until it has provided you with verification of the debt.  Also, if you ask, it must provide the name and address of the original creditor.  You also have the right to demand that the debt collector stop calling you or otherwise communicating with you about the debt if you wish.  Then, it may only contact you to say it intends to take certain legal actions, that it may take certain legal actions or to say that it is stopping further communications with you.  The debt collector may still take legal action by filing a lawsuit or other lawful means to collect the debt.  The debt collector is also legally obligated to inform you of these rights in its initial communication or within 5 days thereafter in writing.</div> <bR> <div> Whenever you have a legitimate dispute over a claimed debt that a debt collector is contacting you about, you should dispute the debt with the debt collector by asking for verification and you should also check your credit report to see if the disputed debt is showing up there.  If you have a disputed debt on your credit report, you should contact the Credit Reporting Agency that is reporting the disputed debt and inform it of your dispute.  The Credit Reporting Agency is legally bound to stop reporting the disputed debt unless it also verifies the debt and then to report it as a disputed item on future reports.  See my page on <A HREF="credit_report_disputes__what_to_do__know_your_rights.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U>Credit Report Disputes & Claims</U></A> or my other website <A HREF="http://www.myfaircredit.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.myfaircredit.com"><U>www.MyFairCredit.com</U></A> for more information on credit reports and disputing entries.</div> <bR> <div> <I> <A NAME="sample_dispute_letter"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>Sample Dispute Letter </I><A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Downloads"><U><I>[Click here to Download Sample Letter]</I></U></A></div> <div> Here is a sample <B>Dispute Letter</B> for disputing a debt with a debt collector and requesting <B>verification </B>of the debt:</div> <bR> <div> From:</div> <div> [Name & Address]</div> <bR> <div> [Date]</div> <bR> <div> To:</div> <div> [Debt Collector Name & Address]</div> <bR> <div> By Certified Return Receipt Mail, Receipt No. ___________________</div> <bR> <div> Re:     Dispute Notice & Request for Validation</div> <div>            Your File No. [Debt Collector's reference number regarding this debt]</div> <bR> <div> To Whom It May Concern:</div> <bR> <div> I dispute the entire debt that you have contacted me about identified in your [date of collector's letter or phone call] letter (enclosed) [or phone call].  I demand my rights to verification of this debt in writing.  Provide me with the following information:</div> <div> The name and address of the original creditor;</div> <div> The account number of the original creditor;</div> <div> The name of the person to whom the original creditor claims opened the subject account or entered such contract establishing the debt;</div> <div> The written instrument documenting the agreement or obligation by the debtor to the original creditor, such as the account application, contract or other document establishing the liability of the debtor;</div> <div> An itemization of the amount you claim is owed, specifically the original debt, any amounts you claim are due because of interest, attorney's fees, costs, collection costs, and any other amount added to the original debt;</div> <div> The date(s) upon which the subject debt was incurred;</div> <div> A copy of any judgment relating to the debt; </div> <div> Monthly statements showing specific credits or debits to this account relating to the amount you claim is due; and</div> <div> Any other document supporting your position that this debt is my obligation.</div> <div> I also demand that you cease efforts to collect upon this debt, do not call me at my workplace because that is not convenient for me and is not permitted by my employer, and do not contact me by telephone.  I demand that any further communication regarding this debt be in writing.  [Alternatively, you can say that you do not want the collector to contact you anymore regarding this debt by adding: I demand that you do not contact me regarding this debt anymore in writing, by phone, fax or any other means.]</div> <div> If you have reported this debt to any credit reporting agency or other person or entity, I demand that you notify them of my dispute and that you stop any such reporting of this dispute.  I also demand that you inform any other collector to whom you may sell or assign this debt of my dispute.</div> <div> Sincerely,</div> <bR> <div> [Your Signature and Printed Name]</div> <div> [enclose the letter you received from the debt collector for purpose of identifying the disputed debt]</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I> <A NAME="summary_of_rights_under_the_federal"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>Summary of Rights under the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act</I></div> <bR> <div> The following information is reproduced from the Federal Trade Commission's website:</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="facts_for_consumers_on_fair_debt"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Facts for Consumers on Fair Debt Collection, from the Federal Trade Commission (Rev. March 1999)*</B></div> <div> If you use credit cards, owe money on a personal loan, or are paying on a home mortgage, you are a "debtor." If you fall behind in repaying your creditors, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a "debt collector."</div> <div> You should know that in either situation, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires that debt collectors treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. Of course, the law does not erase any legitimate debt you owe.</div> <div> This brochure answers commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.</div> <div> <B>What debts are covered?</B></div> <div> Personal, family, and household debts are covered under the Act. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for charge accounts.</div> <div> <B>Who is a debt collector?</B></div> <div> A debt collector is any person who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis.</div> <div> <B>How may a debt collector contact you?</B></div> <div> A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts.</div> <div> <B>Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you?</B></div> <div> You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.</div> <div> <B>May a debt collector contact anyone else about your debt?</B></div> <div> If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.</div> <div> <B>What must the debt collector tell you about the debt? </B></div> <div> Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.</div> <div> <B>May a debt collector continue to contact you if you believe you do not owe money?</B></div> <div> A collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. However, a collector can renew collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed.</div> <div> <B>What types of debt collection practices are prohibited?</B></div> <div> <B>Harassment.</B> Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact.</div> <div> <B>For example, debt collectors may not:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">use threats of violence or harm; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau); </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">use obscene or profane language; or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone. </div> <div> <B>False statements. </B>Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">falsely imply that you have committed a crime; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">misrepresent the amount of your debt; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; or </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are. </div> <div> <B>Debt collectors also may not state that:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so; or </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action. </div> <div> <B>Debt collectors may not:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not; or </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">use a false name. </div> <div> <B>Unfair practices.</B> Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, collectors may not:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">a charge; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">deposit a post-dated check prematurely; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally; or </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.png" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">contact you by postcard. </div> <div> <B>What control do you have over payment of debts?</B></div> <div> If you owe more than one debt, any payment you make must be applied to the debt you indicate. A debt collector may not apply a payment to any debt you believe you do not owe.</div> <div> <B>What can you do if you believe a debt collector violated the law?</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered plus an additional amount up to $1,000. Court costs and attorney' s fees also can be recovered. A group of people also may sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector' s net worth, whichever is less.</div> <div> <B>Where can you report a debt collector for an alleged violation?</B></div> <div> Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General' s office and the Federal Trade Commission. Many states have their own debt collection laws, and your Attorney General' s office can help you determine your rights.</div> <bR> <div> The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#006699" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z"><U>complaint</U></A></FONT> or to get <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#006699" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm"><U>free information on consumer issues</U></A></FONT>, visit <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#006699" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.ftc.gov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ftc.gov"><U>www.ftc.gov</U></A></FONT> or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#006699" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel"><U>Consumer Sentinel</U></A></FONT>, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.</div> <bR> <div> *Reproduced directly from the Federal Trade Commission's Website: <A HREF="http://www.ftc.gov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ftc.gov"><U>www.ftc.gov</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Attorney Gordon Leech</div> <div> Rose & deJong, SC</div> <div> 161 S. 1st St., Suite 400</div> <div> Milwaukee, WI 53204</div> <div> Tel: 414-678-1681</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:gleech@attorneyleech.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gleech@attorneyleech.com"><U>grl@rosedejong.com</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.attorneyleech.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.attorneyleech.com"><U>www.AttorneyLeech.com</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>