If you’re like most people, you think that owing money makes you fair game for abusive bill collectors. You’re already ashamed and embarrassed about being over your head in debt – what rights could you possibly have against the onslaught of calls and letters?
That’s understandable. Most people have no idea there is a whole set of federal laws designed to protect you from abusive bill collectors even if you owe the money.
Congress decided that people deserve to be treated fairly, even if they owe money. Debt collection is a by-product of the world of consumer credit, but allowing bill collectors to bully and threaten you is just plain wrong.
In order to curb harassment and abuse, they created the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. That’s a federal law outlining the rules of debt collection. It not only goes through what’s legal and what’s not, it also specifically states that a bill collector who violates your rights will be required to pay your legal fees.
If You’ve Been The Victim Of Debt Collection Abuse, Your Legal Fees Are Covered
The reasoning behind this is pretty simple. Debt collection agents should be treating you fairly and respectfully. If they don’t, they need to be held accountable. One of the ways they’re held accountable is by being required to pay your legal fees.
After all – if the bill collector paid attention to the law in the first place, you never would have needed to take legal action.
If you’ve been the victim of debt collection abuse or harassment, you know how
