Unfortunately, a very common illegal tactic that debt collectors use is abusive and obscene language when speaking with people on the phone. Generally the consumer will answer a debt collector’s call in an honest attempt to work out the debt, and will be blind-sided by the debt collector calling them obscene names and using abusive language.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act clearly forbids this kind of harassment: “A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt.” And more specifically in Section D it states: “The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.”

Debt collectors will engage in this kind of abuse to bully people into paying, knowing that it is inappropriate behavior that rattles the consumer, and causes them to feel belittled. A tactic that often works because people will pay these abusive collectors just to get them off their backs. Unfortunately more often than not, the debt collector will get away with this abuse because the general public does not understand their rights.

If a debt collector is calling you abusive names or using obscene language when speaking to you or leaving you messages, know that you have recourse and that this is against the law.