Embarrassing practices that debt collectors employ are not just limited to the phone. The Fair Debt Collection Act disallows debt collectors from:
- “Communicating with a consumer regarding a debt by post card.
- Using any language or symbol, other than the debt collector’s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram, except that a debt collector may use his business name if such name does not indicate that he is in the debt collection business.”
In other words, the law recognizes that these practices are embarrassing to consumers, and makes it illegal for a debt collector to send a piece of mail that promotes that they are in the process of collecting from the addressee. Debt collectors know how to use tactics that will embarrass the debtor in an effort for them to throw up their hands and say “enough.”
Just because you are behind in your debt doesn’t mean you need to be embarrassed. If a debt collector sent you a piece of mail that advertises to whomever sees it that it’s from a debt collector, it violates your privacy. Hold on to the piece of mail for proof in your case because the debt collector broke the law. The attorneys at Lemberg & Associates want you to know that you have recourse if a debt collector has violated the law. You are allowed to sue for damages, and you can be awarded $1,000 if the ruling is in your favor. This form of harassment is very common. We are determined to stop debt collectors that have done this to our clients, and hopefully prevent them from purposefully embarrassing others in the future.
