Dealing with debt is already enough of a struggle in and of itself. When you have to deal with debt collector harassment on top of that, it creates an additional layer of stress that you should not have to face.
Fortunately, you can take action against these debt collectors under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). However, to do so, you must first identify the harassment you faced.
Threats to your well being
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau takes a look at harassment committed by debt collectors. These debt collectors will often employ a variety of tactics to try to pressure you into giving over money that you do not have. Many involve outright threatening you or the other people living in your home with eviction. They might even issue bodily threats of harm.
Some debt collectors will simply harass you over and over in the hope that it will wear you down with time. A primary tactic here involves calling your house phone at all hours of the day and night, well past the “polite” calling hours. They may even leave threatening voice messages, often without identifying who they are.
Subtle forms of harassment
Other examples of harassment lean into a more subtle set of tactics. This can include menacing you without even saying anything or approaching you directly. A common example involves a debt collector – or someone working on their orders – parking outside of your home. They remain just off the edge of your property so you cannot call the police, and will simply sit in their car for hours at a time, as though to let you know they are surveilling you.
If you experience any of these tactics, you likely experienced debt collector harassment. Consider contacting an attorney to decide what action to take next.