Handling Creditor Harassment

Many people fall into debt for a variety of reason. From lost wages, medical issues, divorce, to cost of
living. To paraphrase the great Forest Gump, debt happens. However, just because you owe a company
money, that doesnt give them the right to harass you, your family, neighbors, and employers.

There are state and federal laws established to protect consumers from collection harassment. These laws
include the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Florida Consumer Protection Practices Act
(FCCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and others. The Law Oce of Michael A. Ziegler,
P.L. serving Tampa Bay and Clearwater Florida can educate you on your rights as a consumer and help you
with handling creditor harassment.

Types of Debt
Generally, only consumer debt is protected under the FDCPA and FCCPA, such as:

Personal
Family
Household
Credit Card
Auto loans
Medical bills
Mortgages

Debts incurred as a result of operating a business are not protected.

Types of Illegal Conduct

It is illegal for debt collectors to harass, threaten or deceive you. If they do, you may be entitled to collect
damages. Debt collectors can only contact you on your cell or at work between 8am-9pm if you give them
permission to. They can send you mail, email, and text messaging as long as they follow regulations.

What You Can Do

To stop debt collectors from contacting you, send a letter asking for them to cease and desist contact
with you. Mail the letter certied with a return receipt and make a copy for your records. This must be
done within 30 days of receiving the validation notice. Then, the collection company can no longer contact
you. Make sure you get and keep the return receipt conrming your letter was accepted.

Once your debt is in collections, things can go downhill quickly. Dont wait for the endless phone calls to
start. If you wait too long to get a handle on your nances, you can be sent to court, and you may end up
facing bankruptcy.

It is important to seek legal counsel immediately so you can better understand the law, and give yourself
the chance to ght back. The Law Oce of Michael A. Ziegler, P.L. serving Tampa Bay and Clearwater
Florida can help you learn about handling creditor harassment. Call today for a free consultation at
727-538-4188.