Debt collectors are infamous for their threatening and truly harsh ways of collecting what they think they are owed. Debt collectors generate more complaints to the FTC than any other industry. Unfortunately, many consumers do not know that federal and state laws regulate debt collectors’ interactions with you through statutes like the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Even fewer consumers realize that these statutes allow them to hold debt collectors accountable for their unfair debt collection practices at no cost to themselves. Luckily, if you are being harassed by a debt collector, our California debt collection harassment lawyer is ready to fight back on your behalf. Our firm will do whatever it takes to put a stop to the harassment and keep debt collectors accountable for their criminal actions. Reach out to Loker Law, APC today to get started.
What are the goals of the debt collection statutes that were enacted?
It is essential to recognize that with the history of debt collection harassment, Congress has in turn enacted the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act while expressing the following:
(a) Abusive practices. There is ample proof of the use of abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices by many debt collectors. Abusive debt collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies, marital instability, the loss of jobs, and invasions of individual privacy.
(b) Inadequacy of laws. Existing laws and procedures for punishing these injuries are insufficient to defend consumers.
(c) Available non-abusive collection methods. Methods other than misrepresentation or other abusive debt collection practices are open for the effective collection of debts.
(d) Interstate commerce. Abusive debt collection practices are held to a substantial extent in interstate commerce and through means and instrumentalities of commerce. Even where harsh debt collection practices are purely intrastate in character, they still directly impact interstate commerce.
(e) Purposes. It is the intent of this title to eradicate abusive debt collection practices by debt collectors, to make sure that those debt collectors who withhold from using abusive debt collection practices are not competitively at a disadvantage, and to encourage consistent State action to guard consumers against debt collection abuses.
With these goals in mind, the various statutes controlling unfair debt collection practices aim to provide consumers with a tool to terminate abusive collection efforts. To learn more, give our firm a call today.
Contact a California Consumer Lawyer
If you are facing any sort of consumer-related issue, such as one involving identity theft, a credit report dispute, or you need a debt collection defense attorney to fight for you, our firm is ready to help. Contact Loker Law, APC today to schedule your initial consultation with our experienced legal team.