What are my rights as a consumer against Debt Collectors?
Debt collectors are known to use illegal and unethical methods for attempting to collect debts. It is not uncommon for debt collectors to tell consumers that they are bad people, deadbeats, bad parents, all to attempt to shame a consumer into paying a debt. It is not uncommon for debt collectors to threaten action which is illegal. A consumer cannot be arrested or prosecuted for a bad debt unless the debt was incurred fraudulently. A creditor cannot lie to a consumer, by telling the consumer that they “can’t file bankruptcy” or that the debt “won’t get discharged in bankruptcy”, when in fact that is not true. Debt collectors cannot attempt to collect debts that are beyond the statute of limitations (generally in Pennsylvania that is a debt that is more than four years old since the LAST payment was made). It is illegal for a debt collector to contact you at work once you have told them your employer does not permit you to receive personal phone calls at work. If you are receiving such
