What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not: • use threats of violence or harm; • publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies); • use obscene or profane language; or • repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone. False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not: • falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives; • falsely claim that you have committed a crime; • falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company; • misrepresent the amount you owe; • indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or • indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are. Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that: • you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt; • they’ll seize, garn
