What types of debt collection practices are prohibited?
Harassment Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, debt collectors may not: • Use threats of violence or harm • Publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau) • Use obscene or profane language • Repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone False statements Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not: • Falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives • Falsely imply that you have committed a crime • Falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau • Misrepresent the amount of your debt • Indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not • Indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are Debt collectors also may not state that: • You will be arrested if you do not pay your debt • They will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your pr
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse any person. For example, debt collectors may not: – falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives. — falsely imply that you have committed a crime; — falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau; — misrepresent the amount of your debt; — misrepresent the involvement of an attorney in collecting a debt; — indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; — indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are. Debt collectors also may not state that: — you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt; — they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or credit intends to do so, and it is legal to do so (garnishment is currently prohibited in South Carolina for the collection of most debts): — actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, which legally may not be taken, or which t
