Debt Collector Harassment in New Haven, CT
Do you feel overwhelmed by relentless calls and messages from debt collectors?
The pressure and intrusion can disrupt your daily life in New Haven. But you do not have to endure it helplessly. The law protects you from abusive practices, and understanding them is your first line of defense.
Don’t suffer in silence. Empower yourself by reading further about how a New Haven attorney can help you.
Debt Collector Harassment in New Haven, Connecticut
The Connecticut Attorney General has taken measures to limit debt collector harassment in cities like New Haven. This effort is in response to abusive practices and phantom collections. According to the state government, some companies have even threatened legal action for erroneous debts.
If you are a victim of any of these examples of harassment, you may have a right to sue the debt collector for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). An experienced New Haven attorney can help you identify your options and build a strong case.
Misrepresentations
Misrepresentations by a debt collector refer to someone making false claims or accusations or using false, deceptive, or misleading practices. This also includes misrepresenting any debt you may have. See some examples of this and other Illegal Debt Collection Practices below:
- The amount of money you owe
- False threats saying they will have you arrested
- Saying they are an attorney if they aren’t one
- Threats to do something that the debt collector has no intention of doing
- Threats to take actions that are not within the confines of the law
If you think any New Haven, CT debt collectors may have misrepresented themselves to you, it’s important to remember that you have options. Get in contact with an attorney that understands debt collector law.
Who are Debt Collectors?
Most people don’t know what a debt collector is until they have one incessantly calling them about paying off debt. So, who are debt collectors? Who do they work for?
Collectors come from a debt collection agency that works with creditors who are owed debts. If you have outstanding debt in New Haven such as credit debt, unpaid loans, and personal loans, your creditor may contact a debt collection agency. This agency then assigns a debt collector to your case.
The Better Business Bureau reports there are several reputable agencies near New Haven. You may have heard from one or more of the following organizations:
- American Adjustment Bureau
- HK Recovery Group
- C.Tech Collections
What Should You Do If You’ve Been Harassed By a Debt Collector In New Haven, Connecticut?
Step 1: Know Your Rights
If you think New Haven debt collectors are harassing you, then it’s important to become familiar with the Basics of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA was passed in 1977 to protect consumers from collection agencies. If a debt collector violates any of the harassment or misrepresentation rules, the victim has a right to sue the collector for violation of the FDCPA.
Step 2: Collect Records
Have you been harassed in New Haven, CT by a debt collector? If so, it’s important to begin to gather evidence.
Here’s a list of records that can be crucial to your case in New Haven:
- Copies of any letters, emails, or texts
- Records of dates, times, and content of phone calls
- Documentation regarding the original debt, such as contracts, agreements, payment history, and statements
- Evidence of abusive language, threats, or repeated calls that constitute harassment.
- Copies of any legal notices you have received and your responses to them.
Step 3: Remain Calm and Act Deliberately
When you’re being abused or harassed by a bullish New Haven debt collector, it’s easy to get angry and act impulsively. Unfortunately, this can cause you to say or do something detrimental to your case. Instead, try to remain calm and make all your actions deliberate and well-thought-out. Not only will this be better for keeping your stress levels low, but it will prove helpful if you go to court. You can show that you were respectful and calm while the debt collector was the one using abusive language.
Step 4: Ask for Debt Verification
If you’re constantly getting phone calls from New Haven, CT debt collectors harassing you about what you owe, you need to ask for debt verification. Not only will this show whether or not they are misrepresenting your debt, but the debt collector must also stop contacting you until they provide the information you requested. Debt verification should show the amount of debt you owe and the name of the creditor. You have 30 days to dispute the validity of the debt. If you don’t dispute the debt, the creditor will assume the debt is valid.
Step 5: Contact an Attorney
If you’re the victim of debt collector harassment, it’s time to stand up and fight back. You deserve to live a life free from abusive and repetitive phone calls. New Haven attorneys that understand What to Expect When Suing for Debt Collection Harassment, and local debt collection laws, can help you make this possible. If the debt collector threatens to or does take legal action regarding your outstanding debts, working with an attorney becomes even more important.
Step 6: Present Your Case
By hiring an experienced New Haven, CT debt collector attorney, you have a better chance of winning the lawsuit and getting financial compensation for abuses such as phone harassment.
You may receive various types of damages if your case succeeds. New Haven residents could receive one or more of the following:
- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) allows for statutory damages up to $1,000
- Actual damages for any specific monetary losses you’ve incurred due to the harassment
- Compensation for emotional harm, pain, and suffering
- The court may award punitive damages to punish the collector and deter similar behavior in the future.
- Successful claimants can often recover their attorney’s fees and court costs
Work With an Experienced New Haven, Connecticut Debt Collector Harassment Lawyer
If you’ve experienced debt collector harassment in New Haven, CT it’s time to put an end to it so you can move forward with life. There are laws in place to protect consumers from debt collectors. Legal assistance can help you to navigate these complex laws and defend yourself in court, if necessary.
Are you ready to find a debt collector attorney near you so you can finally fight back against the harassment? We can even help you connect with an attorney across Connecticut state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
