| > | | | | contact you under any circumstances the |
| Discover how to quickly and effectively stop | | | | recipient must abide by your request. By law, as |
| constant phone calls, letters and ongoing | | | | soon as they receive your certified written notice |
| harassment by persistent creditors, debt | | | | then legally they can't call or mail you anything |
| collectors and collection agencies without much | | | | until they file suit against you and they must take |
| effort, time and money... | | | | you to court. |
| It isn't enough to just sit back and take ongoing | | | | And you must be first served with a summons |
| harassment from collection agencies and debt | | | | before they can make any attempt to contact |
| collectors. You can take simple steps provided | | | | you. In most cases, the majority never go to |
| under federal law and stop ongoing harassment... | | | | court, only a small number will take this action |
| CONSUMER RIGHTS UNDER FEDERAL LAW | | | | right through to court. |
| The United States Associated Press reports an | | | | Put the law to good use, and you can quickly and |
| ongoing epidemic of bill collectors ignoring the Fair | | | | effectively STOP constant phone calls, letters and |
| Debt Collection Practices Act and harassing their | | | | ongoing harassment by persistent creditors, debt |
| clients. In 2008 over 71,000 people filed | | | | collectors and collection agencies without it costing |
| harassment and abuse charges with the Federal | | | | you much effort, time and money. In accord with |
| Trade Commission (FTC). And an additional | | | | federal law (public laws 95-109 and 99-361), a |
| 24,000 complained to the Better Business Bureau | | | | collection agency MUST stop contacting you after |
| office in their State. The complaint rate has quad | | | | they receive a letter clearly telling them |
| duple in the past three years and will only get | | | | discontinue contacting you. |
| worse due to the present economic downturn in | | | | THE LAW LENDS A HELPING HAND |
| the world together with the inability of a greater | | | | The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act |
| number of individuals who genuinely cannot pay | | | | provides the consumer with a legal avenue to |
| their bills. | | | | prevent collection agencies from continual |
| What Steps Can You Take To Stop Harassment | | | | harassment. So if you wish to avail yourself of |
| From a Collection Agency? | | | | the law in this matter, this is what you should |
| Here is the very first thing you MUST do. Fire the | | | | state in your written letter and notice. |
| Agency! Send them a Certified return receipt | | | | The contents of the letter should essentially say: |
| letter using one of the legal forms "Cease and | | | | You are hereby notified in writing under the |
| Desist". Although there’s a catch, you must | | | | provision of public laws 95-109 and 99-361, also |
| put this into action within (30) days. This of | | | | known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices act, |
| course, is after they send you a written letter | | | | that your company services are NO longer |
| making you aware that you owe them money | | | | required. |
| and in detail exactly to whom you owe the | | | | You are to immediately CEASE & DESIST all |
| money to. | | | | efforts and attempts to collect money owing. I |
| For instance, this is the case in the State of | | | | We will not recognize any collection agency and |
| Colorado, if you send a certified written | | | | will communicate ONLY with the original finance |
| letter stating emphatically NOT to | | | | creditor (state name of financial institution). |