A lawyer for a credit card company can be treated like any other debt collector. The Federal Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal law regulating what debt collectors can and cannot do as they attempt to collect a debt. Illinois Legal Aid describes a debt collector as a company or person--including a lawyer--that regularly collects debts. The collection practices act makes it illegal for lawyers to threaten to sue you over an unpaid debt unless they intend to do so. The lawyer also cannot make threats to intimidate you.
Instructions
- 1
Review the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to fully understand your rights. Illinois Legal Aid reports that the act was created to protect people who owe money.
2Respond to the lawyer in writing to protect your rights and create a paper trail. Force the lawyer to prove that the debt is valid and that the lawyer is legally entitled to collect from you. Accomplish this by asking the lawyer--in writing--to send you a copy of your last billing statement. According to the Federal Trade Commission, this will establish that the debt is valid and the lawyer has the right to collect from you. You must make this request within 30 days of receiving a written "validation notice" from the lawyer, according to the FTC. The validation notice is a letter claiming you owe a debt.
3Send your letter via certified mail, with a return receipt requested. According to the FTC, the lawyer must stop collection efforts until you receive the information you requested.
0 comments:
Post a Comment