Do original creditors have to follow FDCPA?
The FDCPA covers the collection of debts that are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. It doesn't cover business debts, and it also doesn't generally cover collection by the original creditor or business you owed money to.
The FDCPA applies only to the collection of debt incurred by a consumer primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. It does not apply to the collection of corporate debt or debt owed for business or agricultural purposes.
If you have delinquent debt that's been sent to collections, there might be options. In some cases, you may still be able to negotiate repayment directly with your lender. Working with your original creditor instead of a debt collector can be beneficial. However, this approach won't work for everyone.
Debt Collectors, Not Creditors, Must Verify Debts
Unless your state law provides otherwise, the FDCPA only requires debt collectors, not original creditors, to verify debts in certain circ*mstances.
Under the FDCPA, first-party collections are not subject to the same rigorous regulations third-party agencies are required to uphold. This is mainly because the original creditor is usually protected under whatever agreement is signed by the creditor and the consumer.
The FDCPA applies only to the collection of debt incurred by a consumer primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. It does not apply to the collection of corporate debt or to debt owed for business or agricultural purposes.
The original creditor is the company that gave you the loan or credit. An original creditor may attempt to collect a past due debt or account itself, or it may hire a debt collector. A debt collector is generally a third party who has been contracted to collect your debt or account.
If you are struggling with debt and debt collectors, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. As soon as you use the 11-word phrase “please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately” to stop the harassment, call us for a free consultation about what you can do to resolve your debt problems for good.
This may look like a lump-sum payment or a monthly payment arrangement, depending on your circ*mstances. If the debt has already been sold to a collection agency, do not pay the original creditor. They no longer have ownership of the debt, so paying them would not satisfy your new obligations to the collectors.
Collection agencies cannot report old debt as new. If a debt is sold or put into collections, that is legally considered a continuation of the original date. It may show up multiple times on your credit report with different open dates, but they must all retain the same delinquency date.
Can you dispute a debt if it was sold to a collection agency?
They gave you the money, and you should pay. The same is true even if the debt is sold and belongs to someone else. However, you have every right to dispute the debt if details are lost during the transition from the original creditor to the debt collection agency.
What Happens If the Collector Doesn't Verify the Debt? If a debt collector fails to verify the debt but continues to go after you for payment, you can sue that debt collector in federal or state court. You might be able to get $1,000 per lawsuit, plus actual damages, attorneys' fees, and court costs.
- A statement that the communication is from a debt collector.
- Your name and mailing information, along with the name and mailing information of the debt collector.
- The name of the creditor you owe the debt to.
The “777 Rule” states that debt collectors may attempt to contact a consumer about a single debt up to seven times in seven days. Phone numbers do not matter; it's the number of debts that matters.
Harassment of the debtor by the creditor – More than 40 percent of all reported FDCPA violations involved incessant phone calls in an attempt to harass the debtor.
If you think a debt collector has violated the FDCPA, you can sue them for damages. If you prove a violation occurred, you may be awarded $1,000 in damages, plus additional compensation for any actual harm they caused. If you win, the collector may also be responsible for paying your lawyer fees and costs.
The FDCPA prohibits debt collection companies from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect debts from you. The FDCPA covers the collection of debts that are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
Debt collectors cannot harass or abuse you. They cannot swear, threaten to illegally harm you or your property, threaten you with illegal actions, or falsely threaten you with actions they do not intend to take.
Action against debt collectors for violations of the FDCPA or Regulation F may be brought in any appropriate U.S. district court or other court of competent jurisdiction. The consumer has one year from the date on which the violation occurred to start such an action.
Once a debt is sold to a collection agency, they can begin reporting that account to the credit reporting agencies. The collection agency becomes the legal owner of the debt and has the right to begin collection efforts. Once reported, both the original account and the collection account will appear on a credit report.
Can a debt collector ask for more than the original debt?
So it's pretty upsetting to learn that yes, in certain circ*mstances debt collectors are within their rights to continue adding fees to your debt after they've purchased it.
If you don't pay, the collection agency can sue you to try to collect the debt. If successful, the court may grant them the authority to garnish your wages or bank account or place a lien on your property. You can defend yourself in a debt collection lawsuit or file bankruptcy to stop collection actions.
Don't provide personal or sensitive financial information
Never give out or confirm personal or sensitive financial information – such as your bank account, credit card, or full Social Security number – unless you know the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector.
You cannot remove collections from your credit report without paying if the information is accurate, but a collection account will fall off your credit report after 7 years whether you pay the balance or not.
If you're able to do so, pay the original creditor before your debt goes to collections. Having a debt sent to collections will damage your credit score and may limit your options for repayment. In most cases, the original creditor will offer better repayment options than a debt collector will.
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