Bankruptcy can be an effective way to stop harassing creditors in their tracks. However, much of the behaviors and tactics that creditors use are not legal in the first place. For those in Florida who are interested in how to stop harassment by creditors but are not quite ready to pursue bankruptcy, here are a few things to keep in mind.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives debtors a wide range of protections. For example, creditors are barred from contacting individuals before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless a different time is otherwise indicated by the debtor. This means that early morning or middle of the night calls go beyond strategies for debt collection and merge into the realm of harassment.
Besides only calling at reasonable hours, debt collectors have to respect a debtor’s workplace. Once a debtor informs a collector that he or she is not permitted to receive collection calls at work, then all contact through work phones must stop. Collectors also cannot reach out to a person’s co-workers, family or friends to tell them about his or her debt. Creditors also cannot directly contact a person who is represented by an attorney.
Most people in Florida genuinely want to repay their debts, but harassment by creditors does little if anything to help them accomplish these goals. Most people can effectively stop this harassment by asserting their rights as laid out by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. However, for some people, paying off their debts is an out-of-reach dream. In such cases, bankruptcy can help address not only their financial woes but can also cease all harassment by predatory debt collectors.