If you are going through financial hardships, one of the most stressful aspects is dealing with calls and mail from creditors who are asking for their money back. While creditors are allowed to send reminders within reason, there are actually laws in place to prevent harassing conduct.
If you are suffering because you feel harassed by creditors and debt collectors in the state of Minnesota, it is important to take action. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about the law on creditor harassment.
What type of contact are creditors allowed to have?
Creditors and debt collectors are allowed to get in touch with you, but they must identify who they are each and every time they communicate with you. They need to tell you the original owner of the debt and inform you that you have the right to dispute the debt.
What actions are prohibited?
A debt collector or the original creditor cannot call you at antisocial hours. This means that calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your local time zone is prohibited. In addition, they are not allowed to continue communication if you send a refusal to pay the debt in writing and request that communications cease.
What can I do when I have experienced debt collector harassment?
It is important that you carefully document all illegal behavior. It may also be beneficial if you have a witness to the communication that you are receiving. Complaints can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
If you are suffering from debt collector harassment in the state of Minnesota, it is important to consider taking action.