It doesn't matter if you're surprised to hear from a debt collector or you were expecting the call, nothing changes the fact that you have legal rights that you need to protect. If you don't know what you should and shouldn't do, it's possible that you'll make a mistake that causes additional stress.
How long do creditors get to investigate disputed charge claims?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a piece of federal legislation that aims to protect consumers from unethical creditors. It places a high value on transparency. This is one of the reasons why this piece of legislation gives consumers the right to request a free credit report that they can review once a year. The FCRA can protect you if you identify incorrect information that has been placed on your report. This legislation also gives your creditors a limited amount of time to investigate such claims.
What does abusive debt collection look like?
When you're in debt, the last thing you need is someone constantly reminding you of your financial situation. Unfortunately, if your account has been sent to debt collection, you can expect some level of interaction with a debt collector.
When can sales promotions be perceived as deceptive?
You were likely tempted by numerous sales this winter holiday season that just wrapped up. While you may be good at deciding between wants versus needs, there are plenty of other individuals that haven't yet mastered making such decisions. Many advertisers invest significant time and resources in trying to figure out what language they can use in marketing materials to get you to make a purchase. This often results in them engaging in deceptive advertising techniques.
