A third party is a person or organization that is separate from the two primary individuals or organizations involved in a dispute. In the case of debt collection, a third party is anyone that is involved in collecting the debt that is separate from the original creditor and debtor. These third parties can include debt collection agencies or attorneys. Creditors often hire third party debt collectors to try and collect debts that they feel are uncollectible. How does the FDCPA regulate third parties? The FDCPA protects consumers from abusive tactics made by third party creditors. It gives you federal protection for your consumer rights. It limits when, where and how often creditors are allowed to contact you. It prohibits them from using deceptive tactics in order to collect debts. They are not allowed to contact your friends or family to disclose to them that you have a debt. It also protects you by prohibiting collectors from disclosing your debt information to any other third party other than an attorney or other representative you have specified. How Can an Attorney Help? An FDCPA attorney may be able to help you if you feel you are being treated unfairly by a third party creditor. They can contact the creditor on your behalf and make them stop contacting you. If you have an attorney representing your case, the creditors will need to go through the attorney instead of contacting you directly. If you continue to get harassed, an attorney may be able to bring suit against the creditor for harassment.