Do you know that you do not have to tolerate harassing phone calls from a debt collection agency like Scott & Associates? Far too many consumers consider third party debt collector harassment to be a standard operating procedure for debt collection efforts.
However, a landmark consumer protection law enacted in 1977 put an end to the harassing phone calls that bill collectors used as the primary strategy for coercing consumers into paying off delinquent credit card and personal loan balances.
According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), it is illegal for bill collectors to harass consumers over the phone. In fact, the most important consumer protection law ever passed at the federal level forbids a large number of different harassing phone calls.
Types of Harassing Phone Calls Banned by the FDCPA
Debt collection agencies love to pound consumers into submission by making frequent phone calls during all hours of the day. Although the strategy worked before September 20, 1977, it is now considered breaking the law to repeatedly calling consumers at work and at home, as well as on their cell phones.
In addition, third party debt collectors such as Scott & Associates are limited to when they can call consumers. Under the FDCPA, bill collectors are restricted to calling consumers between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm. Any phone calls made after those hours is considered a violation of the groundbreaking consumer protection law.
How to Make the Harassing Phone Calls from Scott & Associates Stop
Now that you know about the illegality of harassing phone calls placed by third party debt collectors, the next question is how do you make the phone calls stop? An effective way to end harassing phone calls requires you to use a state law that bill collectors never want consumers to discover.
Called “one party consent,” the legal term refers to the taping of phone conversations. One party consent means only one party involved in a phone conversation is required to approve the tape recording of a phone call.
This means you can tape record harassing phone calls made by a debt collection agency, and then use the recording as evidence the third party debt collector violated one or more provisions of the FDCPA.
![How to Stop Harassing Phone Calls from Scott & Associates*]()
Making a Bill Collector Pay for Harassing Phone Calls
By hiring a licensed consumer protection lawyer that has compiled a successful record litigating FDCPA cases, you have a much better chance of receiving financial compensation for the pain and suffering caused by a debt collection agency.
The FDCPA grants consumers the right to seek monetary damages for suffering from emotional distress, which can manifest in acute anxiety or the constant fear of being arrested for owing money on a debt. Emotional duress is a much harder link to prove than it is for proving physical distress.
Your FDCPA attorney knows exactly which medical documents to submit, as well as call on the right mental health experts to confirm the link between Scott & Associates and any emotional issues you have endured.
Make sure you understand all of the rights granted by the FDCPA when you contact an an experienced consumer protection lawyer.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Scott & Associates or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.