Do you receive repeated phone calls from a debt collection agency throughout the day? Has a third party debt collector used abusive language in an attempt to coerce you into paying off a delinquent credit card or a personal loan balance? Does the prospect of a bill collector contacting one of the members of your family keep you up at night? According to a monumental consumer protection law, all three of the examples are violations of federal consumer statutes.
Growing consumer discontent eventually motivated the United State Congress to enact the ultimate consumer Bill of Rights. Written into law on September 20, 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) makes it illegal for debt collection agencies to harass consumers by making repeated phone calls all day long.
The consumer protection law also outlaws the practice of using abusive language, as well as the practice of shaming consumers by contacting relatives in regards to an outstanding consumer debt. Perhaps the most important provision of the FDCPA addresses the tactic of issuing threats to collect money for outstanding credit card and personal loan balances.
Threats to File a Lawsuit are Illegal
Back in the day, many debt collection agencies issued a wide variety of threats to motivate consumers to settle delinquent debts. However, with the passage of the FDCPA, issuing threats to seize private property and issuing threats to contact the IRS are now considered illegal. Under the FDCPA, a third party debt collector like Paramount Recovery Systems is not allowed to issue a threat to contact a friend or a family member concerning a debt you owe. Bill collectors are also prohibited from threatening to take legal action, whether the threats are implied or issued in a direct manner.
Work with a FDCPA Lawyer to Address the Threat of Legal Action
Letting a threat to take you to court go unpunished is a bad idea. The debt collection agency that issued the threat will become emboldened by your lack of a response. If you receive a threat to take legal action from Paramount Recovery Systems, you must address the threat immediately by contacting an experienced consumer protection lawyer who specializes in handling FDCPA cases. While your attorney reviews your case, he or she might implement a strategy to get the debt collection agency off your back.
One strategy to fight back against Paramount Recovery Systems involves crafting and sending a formal cease and desist notice. The formal cease and desist notice will clearly inform the third party debt collector to stop communicating with you by phone, by email, and by written correspondence.
Your FDCPA attorney will mention the legal implications of not abiding by the cease and desist request. Consumers have the right to send cease and desist letters that they write, but it is a good idea to have an objective viewpoint expressed in the letter to avoid the use of emotionally charged language. Your FDCPA attorney will send the formal cease and desist notice by certified mail to confirm Paramount Recovery Systems received the letter.
Take control of your FDCPA case by scheduling a free initial consultation with an accomplished consumer protection attorney.
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*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 Paramount Recovery Systems or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.