Falling behind on bills is one of life’s most stressful events. The pressure ramps up to another level when a debt collection agency such as McCarthy Burgess & Wolff sends you a letter demanding the full payment on a credit card or a personal loan balance.
After letting the letter sit for a couple of weeks, your cell phone begins to ring throughout the day. The calls are from the same debt collection agency and the language used upsets you to say the least.Third party debt collectors have many ways to coerce consumers into paying off debts.
One time tested way goes as far back as the beginning of the telephone era. Many bill collectors contact third parties to put the pressure on consumers that owe money on outstanding credit card and personal loan accounts. This begs two important questions.
Did McCarthy Burgess & Wolff contact a third party regarding your debt and if the company did, what should you do about it?
![DID MCCARTHY BURGESS & WOLFF CONTACT A THIRD PARTY REGARDING YOUR DEBT?]()
When Can a Debt Collection Agency Contact a Third Party?
The advent and eventual transformation of cell phone technology has given us a virtual home landline we can take everywhere we go. No longer do we have to wait hours for the return home to hear voicemail messages. With the advanced cell phone technology has come an intrusion into our lives.
The intrusion is called third party debt collectors. Bill collectors like McCarthy Burgess & Wolff obtain our cell phone numbers by referring to the contact information handed over to them by original creditors.
Although it is easy to get our cell phone numbers, how do bill collectors acquire the cell phone numbers of our friends and family members?
Perform a Google search of your name and you will see a list of names associated with your name. The names are the people that Google deems to be closest to you. Debt collection agencies can easily retrieve the numbers and then contact one of more third parties in regards to your debt.
Is this practice considered legal under federal consumer protection law? According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), McCarthy Burgess & Wolff can contact a third party regarding your debt only to obtain your contact information, such as your address and your phone number.
If the debt collection agency contacts a third party and mentions your debt to the third party, you should speak with a licensed FDCPA lawyer.
Handling a Third Party FDCPA Violation
Your FDCPA attorney will perform a thorough review of your case to determine if there is enough evidence to prove McCarthy Burgess & Wolff contacted a third party regarding your debt. If there is enough evidence, your consumer protection lawyer has the power to file a claim seeking monetary damages.
The civil court claim can seek just compensation for the pain and suffering caused by physical and/or emotional distress. Evidence required to move forward includes tape recorded phone calls of the conversations involving a debt collection agency and a third party.
Never allow a bill collector get away with discussing your debt with a third party. Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced FDCPA lawyer today.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against McCarthy Burgess & Wolff or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to compensation.