Leading up to September 20, 1977, debt collection agencies were able to get away with using harassing and intimidating debt collection tactics to persuade consumers to pay off outstanding debts.
In response to growing consumer anger, the United States Congress enacted what many legal experts to be the ultimate consumer Bill of Rights. With the passage of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), consumers began to fight back against overly aggressive debt collection agencies.
The FDCPA outlaws a long list of previously acceptable debt collection practices. Consumers do not have to put up with companies that use threats in attempts to collect outstanding credit card and personal loan accounts.
According to the FDCPA, Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, LLC cannot threaten to contact a third party regarding your debt. The company is also banned from implementing deceptive debt collection techniques.
About Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, LLC
Hillcrest, Davidson 7 Associates, LLC represents a nationwide debt collection agency that concentrates its business in the healthcare, utility, and home security industries. Based in Richardson, Texas, the Dallas area company has receive a B rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
A B rating is considered to be substandard for third party debt collectors. The BBB has not accredited Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, LLC primarily because the bill collector does a poor job of handling consumer inquiries regarding outstanding debts.
What Constitutes Misrepresentation
One of the best features of the FDCPA is that the groundbreaking consumer protection law specifies exactly what types of misrepresentations are considered illegal. Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates is not allowed to impersonate a law enforcement agency in an attempt to coerce you into taking care of a delinquent credit card or personal loan balance.
Some third party debt collectors prey on unsuspecting consumers by using law enforcement as a deceptive tool for collecting debts. You should know there are no debtor prisons in the United States. Therefore, impersonating a law enforcement agency should not persuade you to take action on an outstanding consumer debt.
![Did Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, Misrepresent Themselves?*]()
Are You Entitled to Monetary Damages?
Congress not only wanted to prohibit dozens of debt collection tactics, the federal governing body also wanted to provide consumers with a way to punish bill collectors for violating the FDCPA.
After you hire a licensed consumer protection attorney who handles FDCPA cases, you should be able to determine whether you have a strong enough case to file a claim seeking statutory and/or actual damages. Judges award statutory damages to punish debt collection agencies for committing one or more violations of the FDCPA.
Capped at $1,000, statutory damages take care of every FDCPA violation committed by Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, LLC. You also have the right to seek actual damages, which cover the cost of treating physical and/or emotional duress symptoms.
Use the FDCPA to Protect Your Rights
When you work with an experienced FDCPA lawyer, you level the legal playing field between you and Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, LLC. Most FDCPA attorneys schedule free initial consultations to decide if filing a claim is the most effective legal strategy.
If there is not enough evidence to justify filing a lawsuit, your attorney has several other options to prevent a bill collector from deceiving you.
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 Hillcrest, Davidson & Associates, LLC, or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to compensation.