If a debt collection agency such as Avante USA, Ltd. has come after you because you have fallen behind paying off an outstanding credit card or a personal loan account, there are numerous provisions written into a groundbreaking consumer protection law that can help protect you against overly aggressive debt collection tactics. Considered the consumer Bill of Rights, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits dozens of previously acceptable debt collection practices that include forbidding third party debt collectors from contacting third parties regarding consumer debts.
When Can a Bill Collector Contact a Third Party?
The FDCPA makes it clear that debt collection agencies cannot contact a third part to discuss a delinquent credit card or a personal loan balance. For decades, third party debt collectors contacted third parties to put pressure on consumers that owed money on personal debts. Think about how you would feel if a bill collector reached out to your spouse, another family member, or a neighbor living across the street.
Although Avante USA, Ltd. is not permitted to contact a third party in regards to your debt, the company can contact a third party to obtain or confirm your contact information. For example, a debt collection agency can contact one of your parents to acquire your address, as well as find out about the best way to reach you by phone. If a spouse or another family member cosigned a credit card or a personal loan application, then federal law does not prohibit a third party debt collector from contacting the person whose name appears on the application.
![Did Avante USA, LTD. Contact a Third Party About Your Debt?*]()
The FDCPA Protects Third Parties against Harassment
The third party provision of the FDCPA primarily prevents debt collection agencies from harassing and intimidating consumers. How does the monumental consumer protection law protect third parties? The short answer is the same way the FDCPA protects consumers against overly aggressive debt collection tactics. Avante USA, Ltd. is not allowed to use deception to trick a friend or a family member into revealing more information than he or she has to under federal consumer protection laws. Some debt collection agencies try to collect more than what is owed on a credit card or a personal loan account. Another deceptive debt collection practice involves contacting a third party to collect a debt you have already paid off.
By using a phone, a debt collector can intimidate a third party into saying more than he or she should say. The FDCPA bans the timeless practice of harassing third parties by placing phone calls at home at odd hours throughout the day. Under the FDCPA, a bill collector cannot make repeated phone calls, as well as call anyone between nine at night and eight in the morning.
Make the FDCPA Work for You
Many bill collectors bank on consumer ignorance when it comes to knowing about the third party provision written into the FDCPA. Never allow a debt collection agency tell you that you do not have any rights to fight back against harassing and intimidating debt collection practices. Schedule a free initial consultation today with a licensed FDCPA lawyer.
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 Avante USA, Ltd. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to compensation.