One of the worst things that can happen when you’re down on your luck is getting a call from a debt collector. It’s even worse when you’re being harassed for a debt you already paid or a debt that doesn’t belong to you. To make sure collection agencies don’t take advantage of consumers, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed in 1977.
Under the FDCPA, agencies must follow specific guidelines for collecting debt. At their first phone call, they must give their name, the name of their collection company, explain they are attempted to collect a debt, and tell you the name of the original creditor.
After this conversation, they must send you written notice with this information as well as directions to dispute the debt. You also have the right to request validation of the loan within 30 days of receiving your written notice.
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Debt collection companies are not allowed to mislead you by falsifying their identity, the amount of your debt, the fees involved with your debt, or by threatening you with legal action they can’t or won’t take. They must call between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and are not allowed to call you at work or other inconvenient times if you tell them not to. When on the phone with you, they must remain polite and professional at all times, and not use abusive, offensive, rude, or obscene language.
Credit Management Company (CMC) is a full-service debt collection agency, headquartered at 2121 Noblestown Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15205. The company, founded in1966, serves a wide range of influential clients in healthcare, government, education, and consumer industries, with specialized programs for each customer.
With less than 200 employees, the company offers automated outbound calling, pre-collection letters, bad debt recovery collections, and billing services. Their contact number is (800) 472-1483, but they’ve also been known to call from (866) 368-1565.
What to do if CMC is Trying to Collect a Debt from You*
If you feel harassed by CMC’s constant calling, or if they refuse to take your wrong number off of their calling list, you have the right to tell them to stop contacting you. Per the FDCPA, if you send them a request in writing, they must stop contacting you as soon as they received. The only exceptions are if they call to tell you they’ve received the request and you won’t hear from them again or to take a specific action against you.
If you do owe debt to CMC, stopping the phone calls many give you some sanity, but it won’t make your debt disappear. Though the phone calls may be excessive, they may prevent a more serious solution, such a court summons, or at least make sure you’re prepared for it.
If you find the company is too much for you to handle on your own, you should contact a qualified FDCPA lawyer immediately. You lawyer can help you and CMC come to a reasonable settlement or take CMC in court if you sue or are sued. Make sure to keep track of each violation that CMC commits, whether it’s calling you after your stop contact request or if the collectors are constantly rude and abusive. Get a free consultation today to see if you have a case, and you could be entitled to $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus much more.
*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 Collection Bureau or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.