The shame and embarrassment that often accompanies being in debt is crushing. The stress that comes with knowing that you owe money is intolerable. If you also take into account the feeling of being hounded by third-party collectors, all told, your debt may end up being one of the most negative forces on your life.
That being said, if you live in Montana, there is help available when it comes to dealing with the third-party collectors. If you’ve been hounded by third-party collectors who call you repeatedly, use profane language, or generally harass you, you should consider filing a claim against them. Their harassment may be illegal under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a law that keeps third-party collectors from using unconscionable means to collect a debt.
Arm yourself with knowledge about the law and then consider hiring an experienced FDCPA attorney who can help you. That attorney will be in the best position to advise you about what your next steps should be.
Montana’s Debt Collection Protections
The FDCPA will most likely provide you with the protections that you’ll need to file a claim. That being said, Montana does have some specific laws at the state level that may help you determine whether or not you have a claim.
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Part of knowing this is knowing Montana’s statute of limitations on agreements regarding debts and payments. The statute of limitations for written agreements is 8 years, while verbal ones have a statute of limitations of 3 years. This means that creditors cannot go through the state’s court system to pursue your debt after the statute of limitations is up.
The FDCPA’s Protections
Thanks to the FDCPA, a lot of bad behavior from third-party collectors is illegal. This includes:
- Threatening you with legal action
- Reporting false information on your credit report
- Leaving you multiple voicemails or making your phone ring repeatedly
- Ignoring an attorney’s letter for them to stop
- Calling you at work after you’ve asked them not to
Those aren’t the only prohibited actions under the FDCPA, so don’t worry if the behavior you’ve experienced doesn’t fit neatly into one of the aforementioned examples. The best way of finding out if you have a viable claim is contacting an FDCPA attorney.
Talk to An Attorney Today
Being in debt is difficult enough. Experiencing harassment on top of that has the potential to diminish your quality of life due to the fear and anxiety that comes with expecting creditors to call you at any hour.
This has to stop. But it can only happen if you understand your rights and are willing to stand up for yourself. An attorney will be in the best possible position to help you file a claim and get your life back. You won’t have to worry about paying him or her upfront because FDCPA attorneys tend to work on a contingency fee basis– you’ll only have to pay if you win your case.
Winning a case could mean winning financial compensation ($1,000 per violation) but more importantly, it will mean winning your life back. Fight back by contacting an attorney today.