It starts with a letter from a debt collection agency that requests you settle an outstanding credit card or personal loan balance. You ignore the letter and after a couple of weeks, you believe the consumer debt in question has disappeared. You thought wrong.
Third party debt collectors such as Harris and Harris LTD. do not rest until they have received at least some of the money consumers owe original creditors. After sending a debt collection letter, a bill collector waits a couple of weeks to see what kind of response the company gets from the letter.
If the letter goes unanswered, you can expect a debt collection agency to follow up the letter with at least one phone call. If you ignore the first phone call, more phone calls will follow and in some cases, come fast and furious throughout the entire day.
Fortunately, consumers are protected against aggressive third party debt collector behavior that includes making frequent phone calls.
Know Your Rights When it Comes to Debt Collection Agency Phone Calls
As a consumer that is dealing with a bill collector, you should know your rights when it comes to the phone calls made by debt collection agencies.
Passed by the United States Congress in 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits third party debt collectors like Harris and Harris LTD. from using aggressive debt collection tactics.
Aggressive debt collection tactics include frequently calling family members and work colleagues to persuade you to pay off a delinquent consumer debt.
Although the FDCPA does not specify how many times a bill collector can call you, the landmark federal law does forbid bill collectors from using abusive language or issuing blatant threats. Debt collection agencies also must limit phone calls made to consumers between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm.
You also have the right to ignore phone calls made by Harris and Harris LTD., as well as hang up on a representative from a debt collection agency that mistreats you in any way.
![How Many Times Can Harris and Harris LTD. Call You?*]()
What Damages Does Federal Law Allow for FDCPA Violations?
Although the FDCPA prohibits third party debt collectors from harassing consumers, some bill collectors cross the legal line by making frequent phone calls in attempts to collect outstanding credit card and personal loan accounts.
If a debt collection violates one or more provisions listed within the FDCPA, you have the right to seek monetary damages that address one or more grievances.
The two most common grievances filed by consumers against third party debt collectors are physical and emotional distress. Physical distress covers symptoms like skin rashes, migraine headaches, and stress-induced heart problems.
A licensed consumer protection lawyer will work closely with a medical specialist that diagnoses physical ailments. Emotional distress derives from having to endure frequent phone calls made by a bill collector.
Some of the issues caused by emotional distress in include relationship problems, especially damage caused to a marriage. A mental health expert must accurately diagnose emotional distress, and then testify in court the frequent phone calls made by a debt collection agency caused the emotional distress symptoms.
Speak with an experienced consumer protection attorney today to learn more about how the FDCPA prevents aggressive debt collection agency techniques, such as making frequent phone calls.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Harris and Harris LTD. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.