Paper letters from bill collectors have created a large pile on your home office desk. Digital correspondence from debt collection agencies has filled your email in box. Just when it feels liked it is as bad as it gets, you start receiving phone calls from third party debt collectors such as DCM Services.
Not only do the phone calls cause fear and anxiety, phone messages left on a home answering machine leads to embarrassing moments trying to explain your financial situation to family members.
Fortunately for consumers, the United States Congress passed a landmark consumer protection law in 1977 to level the playing field with debt collection agencies.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) includes numerous provisions that prohibit debt collection agencies from harassing consumers. For example, DCM Services cannot implement deceptive techniques in attempts to collect an outstanding credit account or personal loan.
The FDCPA also address phone calls made by debt collection agencies that include limiting the times when DCM Services can try to reach you by phone.
A FDCPA Lawyer Will Coach You on What to Say
Representatives from third party debt collectors like DCM Services receive extensive training on how to resolve delinquent consumer accounts over the phone. When a representative from DCM Services calls you at home, he or she reads from a well thought out script that addresses every possible debt collection scenario.
A licensed consumer protection lawyer will coach you on what to say and just as important, what not to tell a third party debt collector. In fact, an experienced consumer protection lawyer might suggest you do not say anything at all and instead, invoke your legal right granted by the FDCPA to send DCM Services a cease and desist letter.
![Phone Script for When DCM Services Calls*]()
The General Game Plan for Speaking with DCM Services
A representative from a debt collection agency will identify the agency and the name of the person making the phone call. Before the representative finishes the introduction, calmly explain you need to get a tape recorder to have an account of the phone conversation.
Make sure to time stamp the recorded phone conversation, especially if the call is made before 8:00 am and after 9:00 pm. Ask the third party debt collector representative to send proof of the outstanding credit account or personal loan through certified mail.
Explain that you are under no legal obligation to share any information, which is granted by a provision in the FDCPA.
Accomplished debt collection agency representatives will try to get personal financial information from you. Under no circumstances should you share private financial information, including the existence of other delinquent debts or how much you pay each month in housing costs.
You do not have to reveal where you bank, as well as how much money you clear each week from your primary job. Your lawyer will outline every potential question from a debt collection agency representative that you do not have to answer.
You need an experienced consumer protection lawyer in your corner to take advantage of the legal rights granted to consumers by the FDCPA. Speak with a lawyer today to learn about how the FDCPA protects you against third party debt collectors such as DCM Services.
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 DCM Services or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.